What can you do with a Public Health Degree?

Most people are curious about the potential careers after earning a public health degree and they always wonder how a background in public health can help them make an impact in the real world, where they can enjoy job stability and can grow their professional opportunities. In this blog, we are going to explore everything that a person can do with a public health degree, whether S/He is undergraduate or at the graduate level and we will also know why this versatile credential is in high demand.

What is Public Health?

Most of you might be wondering what is public health so lets define it in laymen language – a Public health is just a science and art for preventing disease along with prolonging life and promoting well being through organised community efforts and it differs from clinical medicine as in clinical medicine most of the focus is on treating individuals while in public health the emphasis is on Population level interventions. Public Health mission is to create a healthy environment that can improve the quality of life and minimise the health disparities across communities and countries.

By pursuing a Public Health degree, anyone can join a field that is dedicated to solving big problems like chronic disease, pandemics, environmental equity, maternal health and access to health services.

Why choose a Public Health Degree?

A public health degree is your way for a wide range of careers that are focused on making a huge impact and here are some of the reasons why students choose this path:

Diverse Career Options: Public Health degree allows you to work in multiple sectors like Non profits, Government, Academia, Health Care, and the Private sector so it opens multiple doors for a person having a degree in public health.

Global Impact: With a public health degree, you not only work for your immediate community but the impact can be on the global level.

Competitive Salaries: with an advanced degree in public health, one can earn above-average pay due to the high demand for public health professionals.

Job security: Since Public health requires more people so Healthcare and Public Health jobs are consistently in demand.

Personal Fulfillment: Since you are working in the Public health sector so the impact can be on the larger community which can contribute to the greater good and present meaningful challenges that can help your personal fulfillment.

Top career paths with a public health degree

Epidemiologist

An epidemiologist is the profession in which a person investigates the causes of disease and injuries in humans and they seek to reduce the risk and occurrence by education, research and policy recommendations and most of these people were visible during the COVID-19 times when they were employed by the State and Federal health departments, Universities and Research institutions.

Typical responsibilities: The major responsibilities of the epidemiologist is to identify the patterns and causes by collecting and analysing the data and then developing the strategies to prevent the spread of the infectious disease along with advising the policy makers on the response to the outbreak.

Required education: Master of Public Health(MPH) or higher.

Health Educator and Community Health Worker

Health educators are those who teach people about the behaviours that can promote Wellness while Community Health workers serves as a bridging point between the health/social services and the community.

Typical Responsibilities: The major responsibility of Health educator and community health worker is to develop and conduct programs, educate the community about health risk and let them learn the healthy behaviours, and collect the data and discuss health concerns with the clients.

Required Education: Bachelors Degree for Entry level roles and advancement often requires a Master’s degree

Public Health analyst

A public health analyst is a person that evaluates and improves the health programs by interpreting Complex health data as well as S/He writes the reports and they also support the policies, interventions, and grant projects to benefit the population.

Typical responsibilities: The responsibility of a public health analyst is to analyse the public health data, monitor the programs effectiveness, prepare recommendations and presentations, and collaborate with the stakeholders.

Required education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

Environmental health specialist

Environmental health specialists monitor and design policies to ensure safe water, clean air and healthy environments.

Typical responsibilities: Typical responsibilities of an environmental health specialist includes conducting inspections and investigations, educate the public and employees on the safety standards and enforcing environmental laws and regulations.

Required education: Bachelor’s degree, though advancement often requires a graduate degree.

Biostatistician:

Biostatisticians apply statistics to analyse biological and Public Health data as well as design studies and interprets data from clinical trials and surveys.

Typical responsibilities: Responsibility of Biostatistician includes collecting and analysing data, plan research strategies, and communicating the findings to the management and the policy makers.

Required education: Master’s or Doctoral degree

Public Health Administrator

A public health administrator is a person who plans, direct and coordinate Medical and Health Services more often within the public sector organisations or not profits.

Typical responsibilities: A public health administrator manages the programs, budget and personnal as well as ensures the compliance with regulations and develops public health policies.

Required education: Master’s or Doctoral degree

Global Health professional

Global Health professionals are those people who designs and implements project to address health problems worldwide and more often in underdevelop or in developing countries.

Typical Responsibilities: The most common responsibility of a Global Health professional is to run the health campaigns that addresses the issues like HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Maternal health as well as it advises organisations like UNICEF, WHO or Doctors Without Borders to promote Global Health equity.

Required education: Bachelor’s for some roles while Master’s is preferred

Occupational health and safety Specialists

The main role of occupational health and safety specialist is to protect the health and safety of the workers and it is one of the key part in public health.

Typical responsibilities: The main responsibility of an occupational health and safety specialist is to conduct workplace hazard assessments, advise on practices to minimise illnesses and injuries as well as educate the workers and managers.

Required education: Bachelor’s degree

Policy Advisor or Advocate

These are the people who shape the laws and regulations to improve the health nationally and internationally.

Typical responsibilities: The main responsibility of a policy advisor or advocate is to research health policy and data, analyse legislative proposals and advocate for evidence based changes.

Required education: Bachelor’s for some entry roles while usually a Master’s or higher degree is needed.

Public Health Researcher

Public Health researchers are those people who generally develop studies to test public health interventions and analyze the trends.

Typical responsibilities: Major responsibilities of a public health researcher includes design and conduct studies, publish findings to advance the field and secure the research grants.

Required education: Usually a Master’s or Doctoral degree.

Unique roles in Public Health

There are various unique rules in Public Health like:

Public Health dentist/dental hygienist:  It is a person who promotes oral health on a population level.

Infection preventionist:  infection preventionist is a person who specialisation in hospital environments to prevent healthcare associated infections.

Disaster preparedness coordinator: it is a person who mainly focuses on emergency planning for a public health crisis.

Health communication specialist: health communication is specialist mainly works with the media or organisations crafting messages for the campaigns.

Non profit program director: S/He manage public health initiative in the non profit sector.

Where can you work with a public health degree?

Your Public Health degree is very useful as it gives you an opportunity to work with Government Agencies like CDC, NIH, US Department of Health and Human Services, State and City health departments. It also allows you to work with Non governmental organisations like Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam, Save the Children.  You can also work with international organisations like World Health Organisation, United Nations, World Bank and you will have an opportunity to work with hospitals, clinics, corporations and academic institutions.

Is a public health degree right for you?

You have to ask this question to yourself whether you are fascinated about helping others or interested in data and research and if the answer is yes, then you need to ask if you are strong enough in collaboration and communication and looking for a mission driven profession and ready to tackle Complex challenges than a public health degree may be your perfect fit.

Basic tips for getting started in public health 

Basic tips are to network early by joining professional organisations or local health associations as it will help you in gaining experience. You can also look for internships, volunteer work or entry level positions in Health Organisation, or you can pursue a certificate to strengthen your resume. You can pick up concentration like exploring the fields within the public health such as epidemiology, policy or health informatics to find your passion and make sure to keep yourself informed as public health is a dynamic field so you have to keep yourself updated with trends, regulations and new research

Conclusion

A public health degree offers you amazing versatility, job security and personal meaning as every community needs experts to prevent disease, promote wellness and create healthier living environments. Whether you are dreaming of combating global pandemics, shaping policy, educating community or conducting groundbreaking research, your Public Health degree will help you to make a lasting change so if you are ready to start your journey, pursue a public health degree and discover the difference you can make in society and the greater world.