In today’s changing health care environment, population-based initiatives are playing an increasingly important role in improving the health of communities. Going beyond the medical traditions of individual diagnosis, treatment and cure, health professionals are focusing on societal approaches to health promotion and disease prevention, as well as on health policy and innovation in management of health systems. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based models of practice and on leadership leading to policy changes at every level of decision making.  Careers in public health and health management are abundant in both traditional health-focused organizations, as well as in new practice settings, emphasizing such issues as:

• Control and prevention of both infectious and chronic diseases
• Improvement and redesign of health services integration and delivery
• Global health programs involving multinational collaborations
• Prevention programs in schools and at work sites
• Improving the health of mothers, children, and families
• Mapping of disease trends using cutting edge technologies
• Evaluating and redesigning public and private insurance and funding mechanisms
• Outreach and intervention in populations at risk
• Improving the quality of the environments in which people live and work
• Changing public policies that impact health and health behavior
• Translating knowledge gained from research into effective practice in communities

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There are exciting opportunities in every field of public health, including management and administration, community practice, education, research, and policy. With human resources shortages expected in nearly every public health discipline, School of Public Health graduates usually receive job offers within a few months of graduation. Many students further their careers by choosing post-graduate fellowships or doctoral programs, as well.

Graduates of Saint Louis University’s School of Public Health are employed all over the nation and internationally in a wide variety of settings, including:

• Consulting firms

• Consumer advocacy organizations

• Federal health organizations

• Local and national voluntary health organizations

• Hospitals and integrated health care agencies

• Long term and extended care and health insurance companies

• Medical service organizations

• Physician management organizations

• Private businesses and industry

• State and local public health agencies

• University and private research centers

Departments and Programs

Community Health

The program in Community Health provides a wide range of programs of study leading to the MPH degree. The School’s MPH graduates are working in a variety of public and private health and health care organizations, providing a growing network of alumni to support students in their professional and career development. Students entering the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program can concentrate in the following areas:

Behavioral Science and Health Education: This concentration educates students for careers in the development, management, and assessment of health promotion and disease prevention programs in a wide variety of community and organizational settings in both the private and public sectors.

Biostatistics: This area of concentration prepares students for analytic careers in all areas of public health, with coursework emphasis in biomedical statistical methodology, data management, and statistical analysis.

Environmental and Occupational Health: Environmental and occupational health graduates are prepared for careers as managers, researchers, and consultants in private industry, academia, and government.  Areas of study include toxic agent control, industrial hygiene, accident prevention, workplace safety, and general environmental health.

Epidemiology: The Epidemiology concentration prepares students for careers in disease prevention and control in public health research and practice settings. Students acquire the skills needed to collect, manage, analyze, and interpret health data. The program also provides a solid background for professionals in public health administration.  The Department of Community Health also offers three joint concentration programs with Epidemiology: Behavioral Science & Health Education/Epidemiology, Biostatistics/Epidemiology, and Environmental & Occupational Health/Epidemiology.

Professional Option Program:  The Professional Options program allows professionals already working in the field of health care, public health and social services to advance their careers.  Many of the courses are offered on a flexible model adapted to the schedule of a working professional.  The Practice Track curriculum is a 42 credit hour program designed to enhance career options for persons whose interests are in public health administration and practice.

Dual Degrees:  Students seeking greater knowledge of population-based approaches to clinical occupations may also pursue various dual degree programs offered by the Department of Community Health and other Schools within Saint Louis University.  Advanced degrees are offered jointly with the School of Law (MPH/JD), the School of Medicine (MPH/MD), the School of Nursing (MPH/MSN), the School of Social Service (MPH/MSW), and the Doisy College of Health Sciences' program in Nutrition and Dietetics (MPH/MS).

Health Management and Policy

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Health Administration: U.S. News & World Report ranks the program in health administration at Saint Louis University among the top Master of Health Administration (MHA) programs in the nation. The School’s MHA graduates are well prepared for management positions in health care systems, hospitals, managed care companies, physician, practice organizations, medical service organizations, consulting firms, and virtually every type of public or private health care organization. As the nation’s third oldest program of its kind, the program’s graduates benefit from an extensive network of alumni throughout the country.

MPH in Health Policy: This concentration prepares students for careers as health policy analysts and advocates in both public and private sector organizations.  Program graduates will develop the financial, economic, and evaluation skills necessary to understand, develop, and advance policies that address these and other public health issues.  The dual MPH in Health Policy/JD degree offers career options for students wishing to work in the highest levels of public health policy design and implementation.

Dual Degrees: The Department of Health Management and Policy offers dual degree program opportunities with Saint Louis University’s School of Business and Administration (a joint MHA/MBA degree), and the School of Law (a joint MHA/JD degree).  The MHA/MBA degree provides graduates with more flexibility and career choices as well as additional coursework in business. Saint Louis University’s School of Business and Administration is recognized as one of the best among Jesuit universities and one of the nation’s top business schools for entrepreneurial studies.

The MHA/JD Program is one of few such programs in the United States. The School of Law’s Health Law Program has repeatedly been rated #1 nationally by U.S. News & World Report. The School’s MHA/JD graduates are among the nation’s most highly sought health law professionals, finding careers in hospital and health system legal departments, law firms, consulting firms, and government. In addition to supporting an excellent joint degree program, the Department of Health Administration’s close ties to the School of Law give all MHA students the opportunity for superior exposure to health law issues.

Public Health Studies

Program in Public Health Studies: The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Public Health Studies prepares graduates for careers in academic settings and for conducting health care research in both the public and the private sectors.   Recent doctoral graduates of the program now work as professors, health consultants, health system executives, epidemiologists, behavioral scientists, and outcomes researchers.