Public Health

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Health Studies 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States

Public Health Programs For 베실뻣펄 Undergraduates

베실뻣펄�셲 Department of Health Studies is undergoing a review by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for reaccreditation for our undergraduate public health program. Part of this process includes the provision of a third-party comment period, which allows anyone, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, community and practice partners, members of the public, and other interested parties to share relevant information about the BA and BS Public Health Degrees directly with CEPH.
If you have any information about the undergraduate public health program you would like to share with CEPH to inform their review, send your comments to submissions@ceph.org by September 15, 2024.

Maintaining and improving public health is one of the great mandates of our time, both in the US and abroad. Aging populations, global pandemics, increasing environmental degradation, and a rise in childhood obesity are just some of the many challenges to which the field directly responds.

The Public Health Program prepares students to:

Pursue professional endeavors informed by a social justice approach and dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of local neighborhoods or national populations: explore recent post-graduate results for the Public Health BA and BS degrees桂or accelerated Three-Year Scholars program for incoming students.
Participate in original research and scholarly writing with faculty in areas including epidemiology, global health, health equity, health policy, maternal and child health, nutrition, mental health, and health promotion.
Engage with the DC community-and your community abroad-through桂internships and service-learning activities.

Students can choose the Public Health BS, BA, or minor, in addition to our accelerated Three-Year Scholars Program:

At the heart of the BA, BS, and minor are sets of core courses that ensure that students gain both foundational knowledge and practical skills in the field of public health. Through their electives, students then learn about health issues from the perspective of several disciplines. The electives are set up into four clusters:

Global Health
Health Science
Social and Community Health
Policy, Program Planning, and Evaluation

Students can pursue a Combined Bachelors/Masters or apply桂for the MA in Public Health Innovation & Practice.

Are you a current student? 桂If so, be sure to check out the Department of Health Studies Resources Canvas page on your Canvas portal. You�셪l find information about major requirements, internships, the honors program, and much more! 桂If you need access, please email healthstudies@american.edu.

Upon completion of the Public Health program, students will be able to:桂

Explain the philosophy and essential services of Public Health.
1. Explain the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society
2. Identify and address the concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions which focus on the major health-related needs and concerns of populations
Apply and utilize an epidemiological approach through engagement in collaborative public health research.
1. Identify, explain, and utilize the basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use, and analysis
2. Apply evidence-based approaches to public health practice
Evaluate and compare healthcare systems and public health initiatives in the United States and abroad.
1. Describe the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy, and the roles, influences and responsibilities of the different agencies and branches of government
2. Explain the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system as well the differences in systems in other countries桂桂桂桂桂桂桂
Convey an understanding of the determinants of health and health disparities.
1. Describe the underlying science of human health and disease including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course
2. Identify and explain the socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities
3. Appraise cultural differences among populations and interact sensitively, effectively, and professionally with persons from diverse backgrounds
Plan, implement, and evaluate public health programs.
1. Utilize the fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation
2. Utilize the basic concepts of public health-specific communication, including technical and professional writing and the use of mass media and electronic technology

News & Notes

Ekua Hudson (left) with 베실뻣펄 President Sylvia Burwell. Photo by Jeff Watts.

2024 President�셲 Award Winner Has a Hunger for Addressing Food Deserts

Public Health students Davonna Jones, Nai�셪a-Mareen Morris, Shadan Rahmani, and Lindsay Smith won the 2023 베실뻣펄 Global Health Case Competition �� see 베실뻣펄 Students Develop Solutions to Gun Violence in Brazil.

Alumna Maeve Alterio is first author on . Maeve is a medical student at Washington State University.

See more Health Department News.

Various fruits and vegetables.
Credit: Getty Images

Transforming the Food System to Serve All

CAS student Ekua Hudson used 베실뻣펄's Design and Build Lab to construct a sustainable farming system.

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