Public Health


If you are looking for a way to serve your community, the nation or the entire world, then consider a professional career in Public Health. This diverse field encompasses both academia and real world practices and is has disciplines that can accommodate the sociologically inclined and the scientifically inclined alike.

As populations increase, strain on public health resources gets worse, and the complexity of exposure to manmade and environmental agents rises, the demand for qualified Public Health professionals will grow. By becoming a Public Health professional you can address emerging health concerns and may even help solve some of the growing health and human issues facing the world.

Defining Public Health

“Public health carries out its mission through organized, interdisciplinary efforts that address the physical, mental and environmental health concerns of communities and populations at risk for disease and injury.” Association of Schools of Public Health

Literally Public Health is everything to do with diagnosing, analyzing, reporting, monitoring, treating, educating, researching, managing and enforcing the overall health of the general public. A sub-category of Public Health is Environmental Public Health. This specifically addresses the relationship between humans and the environment. It is focused on things like food safety, pest management, air quality etc.

What Jobs are Available for a Public Health Professional?

The list of jobs for Public Health professionals is extensive. This is an ever growing and changing field. Concerns over the environment, terrorism, substance abuse and epidemics such as SARS are driving the demand for Public Health professionals currently.

In addition, there is a drive to focus Public Health resources on prevention and education, as well as a need for qualified individuals who can administer clinical health and outreach programs. A small list of Public Health jobs includes:
  • Researchers

  • Environmental

  • Epidemiological

  • Psychological

  • Sociologic

  • Clinical

  • Pollution Control Managers, Planners

  • Industrial Health and Safety Specialists and Directors

  • Hospital Administrator

  • Public Policy Analyst

  • Clinical Trials Director and Consultant

  • Health Education Director

  • Public Information Coordinator

  • School Health Program Administrator
Getting the Degree to Start Your Public Health Career

The majority of Public Health degrees are graduate level degrees (a few, like Harvard's MPH program, are geared toward individuals who already have a doctorate degree). This means you will need to complete a Bachelor's degree program at an accredited university or college in order to break into the Public Health field.

While requirements vary from school to school a degree in sociology, biology, mathematics, or business will be acceptable, depending on what branch of Public Health interests you. You will likely need an above average GPA and above average GRE scores to gain acceptance to many Public Health programs. Volunteer work, professional experience, and references are also important.

There are over 40 schools with Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)-accredited Public Health programs. To become accredited a school must have a curriculum based on the five core public health areas of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Services Administration, Health Education/Behavioral Science and Environmental Health. Degrees range from MPH, MSW, DrPH and PhD. However, degree title and availability vary by school.

The Rewards

Being a part of the effort to enhance and enrich the health of your community or millions of people worldwide can give you a tremendous sense of achievement. The financial rewards vary by discipline and by geographical region, but expect starting salaries in the $33,000-$37,000 range. Some disciplines will earn upwards of $70,000 within one year of degree receipt.

By MS Kauffman           


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