Why Study Public Health? Learning How to Protect Populations

By Dr. Nadine Spring  |  11/03/2025

For many students, choosing a field of study can be a daunting task. But for adult learners who are driven by a desire to enact widespread positive change, public health offers a compelling career path.

Earning a public health degree is the first step into this dynamic discipline. Public health focuses on protecting and improving the health of entire populations, making it a remarkable and satisfying area of study.

Public health professionals have an impact on health outcomes around the world. They specifically work to improve population health and overall human health by keeping local communities healthy.

Public Health Career Paths

The public health field is incredibly diverse, encompassing areas such as:

• Biostatistics
• Clinical research
• Community health
• Global health
• Health policy
• Epidemiology
• Environmental health
• Behavioral health

The medical field focuses on individual treatment. By contrast, public health professionals and public health workers work on disease prevention efforts and injury prevention.

This prevention-focused approach requires a broad range of skills and knowledge. It also draws heavily on statistical data analysis and the social sciences.

The scope of public health is vast, and there are many health issues to tackle. Professionals in public health roles might tackle health challenges such as:

• Managing infectious disease outbreaks
• Running effective vaccination programs
• Addressing the opioid crisis
• Developing strategies to combat alcohol addiction
• Working to ensure access to essential health services and clean water

Public health plays an important role in disease control and even disaster relief. Studying for a public health degree prepares you to address both global health challenges and local health challenges.

This variety means that studying public health offers a flexible and stimulating environment where one’s knowledge and skills can be applied to countless health issues, both locally and around the world.

Depending on the niche of public health a student chooses, this field can offer a busy life. For instance, public health students may choose to pursue job opportunities as a:

• Public health educator
• Community health worker
• Epidemiologist
• Environmental health specialist

Why a Public Health Career Is Satisfying

Working in public health offers both intellectual stimulation and deep personal fulfillment. Knowing that your work plays a critical role in improving the quality of life for entire populations and positively shaping health outcomes is a powerful motivator.

The variety of available public health jobs continues to grow. The U.S. government, state agencies, and local organizations recognize the role of preventative health measures and the need for successful public health programs.

Graduates of a public health degree program often seek employment in:

• Federal agencies
• Local health agencies
• International organizations such as the World Health Organization
• Hospitals
• Healthcare systems
• Higher education institutions, such as colleges and universities
• Private industry and private companies
• Nonprofit organizations
• Community organizations dedicated to health equity

All of these organizations play a part in implementing community-based public programs and advocating for necessary change to improve address complex health problems. There is a strong need for qualified public health workers, especially for people with advanced training, to help individuals have a healthy life.

The Power of Public Health Policies

A significant component of the public health field involves policy development and implementation. Effective public health policies can have the potential for worldwide impact on population health. These policies can include:

• Smoking restrictions
• Mandatory programs for vaccinations
• Better access to healthcare and health services within healthcare systems
• Initiating new public health initiatives

Public health officials often engage in public policy advocacy, using evidence-based research and public health education to influence legislation that protects community health and improves health outcomes. They often collaborate with private industries and community organizations to promote public health initiatives.

More Education Is Commonly Needed to Seek Some Roles

For graduates looking to specialize or who want to seek leadership positions in public health, additional education is often beneficial. For instance, a master’s degree in public health (MPH) is a common choice, providing rigorous training in areas like biostatistics, epidemiology, and policy development.

Earning a master’s degree can significantly expand one’s influence. For example, the knowledge gained from the MPH degree can aid in increasing one’s capacity to shape public policy and drive systemic change in health services.

Some graduates may even choose to earn a doctoral degree. Often, students pursue this type of degree because they want a vital role in research or seek top-level leadership roles in higher education or federal government agencies.

To pursue a public health degree is to commit to a career path of social justice and systemic improvement. It is gratifying because your daily work makes a tangible, worldwide impact on the quality of life for entire populations.

The Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health at AMU

For students interested in studying public health, American Military University (AMU) offers an online Bachelor of Science in Public Health. In this degree program, students can take courses that cover public health in America, health promotion and disease prevention, and epidemiology. Other courses include public policy and the foundations of nutrition.

This B.S. in public health has four concentrations to enable students to tailor their education to meet their career goals:

• Emergency and disaster management
• General
• Nutrition and wellness
• Public health informatics

For more information about this bachelor’s degree in public health, visit AMU’s health sciences degree program page.