How to Choose a Florida MPH Degree + Online Options

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Public Health Problems in Florida

The Florida Department of Public Health has identified a number of key areas of concern for public health. The first element is linked to disease prevention, which includes:

Immunizations
Drowning prevention
Sexual abuse
Stress prevention
Substance abuse prevention
Suicide prevention
Smoking prevention

The second element focuses on injury prevention, specifically:

Brain and spinal cord injuries
Dog bites
Falls
Suicide prevention
Smoking prevention

The six leading causes of death in Florida are:

Cancer
Heart disease
Unintentional injuries
Stroke
Chronic lower respiratory disease
Diabetes

Unique Pressures on the Public Health System in Florida

The population of Florida is quite unique in terms of ethnic background. The 2005 census stated that:

1% were white.
20% were Hispanic or Latino.
17% were African American or Afro-Caribbean.
1% were Asian American.
4% were Native Americans.

No other state has an African-American population as large as that of Florida, and the Latino population is second largest on the East Coast, excluding New York. There is also a particularly rapid growth of Asian people, hailing mainly from China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. A number of Native American tribes have been recognized in the state, including the Seminoles, who live in the southeastern region. Their health concerns are addressed mainly by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, although alcohol abuse is particularly problematic.

The Hispanic population in Florida is mainly made up of Cubans who live in Miami and are refugees from Castro’s regime. Puerto Ricans live mainly in Tampa and Orlando. Mexicans and Central Americans, meanwhile, live in the South and the West-Central regions of the state. This community is particularly mobile and affluent, and now includes Nicaraguans, Dominicans, and Colombians.

The majority of non-Hispanic whites stem from 19^th century settlers, who developed the agriculture in Florida, particularly cotton. Most of these families have British ancestry, originating from Wales, England, Scotland, and Ireland. That said, some have Spanish and French ancestry as well.

The non-Hispanic black population is also increasing, both through Caribbean immigration and reverse migration from the north of the country. Around 50% of non-Hispanic blacks are African American, with others being Haitian and West-Indian. Their largest concentrations are in North Florida, particularly in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa. The Miami metropolitan area is also home to a large Indian/Haitian community. The state also has the largest Jamaican American and Haitian American populations in the country.

Each of these population groups have different health concerns that must be addressed by public health officials.

Getting a Masters in Public Health in Florida

The U.S. News & World Report ranks the MPH degree program offered by the University of South Florida as 16^th best in the country.

This MPH program offers a set of principles and skills that are required for students who wish to become leaders in specific fields of health within professional settings. The goal is to produce specialists who can protect the well-being and health of specific population groups in the state. Indeed, the focus is on innovative, culturally appropriate, population-based approaches, particularly on emerging and current public health concerns in the state.

The core of the degree focuses on elements of social and behavioral sciences, occupational and environmental health, health policy and management, epidemiology, and biostatistics. Students also choose an area of concentration, with their options being:

Biostatistics
Epidemiology
Health care organizations and management
Policy and programs
Environmental health
Toxicology and risk assessment
Safety management
Occupational health
Global communicable disease
Maternal and child health
Health education
Behavioral health
Public health practice
Global health
Socio-health sciences
Global disaster management
Humanitarian relief
Homeland security

This makes the program one of the most extensive in the country, with few other universities offering this number concentration options.

Florida is one of the few states that does not have a state loan repayment program in place, however. This means that no loan forgiveness options exist for those who want to complete an MPH degree.

Working in Public Health in Florida

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies most MPH degree holders as medical and health services managers. They have reported good conditions in Florida, specifically that:

There are 12,130 of these professionals employed in the state.
Their average annual salary is $118,540, which is significantly above the national average for this profession of $96,540.
The national expectation is a 17% growth in demand for the skills of medical and health services managers from 2014 to 2024.