One of the most appealing aspects of public health is the sheer diversity of specializations and job opportunities available. Whether a role entails researching methods to prevent the spread of disease, managing teams of hospital staff, or advocating for on-the-job safety procedures, the field of public health offers myriad niches for individuals ready to earn a living in the industry.

The many career options in this industry, along with the altruistic ideals inherent in public health, motivate countless aspiring professionals to earn bachelor’s degrees in public health.

8 Common Public Health Careers

Below are eight roles that are great for individuals with a bachelor’s in public health [link to WGU page] to showcase their expertise in health promotion, health education, environmental health, and more.

Community Health Worker

Community health workers create connections with people that need access to different kinds of healthcare, whether in small towns or larger cities. Many community health workers help disadvantaged or underprivileged groups confront and overcome various healthcare obstacles. A primary focus of community health workers is to develop outreach programs and campaigns that promote public health.

These types of public health workers typically identify with or understand the people they serve. Some may even have lived experience of their clients’ socioeconomic, cultural, or health backgrounds.

Community Health Manager

A community health manager supervises health promotion, education, and counseling initiatives in communities of all sizes. They establish and maintain communication between community members and healthcare providers. Many community health managers work with others to advocate for underserved populations and expand access to essential healthcare services.

Community health managers who have completed a master’s in public health (MPH) program can use their specialized leadership skills to effectively rally workers and administer programs dedicated to the health and safety of the communities they serve.

Patient Educator

Patient educators draw on their balanced training in health education and patient care. They work in tandem with physicians, nurses, therapists, and other medical professionals to ease their patients’ concerns and inform them of treatment plans. Patient educators usually have a background in education, counseling, social work, or another similar area. This allows them to practice empathy and strong interpersonal communication on the job.

These professionals might also assist patients in navigating complex healthcare systems and health insurance policies.

Quality Improvement Coordinator

Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare centers often strive to offer high-quality services to their patients. Thanks to the work of quality improvement coordinators, these establishments can reach or exceed their patient care and quality goals. Quality improvement coordinators consult with management staff, doctors, nurses, and other teams to optimize systems, processes, and programs to better serve patients and employees.

For example, a quality improvement coordinator might conduct training sessions on the importance of setting standards of quality in the workplace. Or they may perform regular audits of specific departments in an effort to enhance a patient’s overall experience.

Public Health Administrator

Public health administrators typically manage healthcare facilities in addition to engaging in a wide array of public health initiatives. The main role of these administrators is to act as an authority on the nonclinical and business aspects of healthcare.

Public health administrators’ duties keep them in close communication with physicians of all kinds as well as government representatives, insurance providers, and other partners that have a stake in their affairs. When public health administrators are not reporting to health boards or planning public health programs, they’re likely to be monitoring budgets or reviewing performance metrics.

Research Assistant

Research is an essential pillar of public health. These researchers—including research assistants—study the spread of diseases and viruses, the causes of health risks among certain populations, and much more. Like biostatisticians and epidemiologists, research assistants use data analytics principles to predict health trends, gauge the effectiveness of new drugs, and discover ways to safeguard people from chronic diseases and communicable illnesses.

During their day-to-day work, research assistants rely on their skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Prevention Specialist

Prevention specialists serve as public health educators, warning about the health risks of various injuries and illnesses and teaching ways to promote good health habits. They develop courses and publish instructional materials that foster physical, mental, and social well-being. It is important for prevention specialists to stay up to date on the best health education practices according to local and state health department guidelines.

No matter where they work or how they approach their instruction, prevention specialists should be skilled communicators and good listeners.

Disaster Management Specialist

Disaster management specialists prepare comprehensively for emergencies and develop response plans that minimize damage and loss of life. These emergencies may include fires, earthquakes, floods, structural failures, terrorist attacks, and more. As they work to secure the best possible outcome of any given disaster, they research past emergency mitigation efforts and use that data to prepare for future emergency events.

Being able to perform well under pressure is an essential characteristic of successful disaster management specialists.

Embarking on Your Career in Public Health

These and many more careers offer compelling reasons to earn a public health degree. And you could thrive in any one of them with a bachelor’s degree from the right university.

If you’re ready to see what you can accomplish in the growing, dynamic field of public health, consider WGU. Our online, accredited Bachelor of Science in Public Health program is designed with input from experts in the industry. Plus, our competency-based learning model lets you advance through coursework as quickly as you show mastery of the material, so you can potentially graduate faster and save money.

Learn more today.