Public Health professionals improve human health and quality of life through the prevention and treatment of and other physical and mental health conditions, through the promotion of healthy behaviors and the analysis of global research and data.

Public Health is interdisciplinary, intersecting the fields of epidemiology, biostatistics and health services. Environmental health, community health, behavioral health, health economics, public policy, insurance medicine and occupational health are also important subfields of Public Health.

Public Health practitioners typically do the following:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate effective public health initiatives/policies.
• Create and analyze programs in the context of the communities they serve.
• Improve the health delivery system specifically for women, children, and families through advocacy, education, and research.
• Discover and test solutions through applied research.
• Address the health of people living in low- and middle-income countries (sometimes known as developing countries).
• Help people make better use of health services, adopt self-care practices, and become more active participants in their health system.

Explore these resources and organizations about Public Health:

• ExploreHealthCareers: Public Health
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Health Educators
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Epidemiologists
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
• Accredited Schools of Public Health (Directory)

Masters in Public Health program prerequisites vary widely depending on the school, specialization, and degree type you pursue. While many programs do not have listed prerequisites, there are many undergraduate courses that can help to provide a solid foundation for advanced public health coursework. Depending on the area of study you are interested in, recommendations include coursework in:

• Statistics
• Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology)
• Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry)
• Calculus
• Health Promotion & Policy
• Epidemiology

Texas MPH Programs:

• Baylor University
• Lamar University
• Texas A&M
• Texas Tech University
• UNT-HSC
• UT-HSC at Houston
• UT-HSC at Tyler
• UTMB