"Mini-Guide" to Public Health Degrees Online

Public health professionals aim to enhance health and prevent disease and injury in populations through education, promotion of healthy behaviors, policy development, and research. Those working in public health also work to eliminate disparities in access to quality health care by different subgroups within our society as part of the larger goal of improving the health of the community at large.

Important past achievements in public health include:

• Vaccinations
• Improved safety of the food supply
• Increased workplace safety - 80 percent fewer workplace-related deaths since 1980
• Fluoridation of drinking water
• Identification of cigarettes as harmful and a substantial reduction in the number of smokers
• Improved motor vehicle safety
• Reduction of infant mortality by 90 percent since 1900
• Reduction of mortality due to heart disease by 50 percent since 1972

Two defining characteristics of public health are: 1) it deals with health at the community level rather than on an individual basis like physicians do, and 2) it is predominantly concerned with preventing illnesses, not curing them.

Public health continues to be a rewarding field that offers many options for individuals interested in serving their communities, whether by studying infectious diseases, educating people on health hazards, or developing health care policy.

Think about an online public health degree if you:

• Want to improve the overall health of and reduce disease in a population.
• Want to work in health care without actually being a physician.
• Are fascinated by the way diseases spread. Do you find yourself reading about H1N1 nonstop?
• Would like to identify and reduce safety hazards for a living.
• Are good with analysis and can spot trends and patterns.
• have spent some time on the World Health Organization web site.
• Could see yourself playing detective to trace a foodborne illness outbreak.
• Can't believe anyone still smokes!
• Are an innate problem-solver.
• Have some background in biology, statistics, or economics.
• Can see the big picture. You can see the forest despite the trees.

If an online public health degree isn't quite right for you, consider these fields instead:

• Health Science:
  Health science uses scientific methods to study human and animal health, improve health, formulate cures, and create strategies for disease prevention.
  Online Health Science Degrees
  Online Certificates in Health Science
• Health Administration:
  With a focus on health care services, study the financial, legal, and human issues that arise, and their effects on a health organization's operational success.
  Online Health Administration Degrees
  Online Certificates in Health Administration
• Human Services:
  Learn about the needs of those living with violence, isolation, or poverty; what services are needed, how to initiate and manage the programs designed to ensure well-being and safety.
  Online Human Services Degrees
  Online Certificates in Human Services
• Environmental Sciences:
  Study law and legal issues from a social sciences perspective to understand the effects of law as a social phenomenon.
  Online Degrees in Environmental Sciences
  Related: Online Certificate in Environmental Sciences
• Nursing:
  Know how to meet the immediate and long-term medical needs of patients; educate and provide counseling to the injured or those coping with illness.
  Online Nursing Degrees
  Online Certificate in Nursing

Many schools allow you to choose a specialization to "fine tune" your degree. These are the most common concentrations within public health.

• Epidemiology
  Epidemiologists study the health of populations to determine causes of disease, risks, and susceptibility. They also create strategies for illness prevention.
• Biostatistics
  Biostatisticians collect and analyze health data for human populations to spot trends in health or sickness. Biostatistics is also used to evaluate how a disease spreads.
• Environmental Health
  Environmental health specialists study how our natural and man-made environments affect our health and propose ways to reduce health risks within our environments.
• Behavioral Science/Health Education
  Health educators promote healthy behaviors such as hygiene, smoking cessation/abstinence, safe sex, etc. to ultimately reduce disease incidence and increase longevity.
• Health Services Administration/Management
  With a focus on health care services, study the financial, legal, and human issues that arise and its effects on a health organization's operational success.

While the exact curriculum will vary from school to school, here are some of the courses you might take in your online public administration program:

• Principles of Epidemiology
• Principles of Health Promotion and Education
• Public Health Profession and Practice
• Introduction to Public Health Research
• Global Issues in Public Health
• Introduction to Biostatistical Methods
• Environmental Health
• Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Issues in Public Health
• Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System
• Law and Ethics in Health Administration
• Computers in Health Administration
• Introduction to Health Organization Leadership
• Introduction to Contemporary Health Issues
• Research Methods in Public Health
• Health Programs Administration
• Health and Human Behavior
• Health Office Operations

The skills you learn while earning your public health degree will vary according to your concentration, but there are the skills and competencies acquired most often by public health majors:

• Develop strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• Form an appreciation for and commitment to healthy lifestyles.
• Develop strong computing and technology skills.
• Gain familiarity with grantwriting techniques and submitting grants for review.
• Learn to work well with diverse populations, learn to adapt to cultural and racial diversity.
• Sharpen your math and statistics skills.
• Get familiarized with government hiring practices.
• Potentially become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
• Become an expert researcher.
• Have the opportunity to study or live abroad.
• Develop your group work skills.

Nearly 25 percent of graduates of public health programs find work in hospitals and other health-care settings after graduation. Approximately 15 percent stay in a university setting as faculty or staff, and another 15 percent work in government. Below, you can see a breakdown of the most usual employers of public health graduates within common public health sectors.

Education

• Universities and colleges
• Secondary schools
• Government agencies
• Consumer advocacy agencies

Administration/Management

• Hospitals
• Nursing home facilities
• Clinics
• Insurance companies

Policy

• Government agencies
• Regulatory agencies
• Think tanks
• Corporations
• Consulting firms

Community Practices

• Relief agencies
• Crisis centers
• Government or voluntary agencies
• Substance abuse centers

Research

• National Institute of Health
• Centers for Disease Control
• Academic institutions
• Private industry

What Are Some Possible Careers in Public Health?

Here are some possible job titles for which you might be qualified with an associate or bachelor's degree in public health. The work experience needed for these positions will vary. Use this list for inspiration, remembering that it represents some, but certainly not all, of the careers you can consider.

• Biostatistician
• Bioterrorism Preparedness Specialist
• CDC Investigator
• Clinical Trials Coordinator
• Coalition Coordinator
• Corporate Health Promotion Specialist
• Bioterrorism Preparedness Specialist
• Corporate Outcomes Researcher
• Dietician
• Environmental Health Coordinator
• Environmental Protection Specialist
• EPA Researcher/Administrator
• Health Education Specialist
• Health Educator for a disease foundation
• Health Informatics Specialist
• Corporate Health Promotion Specialist
• Health Officer
• Health Policy Analyst for Government
• Health Reporter
• Health Research Scientist
• Health Science Writer
• Health Services Research Analyst
• Hospital/Managed Care Administrator
• Industrial Hygienist
• Laboratory Operations Coordinator
• Mental Health Research Scientist
• Nutritionist
• Outreach Coordinator
• Outreach Specialist
• Patient Advocate
• Policy Assistant
• Prevention Specialist
• Program Evaluation Analyst for the Government
• Program Planning & Evaluation
• Public Health Advisor
• Public Health Analyst
• Public Health Epidemiologist
• Public Health Nurse
• Research Associate
• Research Evaluator
• Research Statistician
• Risk Analyst
• Safety & Health Specialist
• Statistical SAS Programmer
• Statistical Writer
• Statistician
• Virology Trainer
• Waste Management Specialist
• Wellness Program Coordinator
• Worksite Wellness Specialist

Here are some possible advanced public health job titles for people with advanced degrees and much experience.

• Director for Public Health
• Director of Clinical Trials
• Dean for School of Public Health
• Senior Epidemiologist
• State Data Management Director

• Clinical/Medical Director
• Pollution Control Program Director
• Director of Infectious/Chronic Diseases
• Consumer Health Director
• Patient Relations Officer