Our first alum is Pam Homiak. Pam graduated with her MPH in 2004 and currently works as a nurse. Let’s get to the questions…
When did you decide what you were going to do after graduation? (Randi, Senior, Kinesiology)
Hi Randi. I think that a good way to approach the future is to create a goal or a vision and have everything that you're doing in the present support you attaining that goal. So, from the beginning of my time in the Master's program at U of MD, I did my best to formulate a goal and then to make steps in that direction. During the second year of the program, I began exploring PhD programs as a next step, so I knew it would be a good thing to get some research experience under my belt. To that end, I chose to do my MPH internship in one of the research laboratories at the school. Hands-on experience doing what you think you might like to do in the future is always a helpful thing! That piqued my interest in research, so I decided to stick with it.
I suppose I made the final decision to pursue a research assistant position after graduation during the fall of my second year as a Master's student, or at the very beginning of spring semester. I would encourage you to make the decision as soon as possible because the job market is tough. The earlier you put yourself out there as a competitor for jobs, the better your chances will be to find just the right job for you. I hope that helps. Best of luck with your job search!
Why should I get a masters degree? (Justine, Community Health, Junior)
Hi Justine. A master's degree is a great thing! I think that pursuing graduate work in your field of interest lets others (especially employers) know that you are really committed to becoming an expert in that particular field. Sure, there are jobs out there for bachelor's-prepared employees, but earning a master's degree opens the door to even more opportunities. What employer wouldn't prefer to hire someone with specialized (i.e. beyond bachelor's) training in a specific field over someone who hasn't pursued a master's degree?
Also, a master's degree will increase the salary that you can request from a future employer. The more education that you have, the more that employers will be willing to pay you to join their team. So, to sum up the answer to your question, here are the top 3 reasons that I'd offer for earning a master's degree: 1) you'll be able to command more respect as an expert in your field of choice because of your advanced studies, 2) increased job opportunities, and 3) more money! Best of luck to you!
How has having your MPH benefited you as a nurse? Are there more opportunities for leadership positions? (Krystal, Senior, Kinesiology)
Thanks for your question, Krystal! I'm not sure that I know of 2 degrees that go hand-in-hand better than an MPH and a BSN (nursing degree). Nursing and Public Health intersect on so many levels. Having my MPH has helped me to understand disease processes and health outcomes with a broader, global understanding than my nursing degree alone would have allowed me to do.
Also, a huge part of my MPH work focused on education, and such a huge part of a nurse's job is to educate her patients, physicians, fellow nurses, etc. I think that my MPH has made me a better educator. Instead of looking at a patient as an individual case of a disease, I can think about other things that I learned may have contributed to the patient's current status (i.e. social support, socioeconomic status), and I can tailor my education to account for these things. And, yes, having a master's degree certainly opens the door to other job opportunities. Having looked around the hospital where I work now, I have seen that all of the nurses in management-level positions have advanced degrees. I know that some of my former classmates worried that I was leaving public health behind to pursue a career in nursing. That isn't the case at all. I use what I learned as a public health professional every day as a nurse, and I think I'm a better nurse for it.
What are the benefits to getting a Public Health degree rather than getting another degree, say Biology? (Dan, Junior, Kinesiology)
Hi Dan. Good question. During my undergraduate days, I did major in biology. Then, I went on to earn my master's degree in public health. To decide between the two, I think you need to think about what you'd like to do ultimately. With a degree in biology, I found that most of the job opportunities were in the natural or laboratory sciences (i.e. I found jobs for lab tech positions in genetics research labs). Public health prepares you for different sorts of jobs. There are certainly different courses to pursue within the field of public health, but some of those positions might include: health educator, program planner, program administrator, etc.
Certainly, I don't think you have to let any major that you choose limit what you might do, but I think you should make the most of your major and really let it prepare you well for what you would like to do in the future. Why not check out a few websites with job postings and look up jobs that you might be interested in doing one day? See what sort of educational background those particular employers are looking for. I think that will help illuminate the differences between what a biology major and a public health major prepare you to do out there in the 'real world'. Good luck!
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Thanks to 2004 MPH graduate Pam Homiak for her time and expertise. If you have questions for our future alums, or if you are an alum and would like to offer your expertise, email rmcmahon@umd.edu.
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