School and Jobs Advice Megathread Part III

[u/SadBreath]

All job and school-related advice should be asked in here. Below is the r/publichealth MPH guide which may answer general questions.

See the below guides for more information:

1. MPH Guide
2. Job Guide
3. Choosing a public health field
4. Choosing a public health concentration
5. Choosing a public health industry

Past Threads:

1. Megathread Part I
2. Megathread Part II

[u/kgkuntryluvr]

I recently applied, and have been accepted to Liberty University's MPH program. I know, I know-there is a negative opinion of the school (or positive depending on your political/religious leanings), but my job gives me a nice discount with them and they are now CEPH-accredited. The application process was quick and simple-no GRE, experience, nor mandatory prerequisite courses necessary, and the program can be completed entirely online (a necessity for me), and I can complete the program in as little as a year. Before starting in the spring, I want to make sure that I'm not wasting my money. Will the name of the school trump (no pun intended) its CEPH accreditation? If all goes well, I really just plan to use the degree as a jumping board to my doctorate in public policy or public administration (want a leadership role in a public sector involved in health policy). However, I know that things don't always go as planned, so I don't want an entirely useless MPH degree either if I end up having to seek employment with it.

[u/SadBreath → u/kgkuntryluvr]

If I saw that on a resume, I would seriously doubt your public health competencies. CEPH accreditation is a low bar. But it would not matter if you were a few years out and had been doing interesting work.

[u/kgkuntryluvr → u/SadBreath]

Thank you for your honest opinion. I was under the impression that the CEPH accreditation finally gave some real weight to their program that it was previously lacking. I guess I can’t escape the branding that comes with that school without thoroughly proving myself in the field, huh?