Major in Public Health
This program provides a unique and challenging educational experience for students who wish to combine an interdisciplinary liberal arts education with a specialty focus on public health. The major provides conceptual foundations and empirical bases for analyzing the interplay between science, society, and health, and prepares students for a variety of public health careers. The minor allows pre-med students and other health professions students an opportunity to augment their specialty education with this broad perspective.
There is a rising demand for public health professionals, due to increased global concerns regarding infectious and chronic disease epidemiology, food and water safety, sanitation, and environmental health issues. Public health professionals have excellent employment prospects, as researchers, community health workers, and health program managers.
Majors will complete a core consisting of nine courses plus five track-specific courses spread out across their four years. Courses with (*) are in development; anticipated dates for approval and offering are specified for some courses. The suggested sequence for core courses is:
First Year
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 3 Courses | ||
| Intro to Environmental Science | BIOL-104 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| General Biology | BIOL-113 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Health, Illness & Society | SOCI-241 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Sophomore Year
Students take either Math 118 or Math 238 to fulfill the requirement for Statistics.
Students take either Soci 245 or Nutr 150.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 5 Courses | ||
| International Health | SOCI-245 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Microbiology | BIOL-221 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Introductory Statistics | MATH-118 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Applied Statistical Models | MATH-238 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Int'l Nutrition Issues | NUTR-150 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Junior Year
Additional required course (first offered Spring 2010): Biol346, Epidemiology and Infectious
Disease
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2 Courses | ||
| Epidemiology&infect. Disease | BIOL-346 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Health Systems & Policy | SOCI-345 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Senior Year
Additional required course (first offered 2010-2011): PH347 Public Health Seminar
Independent study required in the senior year.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1 Courses | ||
Majors select one of two tracks to add to the core:
Biology Requirements
Additional Required course (first offered Spring 2010): Biol347 Human Development and
Genetics
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 4 Courses | ||
| Foundations of Exer & Health | BIOL-246 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Human Development and Genetics | BIOL-347 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro. Chemistry: Inorganic | CHEM-111 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro. Chemistry: Organic | CHEM-112 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Students must choose one additional course from the biology list:
Biology Electives
Additional electives for BIO track:
HON303 HIV/AIDS
PHIL131 Biomedical Ethics
MATH218 Biostatistics
IT225 Health Informatics
PSYC232 Health Psychology
POLS217 American Public Policy
NUTR110 Sociocultural Implications of Nutrition
CHEM327 Energy and Global Warming
MGMT234 Organizational Communication and Behavior
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 6 Courses | ||
| Service Learning in Nicaragua | IDS-228M | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Micobial Pathogenesis | BIOL-338 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Micro of Food, Water & Waste | BIOL-341 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Princ. of Ecology | BIOL-245 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Social Analysis Requirements
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 3 Courses | ||
| International Health | SOCI-245 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Int'l Nutrition Issues | NUTR-150 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro to Social Research I | SOCI-239 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Students must choose three additional courses from the social analysis list:
Social Analysis Electives
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 14 Courses | ||
| Service Learning in Nicaragua | IDS-228M | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Organizing for Social Change | SJ-222 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Int. Fam. Violence:Multi Pers | WGST-340 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Working for Social Justice | SJ-220 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Health Psychology | PSYC-232 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Race, Gender & Health | WGST-232 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Health Informatics | IT-225 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Biostatistics | MATH-218 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Managing the Diverse Workforce | MGMT-321 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Organ Comm & Behavior | MGMT-234 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Biomedical Ethics | PHIL-131 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| American Public Policy | POLS-217 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Body Politics | SOCI-210 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Independent Learning
This all-College independent learning require- ment (eight semester hours) will be met through courses in the biology or sociology Departments, usually in the senior year. In the biology department it will be met through BIOL 350 Independent Laboratory Research or BIOL 370 Internship. In the sociology department, it will be met through SOCI 350 Independent Study, SOCI 355 Thesis, SOCI 370 Internship, or SOCI 380 Fieldwork. All students will be required to submit a thesis and make an oral presentation of their work at an approved inter- nal or external symposium. Arrangements for satisfying the independent learning requirement must be made with the student's public health advisor before the end of the junior year.
Public Health Resources in Boston
Students will be encouraged to attend open lectures on Public Health in Boston. In addition, courses developed at Simmons will integrate guest speakers from the pool of expertise in the area.
For further information about the program in public health, contact either Professor Leiter (sociology track) or Professor Scott (biology track). Students planning to attend medical, dental, or veterinary school should contact Professor Mary Owen, the health professions advisor, as early as possible to be sure to incorporate the courses required for admission to these professional schools.
