Public Health Careers

What Can You Do with a Public Health Degree?

At the University of Michigan School of Public Health, students utilize an interdisciplinary education to pursue careers and jobs in diverse fields with the skills they need to serve communities with public health solutions that have deep and lasting impact.

Our alumni drive positive change at nonprofit organizations, hospitals, insurance companies, universities, research firms, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and local and national government agencies. They lead and support meaningful research and public health practice conducted around the globe. They chose Michigan because, like you, they were seeking careers focused on service, compassion, and achievement.

99% of recent graduates employed or pursuing advanced degree *of those that responded to our career placement survey*
Alumni working in 83 countries and on every continent except Antarctica
Over 3,000 opportunities posted annually
Nearly 1,000 internship opportunities posted
Nearly 50 Employer Information Sessions arranged and promoted for students. Check out our recent graduate job placement rates here
Check out more careers in public health

career areas of Michigan Public Health graduates

logos of companies

Center For Disease Control And Prevention
Karmanos Cancer Institute
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Fifth Third Bank
American Airlines
FDA U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Davita Kidney Care
Indeed
City of Hope
Mayo Clinic
PRAhealthsciences
Fair Food Network
Blue Cross Blue Shield
University of Pittsburgh
Wyoming Department of Health
Nestle Waters
NSF International
University of Florida
Standford University
23&Me
Facebook
UCLA
Henry Ford Health System
UW Medicine
Johns Hopkins University
New York University
Cornell University
CVS Health
Boston University
Michigan Medicine- University of Michigan
Trinity Health
Planned Parenthood
Peace Corps
Wic
U.S. Army
Deloitte Consulting
Mount Sinai
Google
The World Bank
Cleveland Clinic
Spectrum Health
AMA
Kaiser Permanente
National Cancer Institute
Department of Health and Human Services. USA
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Professionals with public health degrees from Michigan Public Health pursue careers as diverse as the field itself. They are at the forefront of research, practice, and service.

Hospital and Healthcare

Administrator
Health Educator
Infection Control Specialist
Nutritionist or Clinical Dietitian

Higher Education

Research Analyst
Statistician
Research Coordinator
Program Manager
Health Educator
Nutritionist or Dietitian
Staff Wellness Coordinator

Private Sector

Consultant
Data Scientist
Environmental Analyst
Biostatistician
Industrial Hygienist
Epidemiologist

Government Sector

Data Analyst
Epidemiologist
Wellness Coordinator
Environmental Quality Analyst
Tobacco Prevention Specialist

Nonprofit Sector

Organization
Foundations
Associations

Learn more about public health career paths and the employment outcomes for our recent graduates.

Chronic Disease Management Coordinator
Clinical Infectious Disease Specialist
Community Activist
Data Analyst
Disaster Preparedness Coordinator
Environmental Health Specialist
Food Service Sanitarian
Healthcare Consultant
Health Communications Specialist
Health Educator
Peace Corps Volunteer

POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS

City, county, and state health departments
Federal governmental health organizations (CDC, WHO)
Health care delivery systems
Not-for-profit organizations/non-governmental organizations (Planned Parenthood, American Heart Association)
Universities and teaching hospitals

Check out our job placement rates for the undergraduate program here

University or College- 54%
Pharma/Biotech- 14%
Federal government- 13%
Industrial or commercial company- 7%
Consulting- 4%
Association, foundation, NGO, or other non-profit organization- 3%
Hospital or other healthcare provider- 3%
Self-employed- 2%
State health department- 1%

Internships

A graduate student internship is an opportunity for students to connect with industry leaders, gain practical experience, and develop skills, while exploring their career interests in a supervised, public health setting.

Internships create a platform for students to take what they are learning in the classroom and apply it to meaningful, challenging projects. U-M SPH graduates are often sought by employers specifically for their rigorous academic coursework and hands-on experience.

Find internship funding information.

Field Notes

As much as internship locations vary, so do the projects that students are involved in. Get an insider's view on recent internships through the Field Notes video series:

Watch all Field Notes

Graduate Peer Coaches and Student Staff

The Michigan Public Health Careers Office employs a few student interns that support the office in a variety of roles. Our interns can provide peer coaching, workshop facilitation, resource creation, data analytics, and administrative support. During their time as an intern, they develop professional skills and receive direct supervisory coaching. Any open postings will be available on the U-M Student Employment website. If you have any questions, please email sph.jobs@umich.edu

Meet Our Alumni

Public Health Careers