Shippensburg University has recently launched an Interdisciplinary Public Health minor. Professor and Chair of the Sociology Department, Allison Carey, highlights the value of this new minor and its potential to broaden the public’s understanding of health through biological, social and environmental frameworks.
Carey emphasized that public health requires not only an understanding of science but also a strong understanding of its impact on communities and society as a whole. “It is important for us to understand health, not just as biology, but also as often being tied to communal responses,” she noted. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, social behaviors proved to be vital to managing the health crisis.
The Public Health minor aims to equip students with the knowledge necessary to serve their communities effectively. Carey explained that the program will educate students on the factors shaping health, allowing them to become articulate community health professionals, contribute to community health initiatives and “enhance communal wellbeing.”
Hands-on experience is the backbone of the program. Early on, students have the opportunity to analyze real-life case studies of public health initiatives. From there, students build on projects addressing specific health initiatives within the Shippensburg community, such as promoting blood drives or CPR training. Carey emphasized that the program aims to push students to actively engage with the community.
The Department of Sociology is also proposing adding a Public Health Concentration to the Sociology major. This program will enable students to explore Public Health as part of a major. Students will complete the Public Health minor while gaining other relevant and essential skills via the Sociology major, such as research methods, an understanding of diversity and internship experiences. Carey noted that the Public Health minor complements many other majors, such as Biology, Health Sciences, Psychology and Social Work. She also highlighted the Disability Studies minor, which complements the Public Health program — both focusing on improving the health of vulnerable populations. “We have lots of opportunities for students to work with kids and adults with disabilities,” she remarked.
Overall, the Public Health minor is designed to prepare students for a variety of career paths in healthcare, community health and beyond. By combining courses across a range of fields such as sociology, biology and communication, students gain a well-rounded understanding of public health that equips them for success across job sectors. “Students can overlap courses from their major into the minor, making it easier to add to their coursework, Carey noted.
The interdisciplinary design of the Public Health minor represents Shippensburg’s collaborative approach to education. With this minor, the university aims to provide future health leaders with the tools needed to understand community health and health outcomes.
To learn more about the new Public Health Minor at Shippensburg University, visit here.
