Careers
The Bachelor of Arts in Health Studies prepares you for a wide range of opportunities in public and global health, health and human services, health education and communication, health management and leadership, nonprofit and community services, environmental and occupational health, and healthcare outreach and community-based care. As an added benefit, the degree provides a strong foundation for advanced studies in public health, medicine, social work, and other health-related professions.
The degree offers four optional interest areas—Health & Life Sciences; Community Health Interventions & Practice; Health & Society; and Health Policy, Leadership & Ethics—that provide opportunities to develop knowledge and skills aligned with different areas of professional practice.
Choosing an interest area is not required; however, these areas can help guide your elective choices as you explore career pathways and the knowledge and skills you want to develop.
Career Pathways by Interest Area
- Medicine and Allied Health Professions: Medicine, Dentistry, Physician’s Assistant, Pharmacy, Nursing, Midwifery, and Physical Therapy.
- Infectious Disease: Epidemiologist, Infectious Disease Researcher, Pandemic Response, Contact Tracing, Medical Officer, Public Health Nurse, Public Health Veterinarian, Public Health Advisor, Vaccine Researcher, Disease Ecologist, and Infection Preventionist.
- Maternal & Child Health: Doula, Home Health Nurse, WIC Nutritionist, and Lactation Consultant.
- Chronic Disease & Cancer: Medical Epidemiologist, Cancer Biologist, Hospice Care, Tobacco Quitline Coach, Behavioral Scientist, Study Coordinator, and Chronic and Infectious Disease Specialist.
- Public Safety: Injury Prevention Specialist, Gun Safety Specialist, Forensic Nurse, Director of Emergency Medical Services, Specialist in Poison Information, Forensic Pathologist, Health & Safety Specialist, Emergency Preparedness Specialist, Disaster Preparedness Researcher, and Biodefense Researcher.
- Environmental Health: Toxicologist, Poison Prevention Specialist, Environmental Engineer, Hazardous Waste Inspector, Hydrologist, Environmental Health Nurse, and Health Physicist.
- Occupational Health: Occupational Medicine Physician, Employee Health Nurse, and Industrial Hygienist.
- Food Safety & Nutrition: Nutrition Consultant, Food Service Sanitation, Food Inspector, Consumer Safety Officer, and Food Scientist
- Pharmaceuticals & Drug Safety: Pharmacist, Medical Officer for Drug Evaluation & Safety, Biostatician, and Regulatory Affairs Specialist.
- Laboratory and Health Monitoring Professions: Biotechnology, Medical Education, Public Health Geneticist, Implementation Scientist, Nanotechnology Researcher, Health Researcher, and Medical Writer.
- Health Education & Communication: Health Educator / Health Education Specialist, Health Communications Director, Peer Health Educator, Health Promotion Coordinator, Sex Health Educator, Public Health Nutrition Specialist
- Community Organizing and Care: Community Health Worker, Program Director (non-profit; county, state, national, global), Social Worker, Health Outreach Assistant, Counselor, Health Care Outreach Specialist, Patient Navigator, and Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist
- Evaluation & Quality: Program Evaluator, Quality Improvement Specialist, Outcomes Researcher, Informatics Specialist, and Patient Safety Specialist
- Other: Health Coach, Dance Instructor, Urban Planner, Chef, Art / Music Therapy, and Worksite Wellness Manager
- Education: Health Educator / Health Education Specialist, Health Teacher, Continuing Education Coordinator, Education Consultant, and Professor or Dean within a University
- Health Disparities: Officer of Minority Health, Patient Navigator, Correctional Medicine Physician, Disease Prevention Activist, and Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist
- Mental Health: Mental Health Researcher, Public Health Social Worker, Case Manager, Coordinator, Behavioral Health Programs, Counselor, Health Psychology / Community Psychology
- Nonprofit Services or Government Organizations: Grant Writer, Developing Director, Program Officer / Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Director of a Professional Organization
- Health Communication: Health Journalist, Public Information Specialist, Health Communications Director, Social Marketer, Medical Illustrator, and Medical Writer
- Military: Air Force Public Health Officer, Army Preventative Medical Officer, Army Health Promotion Officer
- Other: Medical Sociology and Anthropology, Victim Advocate, Social Epidemiologist, and Health Researcher, Health Research Coordinator
- Public Health Law, Regulations, & Policy: Advocacy Director, Policy Analyst, Health Legislative Assistant, Health Economist, Public Health Lawyer, Health Policy Coordinator, Administrative Law Judge, Global Health Lawyer, Consumer Advocate, and Public Health Lobbyist.
- Health Management & Administration: Health Care Administrator, Public & Global Health Services Manager, Hospital Administrator, Health Department Administrator, Administrative Assistant, Program Coordinator, Health Commissioner, Medical Director, Federal Agency Director, and Non-profit Director/Executive
- Other: Community Organizer, Community Activist, Medical Ethicist
My coursework actually had a direct impact on getting hired where I am currently working.
Hear From More Health Studies Graduates
Explore how other alumni are using their degrees to pursue meaningful work and make a positive difference.
Build Experience Beyond the Classroom
Once you’re in the program, you can go beyond the required fieldwork course and enrich your undergraduate experience and prepare for your career through internships, volunteering, community-engaged learning, and other hands-on opportunities. Explore the Community-Engaged Learning & Research Office and Career Services’ Internship Program to discover ways to connect what you learn in the classroom with meaningful experiences in the community.