New Program: Minor in Public Health

Since the Fall 2016 semester, undergraduate students have taken advantage of a new academic option: a minor in public health, which is open to all undergrads regardless of their major discipline.

This program’s goal is to expose students majoring in nursing or other health-focused areas to the complementary curriculum of public health. “It’s a wonderful way for students to explore it and get a taste of it even if they don’t continue to the graduate level,” explains M. Pilar Martin, M.D., assistant professor of public health and director of the Master of Public Health program at Adelphi’s College of Nursing and Public Health. “It’s a natural extension of the curriculum since we already have a graduate program in public health. In the future, we plan to open an undergraduate major in public health as well.”

The course work of the public health minor is designed to introduce students to prevention issues, community health practices and the local, state, national and international agencies providing public health services. The minor consists of three required courses covering a range of subjects including basic biology, human anatomy, foundations of public health, social and behavioral aspects of health, and health and human rights. Minors will also choose two electives from six options, which will include classes on disaster preparedness and on human sexuality.

“So many students are interested in the public health minor,” Dr. Martin said. “Plus, it’s the recommendation of the Institute of Medicine that medical professionals all have some exposure to public health.”