Do you want to build a safer and healthier world? Are you interested in protecting the greater good? Do you enjoy helping others? If so, a future in public health may be the right career move for you.
If you are considering a major in public health, it is important to know that there are several different degree levels you can pursue – including a Doctorate, Masters, or Bachelor’s degree in Public Health. And within the umbrella of public health education, you can pursue a variety of different specialties, including community health, preventive medicine, health education, and advocacy. The options within the field are endless – so where will you begin?
At the start of any great career is a foundation: a foundation consisting of expert training, hands-on experience, and a comprehensive understanding of each system and concept within the field. As you begin your future in public health, you must choose how to – and where to — jumpstart your career. Most public health experts and prospective employers will agree that your career should start with a Public Health Bachelor’s degree.
A Public Health Bachelor’s degree is perhaps the most optimal route you can take towards a career in this in-demand field. Not only can it serve as the foundation of a future graduate degree, but it can also take you places without the pursuit of further education. Upon completion of a Public Health Bachelor’s degree, you will already be well-suited for a career as a:
- Child Development Specialist
- Community Health Education Coordinator
- Community Health Worker
- Health Educator
- Health Promotion Specialist
- Public Health Educator
Right now, you may be thinking: I was told I need to earn a Master’s degree in the field. I thought that, to land any public health career, I need to secure my PhD. This belief is not uncommon – many universities today only offer public health programs at a graduate level, so it is no wonder why you may think this way is the only way. But this is no longer the case. Now, more and more accredited colleges are offering Public Health Bachelor’s degrees for students interested in this growing field.
Of course, the type of degree you pursue will be dependent on your goals and your desired role as a public health professional. Master and Doctorate level public health degrees, for example, are extensive graduate programs typically designed for students interested in research or clinical public health roles, such as a biomedical scientist. These programs can take at least six years to complete. If you are interested in an administrative, educational, or advocacy position, however, a Public Health Bachelor’s degree can get you where you want to be.
In a Bachelor’s public health degree program, you will encounter advanced courses of study relating to mental health, disease, nutrition, biostatistics, and more. You may concentrate in areas such as health education, epidemiology, preventative medicine, child and family health, environmental health, and international health.
And in addition to your classroom studies, you will be encouraged to engage in laboratory and field work. At Goodwin College, for example, students learn to deliver health interventions, collect and analyze data, as well as provide counseling to individuals and organizations in efforts to improve health. It is these comprehensive studies – both inside and outside the classroom – that helps students develop their proficiencies in professional settings, preparing them for immediate employment upon completion of their Bachelor’s degree.
Graduates of Goodwin College’s public health program in Connecticut, for example, are well-prepared to work in hospitals, research facilities, and healthcare organizations. Upon completion of our Public Health Bachelor’s degree requirements, graduates are able to:
- Apply knowledge, skills analysis, research, and critical thinking to public health theory and practice
- Develop strategies to improve population health through a knowledge of public health issues
- Identify and evaluate the social factors of health in specific populations
- Foster cultural competency as it pertains to health and public health services
- Understand local, state and federal legislation, regulations, and standards of public health practice
- Assess population-based data using epidemiological methodology
- Drive changes, interventions, and programs that promote and encourage public health
- Use scientific research to evaluate the efficacies of health promotion and disease prevention programs
One of the greatest perks of a Public Health Bachelor’s degree is that you have options – you can start your work or you can choose to continue your education upon completion of your degree. In order to pursue an advanced degree such as a Masters or Doctorate, you will need to have a Bachelor’s degree under your belt. Having a Bachelor’s in public health will allow you to get make the most of your education and qualify you for many jobs down the road. Like many public health professionals today, you can start out in the workforce with a Bachelor’s degree and earn your advanced degree at your convenience.
In Goodwin College’s Public Health Bachelor’s degree program, you also have great flexibility. Here, we understand that you may not have six years to spend earning a degree; you may not have the time to commit to a full-time class schedule. That is why at our career-focused college, you have the option to take public health courses during the day or evening, as well as in a hybrid online/on-campus format. With this flexibility, you can work part-time or full-time and earn your degree, all without putting your life on hold.
No matter which advanced degree you ultimately choose, there is no doubt that a long and fulfilling career awaits you. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of healthcare positions in the United States is expected to grow 19 percent by the year 2024, much faster than the average of all other industries. With a public health degree under your belt, you’ll be well prepared for a multitude of career opportunities within the healthcare field.
Start your public health education today at Goodwin College. Call us at 800-889-3282 or visit Goodwin.edu/caregivers to learn more.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.