Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Ensuring the Best Training With Accreditation for Masters in Public Health Programs

Well over a couple of hundred universities in the United States have programs for the masters-level study of public health. A lot of these are masters in public health programs in community health/preventive medicine and community health education. Of course, those seeking one should be certain to look for a program that has CEPH accreditation.

Are you aware of what the CEPH is? Why should students look for accredited courses? The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is a national accreditation-giving body for both public health programs and schools of public health.

When considering a school offering a master of public health program, be sure that the degree you are looking for is included in the accreditation. It is standard practice for academies to attain accreditation by ensuring that every last one of their programs is in keeping with the accrediting body's standards. It is wise to be certain if other levels of the course have also received accreditation.

Keep in mind that different accrediting bodies and accreditations exist. It is possible to possess one without the other, as one covers general subjects and the other specialized ones. If the college is regionally accredited, it means specifically that it (as a college) meets the standards on the whole set by the accrediting body.

On the other hand, specialized accreditation like CEPH accreditation, has more to do with the training aspect of the specific field or profession. It shall be observed that other accrediting bodies exist for specific fields. CEPH is the sole organization identified by the US Department of Education to perform accreditation on public health schools and programs, including masters of public health programs.

The requirements for getting the accreditation differ from one category to the other, with the two categories being accreditation for academies and accreditation for courses. It is obvious that they differ from each other in that a university poses a selection of programs, as opposed to the individual program which is the only consideration in its case. Your average public health academy will give you the choice of any of the primary focus areas for public health.

A single degree is the expectation with the program, on the other hand. This has not prevented many programs from providing a selection of focus options. There is also a requirement that a university in this discipline should have post-graduate studies available.

Once you have enrolled in a CEPH-accredited program or school, you can rest assured of receiving a well-rounded public health education. Health Services Administration and Biostatics are merely twe of the main specializations in this field. Those in universities offering doctorate classes even have the option of becoming true experts of their discipline.

Accredited schools can provide assistance in transferring credits between institutions, or during admission to advanced degrees. Generally, schools with accreditation are quick to accept transferred credits and deal summarily with other such exchanges. Once the student has graduated, he can even take the Public Health Certification exam.

There are certain occupations that actually demand CEPH accreditation of their applicants' masters in public health programs. Students are also qualified for internships as well as fellowships supported by many federal agencies. An academy with accreditation will also give you more resources to help you achieve your mastery of the field faster.



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