Community health and public health are interrelated, but confusion often arises around these fields because they share the same goal: improving health for all patients. Although each field focuses on improving the population’s health overall, each takes a different approach.
Eastern Washington University’s online Master of Public Health (MPH) – General program prepares graduates for careers in both areas. Prospective students should understand the differences between community and public health to ensure they choose the right career path and educational focus to reach their goals.
What Is Public Health?
Public health is the broad science of protecting and improving the health of people and communities on a large scale, such as nationally or globally. Key activities within this field include disease education and prevention, developing health policies and conducting epidemiological research.
This field employs a scientific approach, using data and evidence-based interventions to inform and implement public health policies. For example, vaccine campaigns, clean water policies and anti-smoking programs are all under the umbrella of public health.
Most professionals in the field of public health work through federal, state and/or local health departments. The goal is to ensure large-scale disease prevention and treatment, public safety, promote population health and protect the public against a range of health-related threats, such as viruses and other communicable diseases.
What Is Community Health?
Community health is the implementation of health initiatives focused on specific geographic areas or populations, such as those living in a particular city or state. This field takes a localized rather than a broad approach to healthcare, emphasizing the social determinants of health and health equity and focusing on factors such as socioeconomic status and background, cultural norms and levels of access to local resources.
This critical field uses community-level interventions and grassroots approaches to promote and support population health. Examples of community health in action include neighborhood health education programs, mobile clinics, school-based health education and local food access initiatives.
Professionals in this field work through community organizations, hospitals and nonprofits. The grassroots approach includes goals to improve access to healthcare, meet the health needs of the population and implement effective strategies at the local level.
What Are the Key Differences Between Community Health and Public Health?
While the fields of community health and public health are similar in some ways, they also differ in significant ways. The key differences that make community and public health unique are:
- Scope: The field of public health focuses on broader populations, while community health tends to focus on specific neighborhoods or groups.
- Approach: Public health takes an analytical, scientific and epidemiological approach to health, while community health takes a social and cultural approach.
- Focus: Public health focuses on disease prevention, while community health focuses on overall wellness and social factors that affect the health of a specific population.
- Work settings: Public health professionals typically work for government agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or research institutions, while community health professionals tend to work for local clinics, community centers and grassroots organizations.
- Scale of intervention: Public health focuses on making meaningful policy and systems changes, while community health aims to improve health through direct community engagement.
It’s important to note that many professionals work in both areas, and both are essential. While each field is indeed different in many ways, they strive to protect and support the health of the people they serve.
What Career Opportunities Exist in Public Health and Community Health?
Graduates with an MPH degree have access to a wide range of career opportunities. Public health covers a broad scope within a national or global health system, while community health implements those systems within smaller, more specific groups.
An MPH degree prepares students to examine the sociological perspective on health care inequities and to develop strategies to address them. Career opportunities available in the fields of public and community health include:
Public Health Careers
- Epidemiologist: An epidemiologist is a health scientist who analyzes disease patterns and causes by conducting studies, analyzing data and working with health organizations to inform the public and respond to outbreaks and other widespread health concerns.
- Health policy analyst: This profession involves researching, analyzing and evaluating healthcare policies and regulations to focus on access, quality and cost with an emphasis on evidence-based healthcare systems and methodologies for governments.
- Biostatistician: A biostatistician conducts data analysis and research to design studies and inform crucial health decisions regarding diseases, drugs and health policies.
- Health administrator: Also referred to as a medical and health services manager, health administrators plan, direct and coordinate healthcare services, departments, practices or facilities and oversee aspects like finance, staffing, operations, policy and strategic goals to ensure quality patient care.
- Environmental health specialist: This role involves protecting public health by inspecting, educating and enforcing regulations on pollution, water quality, waste management, occupational health and disease control.
Community Health Careers
- Community health worker: Professionals in this role take a frontline approach to healthcare through direct outreach and advocacy, serving as a crucial link between the community they serve and local health or social services.
- Health educator: A health educator designs wellness and health literacy programs that empower individuals, communities and families to adopt healthy lifestyles through education and providing resources and support.
- Community health nurse: This Registered Nurse (RN) role focuses on preventive care delivery designed to promote wellness and improve health for groups or communities and to help prevent disease proactively.
- Social and community services manager: In the field of community health, this role involves planning, directing and coordinating programs for healthcare facilities, governments or nonprofit organizations.
Salary ranges in public and community health vary widely, but typically begin at $35,000 to $51,000 annually for community health professionals, and a median salary of $73,000 for public health professionals. However, specialized or higher-level roles, such as public health director, typically earn a median salary of $129,000. Job growth outlook for careers in both fields is optimistic, driven by increased focus on prevention and health equity.
How EWU’s Online MPH Program Prepares You for Both Fields
Although community health and public health are closely interconnected, each field has its own unique purpose, focus and approach. The online MPH – General program at Eastern Washington University provides students with comprehensive preparation for roles in both fields.
The program is led by EWU faculty with practical experience in local and global health communities , providing an expansive view of public health knowledge and the skills to succeed. This degree opens the door to leadership positions in both public and community health, so you can make a difference in the lives of those you serve.
Learn more about Eastern Washington University’s online Master of Public Health program.
