Are you interested in earning a dual degree in public health and healthcare administration? If you have always dreamed of working in the healthcare sector, it can be difficult to choose which path you would like to take. For those who are lucky enough to know that they would like to work as a healthcare administrator specifically in a public health setting, the hardest part of planning for the future is over.
Now that you know what you would like to do, the next step is putting a plan into action so that you have the educational background you need to qualify to enter the field. Some take the long path of earning their degree in Public Health or Healthcare Administrator as an undergraduate student just to move on to an advanced degree to learn about the other in more detail. If you want to take the quicker and more practical path, it would be best to take a dual degree program that covers Health Services Administration curriculum to prepare students for advanced Public Health studies. Read on, and learn the specifics of a dual degree program so that you can decide if this is the right path for you.
How Are Dual Degree Programs Laid Out?
You may be wondering just how a dual degree program in Health Administration and Public Health studies differs from a traditional Health Administration program. This is a legitimate inquiry and once you understand the difference in layout you will understand why so many people are choosing to go the dual degree route. A dual degree program allows students to earn their Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and their Master’s in Public Health in a period of about 5 years.
The reason why students can shave off a year of undergraduate study from their schedule as a full-time student is because of the way the credits are applied. Students will spend 3 years studying for their Bachelor’s in Health Administration. Once these 3 years of study have been completed, they will then spend 2 years completing the Master of Public Health curriculum. A large portion of the credits from the first year of graduate study will be applied to the Bachelor’s degree requirements. This is why students can earn both degrees in less time.
What Are the Benefits of a Dual Degree in Health?
Now that you understand how the layout between a traditional program and a dual degree program differ, you may be wondering what the benefits of a specialty program where you can earn a dual degree are. The most obvious benefit is that students who can keep up with accelerated study will be able to graduate and earn an advanced degree sooner in order to start their careers. If your intentions are to earn both degrees, you may also be able to cut costs by taking courses that apply to both graduation requirements.
Demand in public health is on the rise as healthcare laws are changing. With administration ranking as one of the highest in-demand jobs in the sector, choosing this dual degree program could offer you significant advantages. Be sure to compare different programs (pleases see: Top 20 Most Affordable Health Science Degree Programs), see which layout you prefer, and then earn your dual degree in public health and healthcare administration so that you have the knowledge you need to land a position while demand is high.