Around the globe, public health professionals are helping to ensure the safety and health of the greater good. All over the world, they are working towards giving communities clean water to drink, nourishing foods to eat, unpolluted air to breathe, and quality healthcare so that all can live the life they deserve.
If you are considering a career in public health, you too may aspire to spend your later days helping others. You may already enjoy finding new ways to lend a hand to someone in need, or look for reasons to get involved in the community. Yet still, you are here asking yourself the question, Why study public health? Why is it so important? And what are the benefits of pursuing a public health education?
The answer to your first question, removed from all the finer details, is actually quite simple: it is because you care about others and because other people need you. The main reason anyone enters the public health field is due to this desire to make a difference. They have a compulsion to help those in need. And they do.
Millions of people across the globe are alive today because of public health initiatives – vaccinations, family planning, road safety laws, tobacco restrictions, even clean air and water standards. In fact, in the United States specifically, these very public health programs have increased the life expectancy by almost 30 years.
With the development of new diagnoses, the progression of chronic conditions, as well as the latest expansions in research and technology, the importance of public health in our world seems ever growing. Even so, you may still be asking, What is the point in earning a public health degree?
To become a public health professional today, one needs to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in the field. Only through an accredited program are you able to learn the theories and methods of health behavior. Through hands-on public health courses, you will also learn the skills necessary to practice in a professional environment. And through a carefully curated curriculum, you will learn the ins and outs of biology, epidemiology, disease prevention, social work, community and environmental health.
Whether you choose to pursue a public health degree on campus, online, or in hybrid format, you are bound to gain crucial knowledge regarding the issues affecting population health and healthcare systems. But if you need more reasons on why you should study public health, here are six to consider:
- You will consistently be at the forefront of research
From immunizations to prenatal care, many of the world’s biggest breakthroughs in healthcare have stemmed from public health research. This is because, within the field of public health, professionals are consistently uncovering public health trends, problematic events, environmental risks, as well as innovative and responsive solutions inside and outside the lab. That is the beauty of this field – you will consistently be at the cutting edge of medicine. You will know the latest data, technologies, and resources and use them in your day-to-day job. For this reason, you will be highly respected.
- You will work with a variety of different people and populations
If you enjoy working with people, a career in public health could be a great path for you. As a public health worker, you will work with a variety of populations such as the elderly and homeless, the impoverished or malnourished, those who are mentally ill, as well as veterans, children, and even couples trying to plan families. In your position, you will not only experience how certain populations live, but also their culture and beliefs. Who you work with will indefinitely impact your understanding and respect for the rest of the world.
- Public health is a rewarding career path
Public health is a field primarily focused on helping the greater good and for many public health workers, this brings great pride to all that they do. In this field, you will consistently try to create healthy environments within communities, workplaces, facilities, and homes. Your role will be to improve the wellbeing of others, to help them regain the skills they need to live happily and efficiently. You will have a great impact on them and they will have a significant impact on you.
- You will have the opportunity to travel in this field
Many public health professionals choose to pursue their career without boundaries – some travel to third-world countries in efforts to improve global health. If you enjoy travelling and are looking for experience internationally, public health can offer you these opportunities. You have the option to work with citizens of different countries around the world.
- You will encounter a variety of career opportunities
There is no doubt that public health is a seemingly “all-encompassing” field, but that is part of the beauty of it. If you are wondering what you can do with a public health degree, know that the career options are vast. From becoming a health educator to a research analyst, a public health advocate to a community health worker, there are numerous roles you can take on. At Goodwin College in Connecticut, you can diversify your class schedule or focus on certain areas of study in public health.
- Great job security & growth
Like much of the healthcare industry, job growth in this field is well above the average for all . According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for public health workers will increase between 12 and 15 percent by the year 2024, depending on the career path you choose. Even more, job security in public health positions is extremely stable. There is always the need for public health. And with recent healthcare reforms, the aging baby boomer population, and the growing focus on nutrition, the need for public health professionals seems bigger than ever before.
Are you ready to help create a better, safer, and healthier world? Contact Goodwin today at 800-889-3282 or check us out online at www.goodwin.edu!
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.