Public health programs focus on protecting and improving the health of communities. Students in these programs learn to conduct disease-related research and analyze the effects of genetics and the environment on an individual's health. Pursuing a degree in this field of study helps learners understand ways of protecting the population. A number of medical schools, public health schools and schools of public affairs offer public health degrees.
As healthcare is a growing field that is expected to yield a considerable number of job opportunities in the coming years, pursuing a program in public health can improve the career prospects for graduates. Hospitals, nursing homes and related settings will can make ideal setting s for such roles.
This line of work can be suitable for those who want to develop an understanding of the factors that affect the health of populations.
Types of Public Health Degrees
Public health degrees are offered from the associate level to the master’s level. These degrees instruct students in community health, business administration and healthcare operations. Students learn about human resource management in addition to covering other important aspects in this field.
An associate program provides learners with the basic knowledge required for this line of work while the bachelor’s and master’s programs in public health aims to provide a broad-level understanding of the goals and challenges of public administration. The advanced programs also establish the relationship of these to more specialized aspects of management, planning, and analysis in the public sector.
Students seeking to increase their chances of working on entry-level jobs should pursue an associate degree while the ones who want to improve their prospects of working in senior-level positions in various settings should work towards an advanced degree in this field.
Curriculum in Public Health Degrees
The curriculum in public health degrees focus on various topics of relevance within this field of study such as biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences and environmental health. Some of the courses of study students can opt for include health policy and education, epidemiology and environmental health. The programs provide instruction in the sciences relevant to the community’s health requirements in addition to helping students find out how to implement health programs. Students may choose a route that focuses on either the social sciences or the natural sciences in order to cater their individual interests and career objectives.
What can you do with a Public Health degree?
The health care sector is expected to grow in the United States over the next few years. With the federal government improving healthcare conditions, students with a degree in public health can pursue a number of jobs. Some of them include:
-
Health Center Administrator
-
Industrial Hygienist
-
Behavioral Scientist
-
Mental Health Researcher
-
Health Communications Specialist.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2012 medical and health service managers earned a median annual salary of $88,580. Their demand is expected to grow by 23% over the next few years.
Graduates of public health programs may typically be able to potentially work in areas such as
-
Human services
-
Public health
-
Hospitals
-
Rehabilitation centers
-
insurance companies
Opportunities for these professionals also exist in wellness centers, community health organizations, managed care facilities as well as family planning clinics.
Public health degree holders can also possibly work as epidemiologists, health program analysts or health educators. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that health educators earned an annual median wage of $50,430 in May 2014.
Online Public Health Degrees
Online degrees in public health can be a suitable way for those who want to be able to enhance their credentials while engaged in other activities. Through a community-focused, interdisciplinary approach to epidemiology and health ethics, the online public health programs give learners a good opportunity to build the foundation for possible careers in this area.
Career Options and Salary Information
A degree in public health will help you learn about health issues in communities and how to overcome related challenges. You could prepare for various careers in this field with a degree in public health. Some of the organizations in which you could pursue a career are: community clinics, public health hospitals, human services, rehabilitation centers, etc. Here are a few occupations and their salary data for 2012 provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics:
-
Social and Community Service Manager
Median Annual Income: $59,970
-
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
Median Annual Income: $66,790
-
Epidemiologist
Median Annual Income: $65,270
-
Health Educator And Community Health Worker
Median Annual Income: $41,830
Frequently Asked Question(s)
Q:How can I take pursue the online Public Health degrees?
A:Online Public Health degrees can be pursued from various schools listed on our website. All you need to do is choose the institute that suits your area of interest and apply . There is a list of schools, which include: A.T. Still University, Walden University Online, Capella University, Benedictine University Online, Kaplan University Online, Philadelphia University, Duquesne University, and the University of Liverpool.
Q:Mention some courses included in the curriculum of Public Health Degrees?
A:A few major topics included in the course content of Public Health Degrees are: basic epidemiological principles, biostatistical methods, management of databases, data analysis, communicable disease, clinical trials, chronic disease epidemiology, nutrition, psychology, social sciences, health protection, ethics and laws, and health economics. These courses provide students with a strong knowledge base in the field of public health.
Q:What can you do with a public health degree?
A:A public health degree will prepare you for diverse careers in the federal, private, and non-governmental sectors. Public health professionals work towards improving overall health of communities, generating awareness, and helping dealing with epidemics. The career paths you consider pursuing depend upon your area of interest and level of degree. Leading job positions include: disaster management specialist, epidemiologist, natural science manager, community health worker, and public health educator. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, health educators made a median annual income of $41,830 in 2012.
(Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Ask your Question
* All Fields are Required