What Can I Do with a Public Health Degree?

Health communications specialists can enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, although some organizations may require a MPH. Specific job titles include Communications Specialist, Media Relations Specialist, Public Information Officer, Public Information Specialist, Public Relations Specialist, and Staff Editor.

Duties include delivering oral, written, or multimedia materials to be sent to the organization, board members, governmental or funding agencies, to clients, news media, and public interest groups.

You may be tasked with creating and executing the organization’s media strategy, training materials, newsletters, or annual reports.

In the wide-ranging community health professions, job titles include health worker, counselor, nutrition and wellness specialist, outreach worker, program coordinator, and community health educator. Entry-level positions typically require a bachelor’s degree, although many require completion of an MPH for advanced study or leadership positions. Skills required to succeed in a community health position include communication, social awareness, problem solving, organization, and the ability to help both individuals and groups with basic healthcare services. Some community health workers may also maintain client records, advise clients/patients on health issues, and visit patients at their home.

Depending on position and experience, emergency management involves overseeing preparation, training, and response programs in crisis management, which includes both natural and man-made disasters. Typical job titles include emergency management director, consultant, public safety director, and emergency planner. More than 50 percent of emergency management positions only require a bachelor’s degree, although a master’s degree in public health (MPH) may be desired for more advanced positions. Many emergency management professionals are knowledgeable in public safety and security, public policy, and communications, and have excellent problem solving and deductive reasoning skills.

Environmental health professionals work with public health organizations to identify hazardous materials in the air, the food, soils, and water supply factors that negatively impact their communities. In addition to skill with communication and analytical software, environmental health scientists must have experience collecting, analyzing, and interpreting complex datasets. Many professionals in the field have either backgrounds or successful coursework in mathematics, biology, and environmental law. Some 70% of environmental health professionals hold a bachelor’s degree. The BLS reports that jobs for Environmental Health and Safety Specialists will grow from 10% to 14%, 2016-2026.

Epidemiologists research the origins and population distributions of diseases and disabilities. Responsibilities may include overseeing large-scale public health programs, healthcare planning, directing treatment initiatives, monitoring incidents, and researching and investigating specific parasites responsible for outbreaks. Nearly all epidemiologists need to be skills with analytical software, databases, and spreadsheets. Critical thinking, problem solving, organization, and communication are must-haves to be successful. Specific job titles related to epidemiologists include Communicable Disease Specialist, Infection Control Practitioner, and Chronic Disease Epidemiologist.

These professionals in investigate the major worldwide threats to global health. These include air pollution, climate change, noncommunicable disease, influenza pandemics, fragile and vulnerable settings, antimicrobial resistance, high-threat pathogens, weak primary health care, vaccine hesitancy, dengue, and HIV. They may also work with local and global organizations to plan and execute on plans dedicated to eradicate a specific disease or maximize health standards in a specific area. Data analysis and communication are must-have in the field. Specialists must complete a bachelor’s of master’s degree in international/global health. Projected job growth is 18%, 2016-2026.

Maternity and child health specialists investigate and create agency responses to address issues with women and children, including infant mortality. They conduct research, plan, and implement family-planning programs and reproductive counseling/health services. They may work with local hospitals, non-profit organizations, or a government agency. Professionals can enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, although some employers prefer a master’s degree. The BLS forecasts a growth of 31%, 2016-2026.

Medical practice specializations include public health nursing, physician clinical services, and health science. Education requirements vary by practice, from undergraduate degrees (nursing) to master’s and doctorates. Four-year degrees are common among community health workers, with advanced degrees required for physicians and research scientists. A common practice area is in public health nursing. Medical health service managers must complete at least a bachelor’s degree. Job openings for medical service managers are predicted to rise by 20%, 2016 to 2026. The median annual wage for this specialty is $99,730.

Public health educators carry the message about their organizations, including their available services, information on the biological and behavioral factors affecting wellness, and prevention options. They also create and manage community health education programs to ensure that children, individuals, and families adopt or maintain healthy lifestyles. Public health education can be more general in nature, or specific with job titles such as certified diabetes educator, child development specialist, community health consultant, or health promotion specialist. A bachelor’s degree is generally the minimum educational requirement for many these positions. National employment for health educators is predicted to increase 15%, 2016 to 2026.

This field includes job titles such as social service manager, community service manager, and public health policy analyst. Many professionals in this sector hold bachelor’s degrees in pubic health and go on to earn master’s degrees related to their specialty. These managers and analysts may research existing programs for effectiveness and create proposals for revising institutional policies and practices at public non-profits. They may create strategic plans to change policy, increase funding, and facilitate cooperation with governmental agencies or partners. Employment is this industry is expected to increase by 18% from 2016 to 2026.

Social and behavioral health is a fundamental component of the public health sector. The field includes social workers, family and individual therapists, and substance abuse/behavioral counselors, among many others. Education varies by specialty. Typically, substance abuse counselors and social workers need at least a bachelor’s degree to be competitive in the job market. Therapists of all kinds usually need a master’s or even a doctorate degree to work with patients. Many social and behavioral health professionals start with a bachelor’s degree in public health, social work, or psychology, and build their educations and careers with more specific advanced degrees.