Public Health Careers

A career in public health provides the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many people for generations to come. In the recent past, public health efforts produced major achievements such as improving vehicle safety, child vaccinations, and creating safer workplaces. Opportunities in the public health field are on the rise as the importance of illness and disease prevention becomes increasingly recognized.

As a public health professional, you will serve in community or civic leadership roles, focusing on preventing illness and disease through healthy practices. Your future career may involve preparing for emergencies and responding to them, as well as working to boost life expectancy, reduce infant and child death rates, and minimize the risk of communicable diseases.

MPH degree holders can expect to earn 50-75% more in their lifetime than those with only a bachelor’s degree.

Public health careers include jobs in the following sectors:

• Public domestic government agency (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health)
• Education
• Private companies (i.e., pharmaceutical, insurance)
• Nonprofit/NGO
• Global organization (e.g., World Health Organization)