A descriptive analysis of public health career choices among students, educators, and school counselors: Implications for increasing knowledge of and strengthening pipelines to public health career options

Educators and school counselors play an important role in generating interest in public health careers among students and may provide the first exposure to the discipline, creating a pipeline into the profession. These efforts are most effective when educators and counselors have a complete understanding of the full range and scope of public health.

To understand if Virginia educators and counselors communicate about public health professions in a way that connects with student populations' interest in the discipline, The Commonwealth Public Health Training Center administered a statewide online survey to educators, counselors, and youth. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the level to which educators and counselors understand and can relate various public health professions to the interests of student populations. The survey presented common public health careers using the five core discipline principles, and asked educators and counselors if they endorsed them as a career choice for their students. Students were surveyed about preferred public health careers.

Students were more likely to indicate a preference for social/behavioral sciences' professions, while educators and counselors most often recommended careers in health services administration. The results suggest that both groups are less aware of STEM-related public health careers, and educators and counselors may be more cognizant of public health service related occupations. The findings suggest a need to intervene in these populations concerning career awareness related to all five core principles of public health and to address gaps among youth and educators' awareness of public health careers.