Public health can help improve the health of communities, but not all public health degrees give you the same experience. At BYU-Idaho, the two emphases under the Bachelor of Science in Public Health are Health Science and Health Education and Promotion.
While both share a foundation in public health, they prepare students for different careers and learning experiences. This article breaks down the differences, offers examples of potential career paths, and can help you decide what emphasis is right for you.
What is Public Health?
Public health in general focuses on preventing disease and promoting health for communities and populations. Instead of having individual patients, they look at problems from a bird's eyes view to see the cause and solution to a public health threat. This field combines science, education, policy, and community outreach. According to the American Public Health Association, it's essential for improving the quality of life, helping children thrive, reducing human suffering, and saving money.
What is the Health Science Emphasis?
The health science emphasis in public health looks at the scientific and clinical side of health and prepares you for a future in the medical field. It has courses that integrate public health with the medical field. Some of these include:
If you choose this emphasis, you could work in medicine, physical therapy, dentistry, optometry, or other health professions. Health science is ideal for students who want more science in their degree and want to work in the medical field.
What is the Health Education and Promotion Emphasis?
Health education and promotion prepares you to lead health initiatives and teach other people how to live healthier, fuller lives. It typically focuses more on behavior change, program planning, wellness strategies, and ways to communicate health information. It has classes like:
With this emphasis, you might work as a health educator, as an epidemiologist who studies how and why diseases happen, or as a contact tracer that stops the spread of contagious diseases. This track is best for students who like teaching other people about health and developing programs that help communities prevent disease.
How Do They Compare?
If you want to get a better view of how these emphases compare, check out this helpful chart:
| | Health Science | Health Education & Promotion |
| Core Focus | Science, clinical skills, healthcare systems | Health behavior, prevention, education |
| Courses |
|
|
| Careers In | Medicine, physical therapy, dentistry, optometry, or other health professions. | Health educator, epidemiologist, contact tracer, or other community health positions. |
| Typical Work Settings | Hospitals, clinics, or in your own practice. | Schools, health agencies, or community organizations. |
Putting It Together
Both health science and health education prepare students for meaningful public health careers, but which one is right for you depends on where you want to go. With health science, you can take classes in health disparities and medical terminology and head to medical school after graduation. With health education, you can teach communities about health and prevent diseases.
If you want more information about what each emphasis can offer you, talk with the BYU-Idaho academic advisors, check out the health science and health education degree pages, and explore the course catalog.
Citations
American Public Health Association (APHA) — What Is Public Health?
BYU–Idaho Catalog — Course Information
BYU–Idaho Catalog — Course Information
BYU–Idaho Catalog — Course Information
BYU–Idaho Catalog — Course Information
BYU–Idaho Catalog — Course Information
BYU–Idaho Catalog — Course Information
BYU–Idaho Catalog — Course Information
BYU–Idaho Catalog — Course Information
BYU–Idaho Catalog — Course Information
BYU–Idaho Catalog — Course Information
BYU–Idaho — Academic Advising