3 steps to choose the right public health graduate degree for you

Diverse group of prospective students and families walking up steps and gathering outside modern brick University of Michigan School of Public Health building during campus visit or admissions event

Lynn Douglass, Graduate Recruitment Lead, Office of Student Affairs

September 3, 2025

Part of my role as the graduate recruitment lead at the University of Michigan School of Public Health is talking to prospective students and helping them decide what public health graduate degree fits their skills, interests and career goals. I want to share some advice to help prospective students like you narrow down your options and feel confident about the path you’ve decided on.

At the University of Michigan School of Public Health, we offer a range of graduate degrees, including:

  • Master of Public Health (MPH)
  • Master of Science (MS)
  • Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA)
  • Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)

Students work toward their degree within one of seven departments:

Step 1: Choose between residential and online public health graduate programs

The first thing I encourage prospective students to think about is what sort of modality would work best for you. Are you looking for an in-person, residential program based in Ann Arbor, or would an online option work better for you? At Michigan Public Health, we offer an online MPH program in Population and Health Sciences. All other graduate degrees are residential and require students to attend classes in-person and live on or near the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus.

Step 2: Identify the type of graduate degree that fits your career path

Next, I encourage prospective students to think about what type of degree you need to accomplish your career goals.

  • Master of Public Health (MPH): An MPH degree can prepare students for a broad range of career paths related to public health, including non-profits, government, technology, medicine, research, and academia, among others.
  • Master of Science (MS): While an MPH and MS degree can lead to similar career paths, an MS degree may be better suited for someone who leans toward analytical skills like research and data analysis or is interested in going on to pursue a doctoral degree.
  • Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA): An MHSA degree—also known as a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) at some other universities—prepares students for a career in healthcare administration or public health policy.
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): A PhD is a research-intensive degree focused on contributing original knowledge to a specific field and can lead to a career in research or academia, as well as industry jobs. A master’s degree is not a requirement before applying for a PhD program. 

It’s important to note that master’s degrees and doctoral degrees also vary in time commitment. Master’s programs at Michigan Public Health are all two years, while doctoral degrees typically take between four to six years to complete.

Step 3: Explore Public Health Academic Departments

Lastly, consider which academic department aligns most with your interests. Perhaps an interest in data would lead you to the Department of Biostatistics, or an interest in health disparities could lead you to the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity. I invite you to explore each of our academic department webpages thoroughly to understand their mission, coursework and career outcomes. When you’ve found one or two departments you’re especially excited about, you might spend some time digging deeper into what work their faculty are doing, what jobs alumni get, and who their current students are.

Tip: One tricky thing is that departments and programs do not have consistent names across different schools of public health. For example, what’s called the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity at the University of Michigan might be called the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at another school of public health. It’s important to spend time researching online to discover what departments and programs align with your interests from school to school.

By following these three steps, you should land on the right graduate degree for you. But, if you need more help navigating your options, there are plenty of ways to reach us.

Along with my colleagues at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, I’m so excited that you are considering a graduate degree in public health. The field—and this school—is filled with wonderful people who are excited to teach the next generation of public health leaders. While graduate school is an important investment and you want to choose the right path for you, all of the degrees we offer unlock doors to a wide variety of career paths. I wish you the best of luck in your journey!

Lynn Douglass headshotAbout the Author

Lynn Douglass
Graduate Recruitment Lead
Office of Student Affairs
University of Michigan School of Public Health

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