The study of public health focuses on preventing and mitigating disease outbreaks such as the coronavirus pandemic. It also deals with tackling systemic health challenges that affect multiple people at once such as environmental pollution.

A public health degree leads to a service career in both the public and private sectors.

Dr. David Claborn, master of public health program director at Missouri State University, tells U.S. News & World Report Education why he hopes COVID-19 will draw more students to consider this field of study.