online mph programs

I guess it all depends on your ultimate career goals. What is it that you want to do? Would becoming a nurse really suit your career goals or would it just make more sense to not even pursue a LPN or an ASN program?

I have a great interest in obtaining a MPH but I'm also interested in the field of Nursing and all of the opportunities it provides.

So, I've decided to complete my BSN, work in the hospital environment for a few years and then go back to obtain a MSN/MPH. I would love to work for a national health organization or international health organization like the WHO (World Health Organization) one day (where a MPH would defintely come in handy). Luckily, I've found programs that offer a joint-degree in MSN/MPH.

I really think you should assess your personal situation and also your ultimate interests/career goals to decide which route will be best for you.

Here is what I did, I went to school and got a BS in Biology, now I can't find any job that has anything to do with biology.

After I graduated I looked for master programs that would interest me and I thought the MPH would be a good idea for me. Since I still haven't taken the GRE I started doing a graduate certificate in Epidemiology while I got around to the GRE. The graduate certificate had pretty much the same classes as the MPH but not all of them so I figured I would pick up where I left off.

Then I started working at my local health department and I realized that I would not be able to do anything with an MPH unless I was a nurse. There are a couple of nurses here (like the head of the department) that have MPH's.

It seems like the school of choice for the people at the health department is the University of South Florida, I've heard good things about the program. I was doing mine at Florida International University but I never even finished the certificate because they never offered the classes that I needed to complete it, and they would always tell me to take a different class and they would count it but I have a feeling if I got around to it they would come back and tell me those are not the aproved classes.

But overall I think you should do what you think would best suit your person and your needs. I actually didn't think I'd like nursing school so much, although we are doing clinicals this summer (I'm doing a part time program at the local community college) and I'm terrified and happy at the same time.

Good luck.

Hmmmm, I'm wondering why you don't just go for a BSN since you already have a bachelor's? In case you're unaware, there are many colleges that have a fast-track BSN program for people who already have a bachelor's. Or, since you've probably already taken all the pre-requisites for a BSN program, why not go for the BSN since it will take 2 years to get either a ADN or BSN for you? You'll go for the same amount of time for either an ADN or a BSN, so I'd go for the higher degree. I got my ADN first, but if I'd already had a bachelor's in another field, then I would've went ahead and gone straight for a bachelor's. If money is a problem, then check into financial aid. Many states have some sort of nursing shortage scholarships for those wishing to enter nursing. Good luck with your endeavors!

I am currently working on a MPH & TM (tropical medicine) at Tulane. The Environmental Health Sciences department of the School of Public Health offers a couple of distance learning degrees. The School may offer others, but I don't know. The MPH & TM is NOT offered online, that's why I live in the Big Easy.

http://www.sph.tulane.edu/EHS/programs/index.htm

I don't blame you wanting to go back to school with the job market the way it is, but depending on what it is that you want to do I might throw my vote for the "experience" pile. That's sort of what I did, I tried getting a few internships that would show me whether or not I really wanted to go into nursing (it helped that I had some good connections, but...). On the other hand, if you're sure that the degree will put you in the right place then it, too, could be a good decision. Just be prepared for the debt that will no doubt result.

As for capella...you might be interested in this (I don't know how truthful these claims are, tho)

http://www.capellauniversity.org/