Earning a bachelor’s in public health presents several options to students today, as this field encompasses an abundance of career opportunities. Public health officials set policies and advise governments on how to improve the health and lives of their citizens. They also work on a more local platform within individual communities to support public health initiatives. Whether a student wanted to go into the private or public sector, the field of public health offers substantial room for growth. The following article outlines what a public health official does, what someone with this degree might do for a living and the educational specialties available within the field of public health.
What Public Health Officials Do
According to the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health or ASPPH, the impact of public health can be measured by the following standards: improving health worldwide; advancing health in environmental terms; creating healthier communities; alleviating the effects of natural disasters and epidemics; and addressing disparities within the health field. Practically speaking, those who study public health and work in this industry have a direct impact on the health of those they serve. Issues like tobacco use, socioeconomic factors that lead to underserved areas, HIV/AIDS epidemics and even a country’s life expectancy are all challenges taken on by public health officials.
How to Study Public Health
Many schools throughout the United States offer a program in public health or a similar field that emphasizes these concepts. Students can study a variety of subjects within the overall framework of public health. The ASPPH lists 10 focus areas in this field, including environmental health, maternal and child health, biostatics and informatics, and epidemiology among others. The Council on Education for Public Health accredits programs that prepare students for careers in these fields, and those who enroll in a CEPH-accredited program will be eligible to sit for the Certified in Public Health exam. With CPH certification, students are more likely to secure positions with global organizations, the government and other top entities because of the rigorous standards achieved.
Working with a B.A. in Public Health
Earning a bachelor’s in public health opens the door to a wide array of career options. PublicHealthOnline.org, an organization dedicated to helping people learn more about careers in this field, offers a detailed explanation of the specialties within public health. Those with an interest in public health may become community health educators, nurse midwives, field investigators, environmental engineers or government policy analysts. The goal of public health officials is to improve the lives of communities around the world by implementing appropriate and achievable strategies. With a degree in public health, students can change the way that people take care of themselves and each other.
Science and evolving technology have paved the way for public health officials to make a substantial impact on the world today, as evidenced by beneficial public policies, relief efforts for major natural disasters and research into the prevention of and cures for modern diseases. Specializing within a sub-field allows students to focus their degree and career path so that those with a bachelor’s in public health can explore a variety of positions that reflect their interests and talents.