Public Health Degrees—Not Just for Graduate Students

Preparing the Public Health Workforce

“…Gradually, there was a shift in those earning a graduate public health degree from physicians to those with a baccalaureate degree (Epidemiology Program Office 1999). Today, Riegelman et al (2002) describe the value of the skills taught in public health education to other fields. For example, An understanding of the biological and social bases of health and disease is excellent background for future health professionals.…”

Educating the public health workforce: Issues and challenges

“…The majority of public health courses have been at the postgraduate level both in Australia [ 18 ] and internationally [ 27 , 28 ]. Accordingly, admission into public health education has generally been open to people with a first degree in a range of professional or academic fields and/or relevant work experience [ 18 , 27 ].…”

“…In the US, undergraduate students' interest in public health is stimulated by a range of global issues including the rise in both pandemic and chronic diseases [ 11 , 32 ], risks to biosecurity [ 28 , 32 ], technological advances requiring new expertise, ecological damage and catastrophes, demographic changes [ 32 ], and the high proportion of public health professionals with limited formal public health training [ 11 , 28 ].…”

“…Undergraduate public health education can be seen as a natural outgrowth of the rise in interdisciplinary undergraduate education – with insights regarding influences on public health having roots in a variety of subjects, including economics, psychology, anthropology and biology [ 28 ]. Conversely, the population approach of public health, and the generic expertise and knowledge gained, provide a good basis for a variety of professions, and postgraduate study in a range of disciplines, including social work, law and health policy [ 28 ].…”

“…Specifically, approaches are needed that improve the relevance of undergraduate public health education to workforce needs [ 18 ]. Furthermore, undergraduate-level public health programs should not merely replicate postgraduate-level programs [ 18 , 28 ]. Postgraduate public health programs need more education in the areas of policy leadership; emerging issues, such as Avian influenza; strategies and activities that promote awareness and protect the population from developing, for example, chronic diseases; and preparedness training for emergencies.…”