Current health care professionals and recent graduates with degrees in biobehavioral health, health management, health policy and administration, nursing, nutrition, and social sciences are well suited to prepare to enter these careers. Penn State College of Medicine's master's degree program in Public Health Sciences (formerly Health Evaluation Sciences), which includes graduate-level coursework in biostatistics, epidemiology, and health services research, provides knowledge and insight required in health related research. Master's degree or certificate completion in Public Health Sciences can lead to careers in a wide variety of fields and settings, including:

• Academic health centers
• Health insurance industry
• Health Services Networks
• Local, state, and federal government agencies
• Pharmaceutical industry

Students learn population based methods for planning, executing, analyzing, and disseminating research results. Students also learn methods for evaluating and improving health care practices.

While theoretical considerations are covered, the program emphasizes hands-on applications of methods in the real world.