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The social, economic and cultural dimensions of health and population are a major focus of both governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh and in other developing countries. It is now increasingly being recognized that there is a need for professionals who are well trained in the multi-faceted complex interactions of social, economic and cultural factors affecting health and population, such as plateauing fertility rates, inadequate health services coverage, the ongoing epidemiological transition from infectious to chronic diseases, and emerging public health issues such as HIV-AIDS and Arsenic contamination of water supplies. There is however a critical shortage of such professionals in these countries. This increased demand for such personnel comes at a time where funding for this kind of education abroad (United States, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, Asia) is extremely limited and will continue to be so in the future. Thus there exists a window of opportunity for in-country training of high quality at the master’s level in Public Health, which focuses on social-economic and cultural dimensions of health and population.

Varendra University Bangladesh is pleased to offer the following post-graduate program leading to the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.). This program will create facilities in higher study for Doctors, Nurses and Non medical health professionals.

The Objectives

Among the overall educational objectives for all graduates of the School is the development of individual competence and improved skills, particularly in (1) recognizing and defining public health problems, setting priorities, and using scientific approaches to problem solving; (2) accumulating appropriate data information, analyzing and interpreting findings, and assessing relevance and validity; and (3) communicating effectively with colleagues and a variety of groups involved in delivering health services. (4) To build up capacity and to prepare individual to become public health practitioner, thinker, researcher.

THE MAJOR COURSE OBJECTIVES ARE:

• To provide the highest level of education to public health scientists, practitioners, and leaders
• To foster new discoveries leading to improved health for the people of this country and all nations
• To strengthen health capacities and services for communities
• To inform policy debate, disseminate health information, and increase awareness of public health as a public good and fundamental right.

The master of public health (MPH) degree is the most widely recognized professional Credential for leadership in public health. The program emphasizes active, student-directed learning, problem solving, and the acquisition of skills essential to the practice of public health. For many candidates, the MPH will not be their first professional degree. Many students enter the MPH degree program with previous master’s or doctoral degrees or with varying years of practical experience in professional fields related to public health. Graduates of medical, nursing, dental, and other clinical programs, and applicants who have earned master’s or doctoral degrees in other health-related areas, or in other academic or professional areas, will find their academic backgrounds well suited to this program.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The minimum qualifications for admission to Graduate programs are:
Academic Qualifications

1. Bachelors degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) or equivalent professional degree in Alternate medicine, dentistry or Doctor of Medicine (MD) from any recognized national and Overseas university with at least two years of practical exposure in the professional field. The Doctor must have to be registered with Bangladesh medical and Dental Council/ National Registration Authority
2. Four-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university with a grade point average of 2.5 Or more on a scale of 4.0 in Pharmacy, Botany, Zoology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Psychology, Veterinary Science, Fisheries, Microbiology, Genetics, social sciences, anthropology and economics,
3. Three-year bachelors' degree with honors, with at least a second class in social sciences, Anthropology and psychology
4. Master degree in a health related subject or in any social science and science subjects with An experience of working in health related fields.
5. BSc. degree with diploma in medical related subject after SSC such as 4 years diploma in pharmacy, BSc. in Nursing, BSc. in Physiotherapy, BSc in Health technology
6. A two years graduation in nursing from any recognized university after duly completed Four years registered nursing course from government recognized institutes.

Students other than medical graduate required to appear in a written one hour MCQ Examination to prove their understanding about human health and diseases. They may require taking additional preparatory courses at Varendra University even after qualifying the test. The non medical candidate must qualify both in written admission test and viva. Since English is the medium of instruction, all applicants (both medical and non medical) must also take an English placement test for their application to be considered. Applicants will be selected based upon an interview process including a review of both academic and professional experience. The entrance examination designed to measure basic knowledge on primary health care system and level of English so that they can build up their skills in public health.