According to the non-profit, non-partisan organization, Trust for America’s Health, the Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health allocated a total public health budget of $39.7 million in 2014, ranking Delaware’s public health budget as the 17th largest in the nation.
The scope and breadth of Delaware’s public health system is immense, with federal funding contributing even more to promoting the health and well being of residents in the state. In 2014, federal grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) brought in another $30.4 million, ranking Delaware as having the 4th highest CDC budget in the United States based on per capita spending. The balance of funding was received from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which contributed $29.5 million. The result of this was nearly $60 million in funding available to support some of the most important public health initiatives in the state, including Vaccines for Children (VFC), maternal and child health, and chronic disease prevention.
In November of 2015, the Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health was bestowed with the first-ever state-level Health Champion Designation from the American Diabetes Association. The award is generally given to companies and organizations that go the extra mile in promoting health and wellness within their organizations. However, the state of Delaware was recognized for its tremendous work in encouraging all companies in the state to sponsor a healthy work environment.
A multidisciplinary master’s degree in public health is the tie that binds all public health policy professionals and program administrators in Delaware, preparing them for the challenge of creating cost-effective public health programs that both improve the health of Delaware residents and protect them from preventable diseases.
Earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Delaware
The Master of Public Health is a prestigious degree that gives professionals the benefit of a interdisciplinary education that is highly coveted in the public health community, both in the non-profit and public sectors. Public health professionals interested in career advancement and bachelor’s-educated professionals from other backgrounds interested in a career in public health will both find value in earning an MPH. The MPH degree provides professionals with the qualifications necessary to influence public health policy, as well as implement, manage and evaluate public health programs.
An online part-time option is available through many MPH programs. This gives working professionals the flexibility they need to focus on earning a graduate degree while still maintaining active employment.
A 4-year bachelor’s degree in any major from a regionally accredited school is typically considerable acceptable for admission to an MPH program.
Academic Overview
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is the accrediting agency for all MPH degree programs. Schools that meet CEPH accreditation standards are recognized for incorporating the five discipline-specific core competencies established by the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) and laid out in the 2004 MPH Core Competency Model:
- Biostatistics
- Environmental health sciences
- Epidemiology
- Health policy management
- Social and behavioral sciences
The ASPH further fine-tuned the MPH Core Competency Model by incorporating seven cross-cutting focus areas for the purpose of helping students achieve the core qualities of skilled, ethical public health leaders:
- Communication and informatics
- Diversity and culture
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Program planning
- Public health biology
- Systems thinking
Admission Requirements
The requirements outlined for admission to a master’s in public health program are specific to the individual school, so while the requirements shown here are typical of most MPH programs, they are not universal or all-inclusive:
- Current GRE scores. Students who have completed the LSAT, GMAT, or MCAT or who already have a graduate degree are not required to provide GRE scores
- Official transcripts from each academic institution
- Statement of purpose essay (500-1,500 words)
- Current resume
- Two letters of recommendation
Focus Areas and Specialization
The inclusion of discipline-specific focus areas is one the most unique aspects of MPH degree programs. The curriculum is customized and supplemented with a variety of different focus areas that helps students develop a customized educational experience:
Health Communication: Ideal for professionals who want to be leaders in the nation’s health conversation by using their communication and marketing skills to advance public health objectives. Screening for Life is one public health program in Delaware that is reliant on the leadership, communication and marketing skills of public health professionals.
This specialization includes the following courses:
- Leadership Seminar
- Global Health Communication Interventions
- Preventing Health Disparities
- Social Marketing
- Marketing and Research for Public Health
Health Policy: Ideal for professionals who want to be actively involved in streamlining public health policy in the United States and making it more effective and beneficial to consumers. In November of 2015, a new initiative aimed at educating pregnant women about the harmful effects of alcohol ingestion and substance abuse during pregnancy was formed. The initiative is a coalition of forces including the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Department of Public Health (DPH), Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH), and the FASD Task Force.
This specialization includes the following courses:
- Monitoring and Evaluation of Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health
- Public Health and Law
- Global Health Diplomacy
- Leadership Seminar
- Law, Medicine and Ethics
Program Planning and Evaluation: Ideal for professionals who are interested in planning and implementing public health programs as well as evaluating health outcomes and developing new strategies for improving health outcomes. Some of the public health programs available in Delaware are the Delaware Diabetes and Heart Disease Prevention and Control Program (DHDPCP), the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), and the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (TPCP).
This specialization includes the following courses:
- Monitoring and Evaluation of Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Researching Violence Against Women and Girls
- Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health
- Social Marketing
- Marketing Research for Public Health
Global Health: Ideal for professionals interested in combating global health concerns by developing initiatives focused on promoting health and preventing disease. Global health programs include the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
This specialization includes the following courses:
- Monitoring and Evaluation of Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Researching Violence Against Women and Girls
- Global Health Communication Interventions
- Preventing Health Disparities
- Global Health Diplomacy
- Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
- Climate Change and Social Change
Accelerated One-Year and Part-Time Options
The accelerated one-year option enables students to complete their master’s in public health in as little as 1 year. This option utilizes the MPH program core curriculum, but it packs more content into a shorter time period. Students who choose the one-year option should be prepared to follow a fast-paced, aggressive course schedule.
The part-time option is great for students who are struggling to find a balance between employment and education. Most schools offering the MPH degree program allow up to four years for completion on a part-time basis.
Job Growth Projections for Master’s-Educated Public Health Professionals in Delaware
In 2012, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services reported that approximately one in five Delaware residents are over age 60. By 2025, this demographic group will account for 25% of Delaware’s total population, and by 2030, the population of residents over the age of 60 will have doubled since the year 2000. As this demographic group continues to age, it is inevitable that their healthcare demands will increase as well, and this is one reason why the health care and social assistance sector is expected to create more jobs than any other sector in Delaware between 2012 and 2022. Public health occupations will continue to experience accelerated growth as the need for health policies directed at health promotion and disease prevention becomes even greater.
The following employment projections have been published by the U.S. Department of Labor and reflect estimated job growth for public health occupations in Delaware between 2012 and 2022:
- Social and Community Services Managers: 13%
- Statisticians: 20%
- Microbiologists: 8%
- Biological Scientists, All Other: 5%
- Rehabilitation Counselors: 13%
Salaries for Public Health Professions in Delaware that Require a Master’s Degree
The Delaware Department of Labor, Office of Occupational and Labor Market Information, in concert with the U.S. Department of Labor, released the public health occupational salary figures shown below in 2014. The salary range for each occupation spans from the tenth percentile, which is usually reflective of entry-level salary, to the 90th percentile, which is usually reflective of salaries for the most experienced professionals:
- Social and Community Services Managers: $49,780 to $89,440
- Median in New Castle County, including Wilmington and Newark: $65,354
- Median in Kent County, including Dover: $58,531
- Statisticians: $43,210 to $161,850
- Median in New Castle County, including Wilmington and Newark: $90,854
- Microbiologists: $39,790 to $101,540
- Median in New Castle County, including Wilmington and Newark: $53,269
- Median in Kent County, including Dover: $46,467
- Social Scientists: $41,810 to $93,900
- Rehabilitation Counselors: $26,050 to $47,860
- Median in New Castle County, including Wilmington and Newark: $34,362
- Median in Kent County, including Dover: $33,696
Career Opportunities for Master’s-Educated Public Health Professionals in Delaware
Professionals who earn their master’s degree in public health can look forward to challenging and rewarding career opportunities aligned with their area of focus or chosen electives. (The job descriptions below are only for illustrative purposes and are not meant to indicate the assurance of employment or guaranteed job offers.)
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II at State of Delaware, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Responsibilities:
- Reviews and analyzes individual medical and vocational data in order to determine eligibility for rehabilitation services
- Develops individualized rehabilitation plans
- Counsels clients to help them achieve vocational adjustment
- Uses community resources to coordinate rehabilitation services in order to meet individual client needs
- Monitors client progress and implements changes to individualized rehabilitation plan
- Assists with job placement services and follows up to ensure client adjusts to work environment
- Requirements:
- Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling
- Certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) preferable
- Minimum one year of experience in a vocational rehabilitation role
Public Health Administrator III
- Responsibilities:
- Serves as senior policy advisor responsible for planning and implementing public health services for the Center for Health Information Management and Disease Prevention
- Plans and implements health-related services for two public health sections, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Health Information Management and Epidemiology
- Strategizes and implements policies and standards for all public health initiatives
- Researches and analyzes data in order to maintain awareness of public health concerns in Delaware and to preemptively identify potential health threats
- Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum of three years of experience in public health administration, public health planning, and/or healthy policy administration
Director of Community Health Services
- Responsibilities:
- Directs and manages the operations of a community care system delivering services such as maternal and child health, immunizations, and community-based prevention programs
- Develops and implements health programs and policies designed to meet client needs and improve health outcomes
- Manages public health program budgets and allocates state and federal funds appropriately
- Establishes short-term and long-term objectives for each health program
- Evaluates efficacy of community-based health programs, reviews quality assurance measures, and institutes new strategies for improving health outcomes
- Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Three years’ experience in health program administration, planning and implementation, and/or development of policies and procedures
