Online Public Health Degree Programs

Although "public health worker" is generally considered synonymous with "social worker," public health jobs include many types of jobs. Public health workers fulfill a variety of roles, from monitoring the environment to health inspection to public education to administration of public health programs. Almost all careers in the public health field involve being a public advocate, and in particular an advocate for those who wouldn't otherwise have a voice in society, including the disabled, the poor, abused or neglected children, and the mentally ill or mentally handicapped.

Typical duties of public health professionals involve matching people in need with the wide array available resources: public housing for the homeless, foster care for neglected children, and treatment centers for the ill or addicted. Duties can also include helping the disabled secure public assistance such as Medicaid, helping the working poor apply for food stamps, or arranging job training to help welfare recipients transition from welfare to work. The common denominator is a strong desire to help others, and in particular the less-fortunate.

Public Health Education and Training

A bachelor's degree in social work is generally required for entry-level public health jobs, although a degree in psychology or sociology is sometimes an acceptable substitute. Bachelor's degree programs in social work will prepare you for the hands-on aspects of public health jobs--dealing with culturally-diverse populations, social work ethics, and dealing with people who are at-risk, for example.

Master's Degree in Public Health Management

If you are hoping to progress from caseworker into public health management, you should plan on pursuing at least a master's degree. A master's degree will teach you to manage the massive case load typical in social work, prepare you for a supervisory role, and help provide the "big picture" perspective so you can transition from delivering services to those in need to expanding those services, identify which services are lacking, and improving the overall delivery.

Online Degree Programs in Public Health

Online undergrad degree programs in public health will prepare you to provide front-line care and guidance to your patients, and can qualify you for entry-level positions. Online advanced degree programs are also available, but expect to put in a lot of hands-on work as well--an internship or supervised field instruction of at least 900 hours to earn a master's degree, for example. To become licensed in clinical social work, most states will also require that you complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work.

Outlook for Public Health Careers

Opportunities for public health workers are expected to increase by 22 percent over the next ten years, or double the growth rate of the job market overall, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that median annual earnings of social workers ranged from $35,000 to $45,000. The top 10 percent earned more than $65,000 per year. Although no degree program can guarantee a position or salary upon completion, the increasing demand for public health professionals means that this career field will experience unprecedented growth in the coming decade.

• Health & Medical