What’s the Difference Between Public Health and Health Education?
Careers in public health are growing. Increasing rates of chronic disease and an aging population continue to drive the need for these roles, which address illness prevention and well-being at the community and broader population levels.
Under the public health umbrella is a subset of careers focused on health education. What do these jobs involve? How do they differ from careers in public health? Which one might be a better fit for your interests and goals, and which degree can help you get there?
We sat down with Christopher Gallucci, DHSc, academic department chair for the public health and health education and promotion programs at Purdue Global, to discuss the differences between a career in public health and one in health education and promotion.
Defining Public Health
The public health field focuses on the overall health and well-being of entire communities and populations. Public health professionals monitor trends, advocate for policy, and conduct research. Some public health professionals help manage outbreaks of disease, depending on the specific role.
“A major goal of public health work is to prevent disease, promote healthy lifestyles, and protect vulnerable populations,” Gallucci says. “This involves a near-constant cycle of analysis, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.”
Examples of Public Health Work
- Regulating food safety and water quality
- Conducting community health needs assessments
- Providing free clinics to broaden health care access
- Tracking disease outbreaks and monitoring for trends
- Advocating for laws that keep the public safe (seat belts, use of fireworks, public consumption of alcohol, etc.)
- Promoting firearm safety laws
Defining Health Education
Health education is a specialty within public health, and its goal is to improve the well-being of community members through the sharing of health information.
“Health educators translate complex health concepts, design health programs, and teach people how to make and apply healthy choices in their daily lives,” Gallucci says. “They act as advocates and connect people to resources, build trust between communities and health systems, improve participation in health screenings and immunizations, and help reduce stigma.”
Examples of Health Education Work
- Teaching tobacco cessation and disease prevention classes
- Leading a school-based health program
- Conducting outreach for vulnerable populations to obtain free or reduced-cost services
- Teaching nutrition or chronic disease management classes
- Promoting regular health screenings
- Grassroots information dissemination and education (for example, going door-to-door with tips on how to reduce the spread of disease)
- Referring people to additional information and services
What’s the Difference Between Public Health and Health Education?
“Public health encompasses a multitude of career paths, each with its own focus or niche, yet they’re all focused on the overall health of an entire population,” Gallucci says. “Health education is a specialized area or role within public health focused on communication, teaching, and empowering people through knowledge and healthy behaviors.”
One general difference is how each role interacts with the community.
“A typical public health role usually has more institutional- and organizational-level interactions, whereas a health educator may interact more with individuals and community members,” Gallucci says.
Both types of roles play a vital part in the health of our families, communities, and the nation.
“Public health and health education programs enhance the quality of life for everyone,” Gallucci says. “By focusing on prevention, we can reduce the costs — both financial and emotional — that come with ill health and unsafe conditions.”
Are Careers in Public Health Growing?
Yes, they are. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports on three main categories of public health jobs:
1. Health Education Specialists
The BLS projects that employment of health education specialists will grow 4% from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations. That translates to about 7,900 openings for health education specialists every year in that decade.
What they do:
- Evaluate the health needs of individuals and communities
- Create educational programs and events to teach people about health topics, such as managing existing or chronic conditions
- Determine the effectiveness of various programs and educational materials
- Assist individuals in finding health services or information
- Offer training programs for community health workers or other health care providers
- Review and analyze data to learn about a particular community, programs, and services
- Promote policies and resources that help improve health
2. Community Health Workers
Employment of community health workers will grow 11% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, the BLS projects. That translates to about 7,800 openings for community health workers every year in that decade.
What they do:
- Help organize care among individuals, communities, and health and social service systems
- Perform outreach, including home visits
- Offer culturally appropriate health and informational resources
- Handle case management and resource access
- Advocate for individuals and communities for housing, food security, and other needs
- Make coaching and other support available to those navigating chronic disease, including mental health and substance use disorders
- Provide basic health screenings and first aid
3. Medical and Health Services Managers
Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 23% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS. That’s about 62,100 openings for medical and health services managers every year, on average, over the decade.
What they do:
- Design goals and objectives related to efficiency and quality of health care services
- Promote compliance with laws and regulations
- Train and supervise staff members
- Develop work schedules
- Serve as a representative at department or investor meetings or on governing boards
- Prepare reports and budgets
>>Read More: The Importance of Community Health Nursing
Is a Career in Public Health for You?
Whether you pursue a career in public health at the macro or community level, certain underlying tasks remain the same. According to Gallucci, both public health and health education roles require:
- Speaking with people one-on-one
- Public speaking and facilitating large groups
- Networking and collaborating with agencies and policymakers
“Having a strong health science background is good, but more importantly, having strong analytical and research skills is paramount because everything we do in public health revolves around data,” Gallucci says.
Compassion, he believes, is a requirement of these fields.
“At the heart of it, anyone who chooses public health or health education is usually passionate about helping others and incredibly empathetic,” Gallucci says.
Before Choosing a Career in Public Health, Ask Yourself:
- Am I motivated by helping others?
- Do I enjoy research and data?
- Am I confident enough to lead or facilitate groups of people to enact change?
- Am I comfortable addressing sensitive health topics?
- Do I enjoy collaborating and problem-solving?
- Am I passionate about specific health issues?
- Would I prefer to work in an office (which might lend itself more to a career in public health) or in the field, interacting with community members (perhaps a health education career)?
Purdue Global Offers Degrees in Public Health and Health Education and Promotion
If you need a degree to launch or grow your career in public health and/or health education, Purdue Global can help.
We offer an online bachelor's degree in health education and promotion, which aligns with the educational requirements for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam.
At the master’s level, we offer:
Request more information about our programs today.
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