There are a number of entry-level jobs in public health that only require a high school diploma, and if you have one you’re already doing work that benefits your community. If you have a passion for working with the public and addressing the most pressing health issues, however, you’ll find that a college degree holds the key to growing your skills and career options in this dynamic field.
According to the American Public Health Association, graduates with a bachelor’s degree are now finding good job prospects in many of the same public health fields as those with advanced degrees. Bachelor of Science in Public Health graduates are working in local health departments and government agencies, nonprofit and advocacy organizations, at healthcare companies, and as public health consultants.
Let’s look at some of the great careers options you can explore with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
Local and State Public Health Jobs
Many BS in Public Health graduates go on to work with government agencies and nonprofit organizations on the front lines of community health. A variety of roles are available for those who enjoy working with people in groups and one to one, as well as those who prefer to make a difference behind the scenes. Jobs in public health include:
- Government or nonprofit program coordinator
- Health and wellness outreach worker
- Community health educator or trainer
- Hospital indigent-care case worker
- Public health advocate
- Mobile health screening or mammogram coordinator
- Health department research assistant or communications team member
- Health informatics or health information technology specialist
- County surveyor, testing for air or water quality
- City health inspector
- Policy consultant on public health issues
- Corporate giving program officer
North Texas employers hiring public health graduates run the gamut from large government and hospital systems to local nonprofits and businesses. Examples include:
- Major hospitals and healthcare systems, such as Baylor Scott & White Health, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Children’s Medical Center, John Peter Smith Hospital, Medical City Healthcare, Parkland Hospital, the Texas Health Methodist and Presbyterian Hospital networks, and UT Southwestern Medical Center.
- Nonprofits that have public health programming or outreach efforts, such as the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Red Cross, Brian’s House, the Bridge Breast Network, CitySquare, Lupus Foundation of America, Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Susan G. Komen Dallas County, and the United Way.
- County government, including the Dallas, Tarrant and Collin County Health Departments.
- City health departments, health programs and wellness initiatives.
National and International Opportunities in Public Health
A number of federal agencies and special government programs also seek graduates in this field. Here’s a quick guide to some of the more unique national and international job possibilities available to those with a BS in Public Health.
The National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Indian Health Service are just a few of the federal agencies hiring public health graduates. You can find job openings in these and other areas of government at USAJobs.gov, the official hiring portal for the U.S. government.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control Fellowships offer up to two years of full-time paid training in a wide array of fields related to public health, including domestic health policy and planning, health equity, heart disease and stroke prevention, public health informatics and communications, statistics, environmental health, industrial hygiene and occupational risk, infectious disease quarantine, pandemic preparedness/response, innovation research, epidemiology for hurricane response, and global health security.
The Peace Corps and AmeriCorps programs match college graduates with service opportunities in communities across America and in developing parts of the world. The pay is modest and the work is challenging, but participants with a public health background are valued and the benefits to the communities served are tremendous. Participants can also be eligible for federal student loan forgiveness programs, and AmeriCorps members receive additional compensation in the form of an education award that can be used for college tuition. Service in either of these programs has lasting career benefits and shows future employers your dedication to public service.
If a career in public health is your true calling, a bachelor’s degree can give you an exciting array of job options, and even show you the world.
Learn more about UTA’s online Bachelor of Science in Public Health program.
