05/06/2025
Public health plays a huge role in protecting human health, promoting healthy behaviors, and addressing health problems that impact entire communities. Unlike clinical healthcare, which focuses on individual treatment, public health programs take a broader view—working to prevent disease, promote health, and support overall community wellness.
If you are passionate about improving community health, promoting health education, or helping create public health initiatives, pursuing a public health degree could be a meaningful next step. Public health students learn how to address complex health challenges, from controlling infectious diseases to supporting environmental health, through evidence-based strategies and preventive programs.
In this guide, we will explore what a public health degree is, areas of specialization, the types of public health careers available, and how different degree pathways, including bachelor's and master's options, may help you develop the skills needed to support healthier communities and address global health challenges.
Understanding Public Health Degree Programs
A public health degree focuses on improving health at the community or population level rather than through individual clinical care. Students enrolled in public health programs may study prevention strategies, health promotion initiatives, healthcare policy, and public health research methods. Public health programs may also offer specializations in areas like environmental health, global health, and health promotion.
Public health degrees are available at multiple levels, from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree and beyond, and may lead to roles where graduates help design public health initiatives, promote healthy behaviors, and contribute to healthcare industry improvements.
Benefits of Earning a Public Health Degree
Students pursuing a public health degree may have the opportunity to build skills in areas such as:
- Designing and evaluating prevention programs
- Analyzing health data to identify trends and challenges
- Promoting health education within diverse communities
- Understanding environmental health and occupational health factors
- Supporting public health initiatives focused on disease prevention and health promotion
These skills can be useful in a variety of settings where public health professionals and community organizations work together to support healthier outcomes.
Public Health Degree Options
Students interested in public health can pursue several academic pathways through many health educators, including:
- Bachelor’s Degree: Covers foundational topics like healthcare administration, health education, epidemiology, and environmental health.
- Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH): Offers advanced coursework in areas like global health, health policy, and community health initiatives.
- Doctoral Degrees: For those interested in leadership, research, or academic roles within public health.
Many of these degree programs today are available fully online, allowing students to complete coursework around their existing schedules. Availability of online programs may vary by institution and location. Please check with the provider for specific offerings.
Areas of Study in a Public Health Major
Students majoring in public health typically study:
- Environmental health and the impact of surroundings on human health
- Epidemiology and communicable disease control
- Health education and health promotion strategies
- Health policy development and advocacy
- Population health data analysis and program evaluation
By developing skills in these areas, public health students are equipped to address diverse health challenges across different communities.
Public Health Degree Careers
Graduates with a public health degree may explore career paths such as:
- Health Education Specialists: Designing programs to promote healthy behaviors
- Community Health Specialists: Supporting local health initiatives and promoting prevention programs
- Environmental Health Specialists: Monitoring environmental factors that affect health outcomes
- Public Health Practitioners: Developing and managing public health programs focused on disease prevention and health promotion
Career paths depend on a graduate’s degree level, specialization, and professional interests.
Specializations in Public Health
Many public health degree programs offer specializations, allowing students to focus their education on areas such as:
- Environmental Health: Addressing environmental factors that influence public health
- Global Health: Managing health issues that cross national borders, including infectious diseases and disaster response
- Child Health: Promoting early-life health and supporting maternal and child health initiatives
- Health Promotion and Education: Creating programs that encourage healthy lifestyle choices and prevent chronic diseases
- Occupational Health: Occupational Health: Focusing on factors that impact worker health and safety; specific roles may require additional training or licensure.
These specialization options allow students to align their education with specific public health interests.
Why Pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree?
A Master of Public Health (MPH) degree may prepare students for advanced roles in research, leadership, and policy development. MPH programs focus on areas such as:
- Epidemiology and biostatistics
- Health policy analysis and program management
- Global health and environmental health
- Community health education and health promotion
Students who pursue an MPH may deepen their ability to address population health challenges and design evidence-based public health solutions.
MPH Programs and Concentrations
MPH programs often offer a variety of concentrations, allowing students to tailor their education to specific areas of interest, such as:
- Health policy and management
- Global health
- Epidemiology
- Community health promotion
- Occupational and environmental health
Selecting a concentration may help students focus their coursework on a particular aspect of public health practice.
How To Choose an MPH Program
When selecting an MPH program, prospective students should consider:
- Accreditation: Ensuring the program meets professional and academic standards
- Specialization Options: Choosing a focus area aligned with career goals
- Format: Exploring online learning or hybrid options for flexibility
- Support Services: Access to advisors, career services, and practicum placement assistance
Choosing the right program may help students build skills relevant to their future roles in public health.
Shaping a Healthier Future Through Public Health Education
Public health professionals help protect communities, promote healthy behaviors, and prevent disease. A public health degree may offer students the chance to explore topics like healthcare education, health administration, and environmental health—areas that play a role in shaping healthier communities.
Pursuing a bachelor's degree in public health or continuing with a Master of Public Health (MPH) program may provide students with exposure to prevention strategies, wellness promotion, and the broader field of public health. These programs often highlight how social, environmental, and policy influences intersect with human health.
For students drawn to the idea of supporting community well-being, studying public health may offer a meaningful academic path with potential for real-world impact.
