Students interested in science, people, and community health, can now major in Saint Anselm College’s newest academic program, a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. The first course, Introduction to Public Health will be offered in the fall of 2022. The interdisciplinary major focuses on preventing disease and confronting systemic health challenges that impact communities both locally and globally. It encourages civic responsibility in order to make communities healthier.
Courses prepare students to explore the role of the public health worker, understand disease prevention, engage in policy-making, and improve the well-being and health of individuals and communities.
Students will learn the multiple perspectives of public health such as investigating subjects like environmental disasters, water safety, infectious diseases, chronic diseases, health equity, and pandemics. Senior year will culminate with a practical internship experience to launch students into the career of their choice.
The newest Saint Anselm program pulls from the expertise of multiple departments including our nationally-ranked nursing program and the New Hampshire Institute of Politics to provide a an experience rich in science, public policy, civics, and ethics.
“Public health is intimately intertwined with politics and science. Through science we can assess the health status of a community. Through politics, we develop policies to make communities healthier. Public Health is also strongly rooted in principles of health equity, social justice, and addressing disparities to protect human dignity,” says Professor Tauna Sisco. “Our goal with the Public Health major is to empower students with knowledge and experience for the challenges of creating and sustaining healthy communities both locally and globally.”
Public Health is also an offered as a minor. The program’s directors come from four academic departments: Professor Theresa Dabruzzi of the Biology Department, Professor Pamela Preston of the Nursing Department, Professor Elizabeth Rickenbach of the Psychology Department, and Professor Sisco of the Sociology and Social Work Department.
Those interested in learning more about the program may contact Professor Tauna Sisco at tsisco@anselm.edu.