Switching Master's Programs

[sanantone]

How far into the current program are you and will any of it transfer?

I took one 1-credit course and one 4-credit course. I'm sure the 1-credit course won't transfer. I'm still waiting to hear if the 4-credit course will transfer as an elective. 

https://online.uj.ac.za/Programmes/Maste...lic-Health

When I was searching for programs earlier this year, I had decided that I would only apply for an MPH program if it was CEPH-accredited. After comparing dozens of programs, I determined it would be most convenient to earn an EHAC-accredited degree. USPHS also has openings every year for Environmental Health Officers; they rarely have openings for public health. 

I thought you lived in TX. How are you doing classes like that without any field lab time?

There is no lab time, which is one of the reasons why I'm switching programs. I do not have the lab experience to become a microbiologist. In my careers seminar course discussions, I learned that there are categories of types of students in the program. 

1. Students who are already laboratory scientists and want to earn a graduate degree to move up. 
2. Students who already have an undergraduate degree in a science and want to earn a PhD. 
3. Students who already have prerequisites for a healthcare program, but are in the M.S. program to improve their chances of acceptance. Completing a medical-related master's degree to increase one's chance of getting into medical or dental school is common. 
4. There were some students who had a plan that didn't make sense. They wanted to work in public health and planned to earn an MPH, so I didn't understand why they were earning the M.S.
5. High school and middle school teachers looking for a pay increase. 

When I applied the microbiology program earlier this year, I also applied to the forensic science program (different from the medical science/forensic medicine program). The full name of the forensic science degree is Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Science with a major in Pharmacology with a concentration in Forensic Science (or Forensic Chemistry or Forensic DNA and Serology). Despite the stupid name, I saw on LinkedIn that many of the graduates of the forensic science program are employed as forensic scientists. Their online forensic science program just might be the most popular in the country. It used to require on-campus visits for labs several years ago, but I guess they decided that they were unnecessary. Unlike microbiology and medical/clinical laboratory science, lab experience is not really needed to enter the forensic science field because extensive on-the-job training is the norm. Employers just want applicants to have a biology, chemistry, or forensic science degree. If someone were to be hired as a crime scene investigator or medical examiner/coroner investigator in a large city, they would be doing little to no lab work. Autopsy technicians and morgue assistants are normally trained on the job. 

The forensic medicine program explains that, since it does not have labs, they use pictures to train students on how to identify signs of certain injuries and diseases. If you're an investigator or forensic nurse, that's really all you need. Most people in the medical field are not good at linking visual signs to possible abuse. In my previous job, I took continuing education courses from a forensic nurse and a pathologist on how to identify signs of child abuse.

As a side note, different state agencies offer different benefits. Health and Human Services offered $5,000 per year in tuition reimbursement, but I hated my job. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is the only large agency in the state that offers no tuition reimbursement. TDCJ is such an awful department that doesn't care about its employees at all. So, I have a new job with a federal contractor that offers tuition reimbursement. If only I could have gotten a job with the Texas Department of Transportation. They pay up to $10,000 per year in tuition reimbursement.