A Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree is a great program for students looking to start a career in dental sciences and prepares its graduates for diverse career paths in oral healthcare through a comprehensive blend of academics and practical knowledge. However, pursuing a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) after completing BDS can further enhance the value of your degree and open up additional opportunities.
A Master’s in Public Health after a BDS degree not only expands career prospects but also enhances the capacity to positively impact public health outcomes and address oral health challenges on a broader scale. In this post, we’re going to take a look at what BDS is and how a master’s in public health after BDS can help you expand your career prospects and skill sets. Let’s get started!
What is a BDS Course?
Bachelor of Dental Surgery, commonly abbreviated as BDS, is an undergraduate medical programme that deals with advanced knowledge of dental science. The programme deals with the study of dentistry with academic and clinical proficiency using medical techniques and guides students through various classifications of different branches and surgical procedures. Some major subjects and specialisations include Pedodontics, Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine and Radiology, Dental Materials, Dental Anatomy, Oral Histology, and Community Dentistry.
By undertaking this program, students can train themselves to become dentists related to oral surgeries, orthodontics, aesthetics treatment, and more and carry out diagnostic procedures along with prevention and treatment. The programme is structured in such a way that it enables not only but also fosters the rational, intellectual, and social ability of the aspirants.
Career Scope of BDS in India
According to a report by Grand View Research, India’s dental market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.3% between 2021 and 2028. The demand for dentists and oral health professionals is also increasing as the number of people taking their oral hygiene and health more seriously. Therefore, the future of dentists in India looks promising, with a growing demand for dental services. Moreover, the recent advancements in technology and dentistry are changing the way dentists practise and make way for more career opportunities. Be it medicine, surgery, or aesthetic procedures, a BDS degree promises a rewarding career with a good salary.
Graduates can find promising work in hospitals to educational institutions, and can also open clinics of their own. Some prominent areas of employment for BDS graduates are Dental Clinics, Private Practice, Hospitals, Research Institutions, Educational Institutions, Pharmaceutical Companies and the manufacturing of Dental Products.
Recent Graduates can start their career in dentistry by becoming Junior residents in governmental and private health institutions and clinics. You can also join a clinic and start your career as a dentist in the clinical sector and non-clinical sectors. This expands your knowledge of clinical procedures, practice management, and soft skills and exposes you to real-life problems. After you get enough exposure in the field, you begin your private practice and set up your own clinic. If you do not wish to work but study further, you can also pursue a variety of master’s degrees and PG diplomas available for BDS graduates that can help you expand your skill set and explore more career options.
Reasons to Pursue MPH after BDS Course
After graduating with a BDS degree, pursuing a Master’s in Public Health is beneficial for a variety of reasons. The scope for a Masters in Public Health is vast as it allows you to combine the knowledge and skills gained through a BDS degree with the intricacies of public and community health and allows you to work for management and governance of health systems and services in various sectors and organisations, such as government and private health institutes, public advocacy, health communications, and research institutes.
The programme contributes to public health governance in India and promotes global health through innovation and impact. It also allows you to develop critical thinking, creativity, and leadership skills, as well as gain valuable exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences. This additional qualification enables dentists to address broader public health issues related to oral health disparities, disease prevention, health education, and community outreach, something they wouldn’t be able to do with just a BDS degree. Hence, an MPH degree further enhances your skills and career prospects in public health.
The MPH programme is also beneficial to fuel innovation not just in India but across the world. It builds future public health leaders who can have a direct impact on advancing the goals of public health and sustainable human development worldwide. The program also allows various stakeholders such as government, regulators, private and public institutions, NGOs, and academia to collaborate effectively. With an MPH degree, dentists become better equipped to contribute to comprehensive healthcare teams and address the complex health needs of communities effectively.
Another great reason to pursue a master’s degree in Public Health is the promising, fulfilling, and rewarding career opportunities it provides to its graduates. After graduating with an MPH, you can start a career in public health, community healthcare, education, research, policy, and advocacy.- both in India and around the world. Some popular career roles are Epidemiologists, Health Administrators, Public Health Research Managers, Public Health Practitioners, Childbirth Health Educators, Assistant Environmental Scientists, Assistant Professors of Epidemiology, Assistant Public Health Professors, Public Health Lobbyists, or Public Health Consultants.
It also opens doors for an international career in the field of public health and starts your career as a Clinical Infectious Disease Specialist, Chief Medical Officer, Biosecurity Specialist, Research scientist, and Health Communications specialist. Given the skills and knowledge gained as part of this programme, it also enables you to contribute to the field of public health in public health organisations, NGOs, research institutions, government agencies, private companies, academia, and international organisations.
Masters in Public Health Course by JGU
The Masters in Public Health programme offered by the Jindal School of Public Health and Human Development (JSPH) is a specialised and innovative course that is one of India’s leading programs in the field of Public Health. This school is a part of OP Jindal Global University, India’s #1 Private University.
Building on JGU’s extensive engagement in the field of public health in the country, this two-year postgraduate degree programme is aimed at building future health leaders and lays a strong foundation for a global health approach. The program is designed to train students in the field of public health and human development and help them build foundational training, skills, and competencies to kickstart their careers in public health in India and globally.
The programme offers a research-intensive curriculum and includes a variety of valuable core courses, electives, specialisations, dissertations, and capstone options to give the students a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of public health issues and solutions. Students can also participate in semester exchange and study abroad programmes with leading educational and health institutions in public health, which helps them build a global mindset and exposes them to the best in the industry.
Through its curriculum, it enables students to acquire competencies, skills, and values based on the essential MPH Competencies designed by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH), United States of America. Some important course subjects that the curriculum covers are epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, health promotion, environmental health, and global health. Moreover, the curriculum is designed to help its students gain valuable life skills and transferable knowledge, such as critical thinking, research methodology, data analysis, and communication, which they can apply in various social and professional settings.
FAQs
1. What subjects are taught in a master’s in public health degree at JGU? What are tha main areas of focus?
The coursework revolved around six areas of focus and students can specialise in any one of them. These are: Human Rights and Human Development, Environmental Health, Health Systems and Policy, Mental Health, Gender, Sexuality and Health, and Humanitarian Relief and International Security. A dissertation in the chosen area of specialization is mandatory.
2. Is a masters in public health degree practical based?
It is a balance of theory and practical based learning. Our program enhances your learning with advanced professional training and immersive field experiences that perfectly align with your coursework.
3. Can I pursue a masters in public health with a non medical background?
Yes, whether you have a science or non-science background, you can pursue this programme if you wish to start a career in public health.
