If you want to make a meaningful impact across populations on both a local and global scale, a public health degree opens the door to exciting opportunities — from tackling disease outbreaks to improving your community’s wellness. Public health employees primarily work in the healthcare, government, education, and nonprofit sectors, doing work that upholds and/or directly shapes policies.
Professionals with a public health degree commonly pursue a few of the following roles:
- Biostatistician: Analyzes statistical data to identify trends.
- Epidemiologist: Investigates disease outbreaks, patterns, and causes.
- Public Health Educator: Creates programs to improve community health.
- Health Services Manager: Oversees healthcare facility operations and staff.
- Substance Abuse Counselor: Assists individuals in overcoming addiction.
- Environmental Health Specialist: Monitors and ensures environmental safety.
- Public Health Research Assistant: Supports research through data analysis.
It’s crucial to recognize that the type of job you can pursue in the field of public health greatly depends on your education. Certain sectors — such as healthcare and government — may also require relevant work experience. Enrolling in a Bachelor of Science in Public Health program or a Master of Public Health program allows you to hone your knowledge and skills through hands-on experience.
What is Public Health?
Public health is the branch of science dedicated to protecting and enhancing the health of populations — ranging from local neighborhoods to entire global regions. This multidisciplinary approach brings together professionals from diverse backgrounds who leverage their education, research, and policy making skills to assess, prevent, and address health threats on a daily basis.
By investigating factors such as environmental conditions, community settings, and social determinants, public health experts create and carry out measures designed to improve health outcomes. The field is a crucial cornerstone for essential initiatives, such as vaccination campaigns, educational outreach, and the maintenance of regulatory standards, all of which aim to foster healthier communities and curb widespread disease.
Public health also plays a pivotal role in addressing health disparities and enhancing healthcare access for underserved populations. Its broad scope touts significant achievements such as the eradication of smallpox, reduction of tobacco use, and implementation of strategies to improve maternal health outcomes. Through its proactive approach, public health continues to drive progress and contribute to a healthier future for all.
Skills Needed for Public Health Careers
Pursuing a career in public health requires a unique blend of skills tailored to address health challenges. This might mean monitoring a novel influenza strain at the start of winter or working toward reducing a sudden uptick in overdoses; each day is unique. Some of the most common skills you’ll need as a public health professional include a few of the following:
- Communication: Effective communication is essential for conveying critical health information and engaging diverse audiences. Public health professionals constantly collaborate with healthcare providers, organizations, government officials, and the general public, so all information must be disseminated accurately.
- Leadership: Managing teams, driving initiatives, and coordinating efforts across stakeholders and organizations are crucial for achieving impactful public health outcomes.
- Research: Designing, conducting, and interpreting studies is essential for informing evidence-based practices and policies in public health.
- Adaptability: Public health professionals must navigate dynamic landscapes, meaning they must be able to swiftly respond to emerging health challenges. Flexibility allows for resilient responses to unforeseen crises like disease outbreaks or natural disasters.
- Problem-Solving: Analyzing complex health issues, developing innovative solutions, and pinpointing community health needs are essential tasks for public health workers. Quick problem-solving also allows for effective crisis management and response in critical situations.
- Advocacy and Cultural Competence: Influencing policy decisions, championing community health needs, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare resources are vital aspects of advocacy. Public health servants are also expected to understand diverse cultural perspectives.
Where Can Bachelor’s in Public Health Graduates Work?
A Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) is an undergraduate program that prepares you to find entry-level employment (though some organizations hire BSPH graduates for mid-level roles) in sectors such as government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions. When selecting a BSPH program, consider its key components, such as the learning format (online or in-person), program length, and transferability of your credits.
Graduates with a BSPH may find employment and conduct the following tasks across a few of these settings:
- Healthcare Facilities: Assist in management or serve as public health educators within hospitals, clinics, and community health centers.
- Government Agencies: Implement public health policies across local, state, or federal levels, conduct outreach programs, and manage data analysis.
- Nonprofit Organizations (Local Focus): Contribute to initiatives aimed at community health improvement, disease prevention, and health education.
- Academic Institutions: Assist with developing and implementing health education programs in public schools or universities.
- Research Institutions: Support research efforts in public health, epidemiology, or health behavior studies.
Credits from a Bachelor’s in Public Health may transfer directly to a Master of Public Health program. Earning a public health degree is also an excellent stepping stone for medical school as it provides a solid foundation in understanding health systems, epidemiology, and community health.
Where do Master of Public Health Graduates Work?
A Master of Public Health (MPH) is a graduate program that helps prepare you to find mid-level and advanced positions in sectors such as government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions.
Those with a Master of Public Health have advanced skills and knowledge that qualify them for leadership roles in public health practice, policy, and research. This is typically due to the broader range of specializations in graduate programs. Common employment settings for MPH graduates include:
- Government Agencies: Graduates with a Master’s in Public Health are more likely to spearhead program development, policy formation, or epidemiological investigations than those with an undergraduate degree.
- Global Health Organizations: Directly address global health challenges such as infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and public health emergencies.
- Healthcare Administration: Oversee healthcare programs or departments within hospitals or healthcare systems, focusing on operational efficiency and program implementation to enhance population health outcomes.
- Academic Institutions: Primarily lead or assist with research efforts in public health, epidemiology, or health behavior studies within universities, research institutes, or think tanks.
- Nonprofit Organizations (Global and National Focus): Advocate for health equity, develop community health initiatives, and address specific health issues affecting vulnerable populations. Contrasted to BSPH graduates, MPH graduates are often better equipped to navigate roles that extend beyond local communities and encompass broader-reaching initiatives.
Earn Your BSPH or MPH at WCU
Looking to enroll in a public health degree program? To help you fit your education into your
busy schedule, West Coast University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Public Health
program and an online Master of Public Health program. Both programs allow you to earn your
degree at an Accelerated pace or Working Professional pace to accommodate your needs.
Learn more about the BSPH and MPH program to get started on your exciting career journey.
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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