Difference between MSc and M.P.H.

There are a lot of professional degrees that people study for these days. With the growth of meritocracy, diversity of people’s passion and goals in life as well as the competition among top class universities, many new degrees, at the bachelors, masters as well as doctorate levels have been introduced. Moreover, people do not always do their post graduate studies in the same subject or filed as their bachelors. Organizations and firms prefer people these days who have expertise in two or more disciples and can link up their knowledge in the two or more fields for the benefit of their employers. Therefore, many subjects and disciples have sprung up at almost all levels of education.

When we use the abbreviation MSc, which is short for Master of Science (also sometimes referred to as just MS), we actually mean a degree that is a postgraduate academic one. When a person enrolls into a university after college, he or she starts a bachelor or an under graduate degree. Once that is done, if the student wishes to pursue their studies, what they apply for is a master’s degree or a post graduate degree. This is what MSc refers to. It is an umbrella term that incorporates all the masters’ degrees that are given in the world with some exceptions. In some countries however, MSc is used for a masters’ degree that is in any science subject such as medicine or engineering. Consequently, all other masters’ degrees come under the abbreviation MS or master of studies.

When we talk about the abbreviation MPH, which is short for Master of Public Health, we actually refer to a professional degree that is multi-disciplinary, that is, covers multiple fields or subjects, as long as they are under or linked to the area of public health. The main focus of a MPH degree is public health practice and not teaching or research. There are many MPH programs that are available all over the world. These include programs in Public Health, Schools of Public Health, Medical Schools and Schools of Public Affairs. It must be pointed out that in some exceptional countries, the MPH program is only available for physician graduates, that is, medical doctors (MBBS), MD(s) or other personnel who have professional degrees equivalent to these. In these countries, people who do not have a medical degree can continue Public Health studies by taking up either MSPH, which is Master of Science in Public Health or MMSPH, which is Master of Medical Science in Public Health program.

Keeping in view the information and details of the two provided, a simple conclusion can be drawn that MSc and MPH have a huge difference. The first one refers to a post graduate degree, or a degree that is done after a bachelor degree. MSc can be in any field or area of study that you choose, and if you ignore the branch of programs classified under MS in some countries, MSc would include almost all degrees given at the post graduate level. In contrast to this, MPH is one of these post graduate degrees that is solely based on studies in the area of Public Health as well as some related disciples. This implies that MSc is a general term that includes MPH although the converse is not true. All people who have a MPH degree can also say that they have an MSc degree. However, all people who have an MSc degree cannot say that they have an MPH degree as their field of study can be any in addition to public health.

Summary of differences expressed in points
1. the abbreviation MSc, which is short for Master of Science (also sometimes referred to as just MS) means the degree that is a postgraduate academic one, an umbrella term that incorporates all the masters’ degrees that are given in the world with some exceptions. In some countries however, MSc is used for a masters’ degree that is in any science subject such as medicine or engineering; the abbreviation MPH, which is short for the Master of Public Health actually refers to a professional degree that is multi-disciplinary, that is, covers multiple fields or subjects, as long as they are under or linked to the area of public health

2. MSc includes almost all degrees given at the post graduate level. In contrast to this, MPH is one of these post graduate degrees that is solely based on studies in the area of Public Health.