Concentrations and specializations in public health

Due to public health’s expansive scope, there are countless specializations within this field. Most colleges and universities that offer degrees or certificates in public health offer concentrations for students to select from; this applies both to online MPH programs as well as on-campus ones. A concentration allows them to focus their studies on one area of public healthcare while developing essential skills needed for success in this field. PublicHealthDegrees.org has compiled an extensive list of top public health program concentrations into program concentrations within this discipline.

It is essential to remember that universities and colleges can combine similar specialties into a single concentration (ex. Community Health and Health Promotion). Schools may refer to their concentrations by different names (e.g. Industrial Hygiene instead of Occupational Health).

Biostatistics Educational Programs and Degrees

Are you searching for the ideal program or degree in Biostatistics? There are plenty of options to choose from – check them out now!

Specialist Focus – Collecting, Analyzing and Interpreting Data that Affects Health and Its Outcomes

Education Levels: Masters & Doctorate

Program Outcomes: Capability to design, implement and analyze various health-related research using statistical theory and bioinformatics techniques.
Common Work Environments: Academia, Hospitals, Pharmaceutical Companies, Independent Research Groups, Public Health Organizations and Government Agencies.

Child & Maternal Health Degrees & Programmes

Specialty: Mental, developmental, and behavioral health of children and mothers.
Education Levels: Master’s & Doctorate
Program Outcomes: You will have the capacity to assess biological factors affecting an individual or family’s health as well as any geographical or socioeconomic influences which might have an effect on maternal and child wellbeing. Furthermore, you will have the skillset needed to design and implement health programmes for soon-to-be mothers and infants, along with their families, friends, colleagues.
Common Working Environments: Hospitals, Healthcare Centers, Local Health Departments, Non-profits and Social Services Agencies.

Community Health Degrees & Programs

Specialty Focus: This specialty emphasizes the needs of all citizens, not just one group. It offers a comprehensive view of public health through education, awareness raising activities, research projects, and advocacy initiatives.
Education Levels: Bachelors, Masters & Doctorate
Program Outcomes: The capacity to conduct community assessments, develop, implement, evaluate and monitor health programs. Gain an insight into how illness and disease impact people. Discover why community health education is such an integral component of this endeavor. Your better habits will lead to fewer future issues and a safer environment.Common Working Environments: Health & wellness clinics, community centers, state/local governments, health departments, non profit organizations and academia

Environmental Health Degrees & Programs

Specialty: Environmental health and human health as they relate to the overall well-being of society.
Education Levels: Bachelors, Masters & Doctorate
Program Outcomes: A fundamental understanding of toxicology, disease prevention, occupational hazards and air & quality is necessary for effective health management. Furthermore, one must comprehend how society, occupations and geographic settings influence individual wellbeing.
Common Working Environments: Academia. Companies involved in chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Epidemiology Programs and Degrees

Specialty: Examining diseases, illnesses, and associated risks among humans.
Education Levels: Masters & Doctorate
Program Outcomes: Ability to utilize statistical and epidemiologic methods for data analysis, research design, implementation, and transfer of information via oral or written communication. Furthermore, the capacity to manage daily laboratory work related to individual health is required.
Common Working Environments: State, local and federal agencies that support Public Health initiatives. This includes research laboratories that address health problems, academia and pharmaceutical research.

Generalist Public Healthcare Degrees and Programs

Focus of this Specialty: Provides an introduction to five core areas of public health – Biostatistics and Epidemiology.
Education Levels: Bachelors, Masters & Doctorate
Program Outcomes: Ability and Willingness to Investigate, Analyze, Design and Implement Methods Related to Public Health Research in Order to Enhance This Field’s Research Infrastructure
Common Working Environments: Government agencies.

Global Health Degrees & Programs

Focus: Economics, global economy, cultural differences and how they influence human wellbeing and health. This field offers an informed perspective on potential solutions to common healthcare-related problems.
Education Levels: Bachelors, Masters & Doctorate
Program Results: Capability to design, analyze, implement and monitor public health plans that could enhance safety in various regions; without having a deep understanding of health, be able to pinpoint the causes of widespread illness in various countries and implement policies related to improving public health care provision.
Common Work Environments: Government agencies, Research Facilities and Non-profit Organizations.

Health Equity Degrees and Programmes

Specialty Focus: Addressing healthcare inequalities, treatment and outcomes across all races, ethnicities, geographic residences, gender identity/sexual orientation disability status and race.
Education Levels Bachelor: Master’s and Doctorate
Program Results: An in-depth comprehension of social determinants and health disparities. Furthermore, the capacity to identify opportunities and design, implement, and evaluate interventions/policies that promote health equity.
Common Working Environments: County health departments and non-profits.

Degrees & Programs in Health & Human Services

Specialty: Enhancing people’s lives and wellbeing through counseling, psychotherapy, social work and criminal justice skillsets.
Education Levels: Bachelors, Masters & Doctorate
Program Outcomes: Advocate for individuals by preventing harm and treating it appropriately through advocacy, conflict resolution, crisis/trauma management, case management and community collaboration; this knowledge should include project and service management principles as well as ethics & systems management as well as research methodology.
Common Working Environments: Healthcare departments, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and non-profits

Health Science Degrees & Programs

Specialty: Researching and applying scientific principles to human healthcare.
Educational Levels: Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate
Program Outcomes: Understand how technology can be utilized to enhance medical practices, research and the creation of new medical innovations. Gain an understanding of patient statistics, internal hospital functioning and theories related to disease and medicine.
Common Working Environments: Hospitals and other government agencies.

Infectious Disease Degrees and Programs

Specialty: Research, Prevention, and Treatment of Common Illnesses and Diseases.
Education Levels: Masters & Doctorate
Program Outcomes: Gain insight into how illnesses and diseases spread within populations, along with strategies for management. Educational programs aim to raise awareness, educate about disease transmission patterns, prevention measures, and treatments; collect data on disease cases to form hypotheses regarding its origins.
Common Working Environments: Local and federal agencies, hospitals and research institutes.

Leadership in Public Health

Specialty Areas: Strategic Planning & Evaluation, Public Health Policy Design & Implementation and Political Analysis.
Educational Levels: Master’s and doctorate
Program Outcomes: Training students in leadership, management and public health to become competent leaders who can effect positive change locally and globally.
Common Work Environments: Different sectors within public Health

Programmes and Degrees in Occupational Health

Specialty: To foster better communities and workplaces through policies, awareness campaigns, health programs, and other means.
Education Levels: Masters & Doctorate
Program Outcomes: The ability to promote sustainable workplace environments.
Common Working Environments: Organizations such as commercial and retail outlets, regulatory and governmental authorities, insurance carriers, petrochemical plants and other heavy and light industrial operations.

Additional Resource:
https://www.waldenu.edu/programs/health/resource/what-is-public-health-and-why-is-it-important
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/
https://www.bcu.ac.uk/health-sciences/about-us/school-blog/why-is-public-health-important