INTRODUCTION Public health may conjure images of community medical clinics or awareness campaigns promoting healthy living, but the field is not nearly so narrow. Instead, public health professionals are involved in everything from identifying diseases to creating public policy to helping refugees integrate into new communities.
According to the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), there are ten common areas of study for those entering the field. These areas can lead to careers such as health educators and community outreach workers, but the health department isn’t the only place hiring public health majors.
The following guide dives deeper into these careers and others within the public health sphere. It leverages expert interviews, information and resources to better understand the professional landscape, as well as the various educational options needed to enter, advance and succeed in the field. Specific goals of the guidebook include: Dispelling the myths and misconceptions surrounding public health Explaining the skills gained by public health students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels Exploring the diverse occupations and career paths that can come from a public health degree Providing industry-specific resources for students Leveraging experts in the field to get the most valuable information possible

WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH?

Public health careers might be misunderstood because the field can be difficult to define. At one level, public health involves medical care provided within a community and outside a hospital setting. In a different context, public health can have global repercussions and refer to efforts to prevent epidemics and improve the health of entire nations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says public health systems are complex and require the coordination of multiple organizations. There is usually a public agency, such as a health department, working in tandem with schools, medical providers, churches, employers and more.
Together, these systems should strive to provide the following ten essential services outlined by the CDC.
1. Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems. 2. Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community. 3. Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues. 4. Mobilize community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems. 5. Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts. 6. Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety. 7. Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable. 8. Assure competent public and personal health care workforce. 9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services. 10. Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems. As a result, an incredibly diverse number of occupations fall under the umbrella of public health. These may include the familiar jobs of epidemiologists who help prevent the spread of disease, to more outside-the-box career options such as marketing professionals who work on wellness campaigns or law enforcement officials focused on substance abuse prevention.

SPECIALTIES WITHIN THE PUBLIC HEALTH FIELD


With public health being such a broad field, students
typically focus their studies on a particular area. While
undergraduate degrees may be specialized, this is
especially true at the graduate level. Some concentrations in
public health focus on math and statistics while others fall
into the realm of social sciences. Still others may result in
jobs in public relations, marketing or community outreach.
The degree emphasis can also influence whether a graduate
goes on to find employment within a government agency,
private firm or as a private consultant.
According to the ASPPH, these are ten most common areas
of study.
As a subset of statistics, biostatistics is the analysis of data
and its application to health care. Public health
professionals focusing on biostatistics use models to track
the health of a population and identify trends. They may be
involved in clinical trials, genome projects and spatial
studies which seek to determine how geography can affect
health and risk factors. Informatics is a related field that
may focus more on surveillance and the collection of data
for prevention and public health promotion rather than its
application in research.


Biostatistician

This specialty may be best for those who enjoy numbers
and have an aptitude for math. Those who do enter the field
should have plenty of job opportunities as qualified
biostatisticians seem to be in short supply. The American
Statistical Association notes on its website biostatisticians
should have excellent career opportunities in academia,
industry and government. The association also reports a
shortage of professionals in the field was identified as part
of a report to the President and Congress on the status of
health personnel in the United States.

Students who graduate with a public health concentration in biostatistics and informatics may go on to work in the
following positions among others.
Biostatistician
Medical and Health Services Manager
Health Informatics Specialist
While biostatisticians and informatics professionals are
largely concerned with collecting and analyzing hard data,
community health specialists take a more holistic look at
public health. Their work involves considering the many
dynamics that may be at play influencing the overall health
of a particular community or region. To do their jobs well,
community health specialists may take courses in sociology,
political science and biology.


Community Health

After graduation, students use their knowledge to focus on
how best to reach vulnerable community members and
better allocate resources to underserved populations. They
may initiate wellness programs, undertake educational
activities or create resources to promote healthy living. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics reports some community health
careers should see good job growth in the coming years.
For example, the bureau estimates demand for health
educators and community health workers will increase 21
percent from 2012-2022.
The following are examples of occupations which may be
filled by public health professionals who focus on
community health.
Health Care Administrator
Health Educator
Community Health Worker


Epidemiology

Sometimes ref epidemiology erred to as the basic science of public health,
epidemiology brings together aspects of biostatistics and
community health. Epidemiologists monitor the spread of
diseases and work to understand their causes and develop
solutions. To work in the field, individuals need to have a
strong foundation in math and statistics in order to properly
interpret data. In addition, they need to understand the
complex factors – from socio-economic to educational –
that can lead to public health threats and then use this
knowledge to form an effective response.
Epidemiologists are often employed by government
agencies such as local health departments, the Department
of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. However, they may also find jobs
with international organizations or private companies such
as pharmaceutical companies. Some epidemiologists work
independently as consultants. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics reports career options should remain steady for
epidemiologists with 10 percent job growth expected from
2012-2022.
The following are some job titles that may be held by those
with a public health degree in epidemiology.
Epidemiologist
Field Investigator
Research Analyst
Study epidemiology with George Washington’s Masters in
Public Health program. MPH@GW’s epidemiology course
will introduce you to the general principles, methods, and
applications of epidemiology. Learn more about MPH@GW.
The World Health Organization lists 15 areas of concern
when it comes to environmental health and public health.
These include topics such as indoor and outdoor pollution,
climate change and electromagnetic fields. Students
concentrating in environmental health may learn about
these and other external factors such as water quality that
can affect a population’s health. After graduation, they may
go on to work in positions focused on prevention, research
or community outreach to minimize the impact of these
environmental risks.
In addition, some public health schools have expanded their
definition of environmental health to include social
environment. The Bloomberg School of Public Health at
John Hopkins University notes the social environment can
include factors such as neighborhood safety, political
empowerment and socioeconomic factors. In this way,
environmental health can be seen as an outreach of
community health.
Job titles for those working in environmental health include
the following.
Environmental Scientist
Quality Investigator
Environmental Engineer
The American Public Health Association launched its global
health program in the early 1970s, and now this field is one
of the ten main public health specialties. Professionals in
the field combine research and education to serve
populations around the world. Their work may involve
creating ways to eliminate health disparities, improve
access to care and foster public health policies that
encourage healthy habits
Global health degree programs may combine courses on
research methods, communication, and sociology. Students
may travel to other countries for field work, and Tulane
University notes many of its students opt to join the Peace
Corps. For full-time employment, graduates will often find
jobs with non-profit or government agencies although
private companies may also hire global health experts. The
Office of Career Services at Columbia notes job
opportunities may be most prevalent in Asia, Africa and the
Middle East,
Individuals with a public health degree in global health may
work in the following capacities among others.
Refugee Coordinator
HIV/AIDS Educator
Project Manager
Interested in global health? George Washington’s Masters in
Public Health online allows you to personalize your studies
with focus areas that match your interests and career goals.

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