Beginning this fall, Union will offer a new major in public health, one of the fastest-growing fields in healthcare occupations.
The interdisciplinary major brings together ideas from a diverse mix of fields. Public health professionals work to identify ways to improve the health of a community using scientific, social, political, economic and other approaches.
Faculty recently voted overwhelmingly to support the major, which was then approved by the New York State Department of Education.
Public health is the latest major added by the College to enhance the curriculum to better prepare graduates for the job market. In 2023, the College launched new majors in civil and environmental engineering.
“Union College has a long-standing tradition of preparing leaders in the health professions, and we are thrilled to take that commitment further with our new public health major,” said Michele Angrist, the Stephen J. and Diane K. Ciesinski Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
“Today’s public and global health challenges demand solutions that cross traditional boundaries. By integrating science, engineering, the social sciences and the humanities, this major gives students both the theoretical foundation and practical training to make an immediate impact after graduation.”
Students will be required to take a total of 15 courses to complete the major. This includes a core set of social science and science courses, along with courses in ethics, data analysis and research methods. Students will also be required to complete an internship to gain practical experience in the implementation of public health practices and tools.
Brian Cohen, senior lecturer in biological sciences and co-director of the biochemistry program, will serve as the initial director of the public health major. He will be assisted by faculty from diverse disciplines across the College, including Rhona Beaton (Health Professions); George Bizer (Psychology); Brandy Eggan (Leadership in Medicine); Kristin Fox (Chemistry); Melinda Goldner (Sociology); Stephanie Mueller (Spanish and Hispanic Studies); and Carolyn Rodak (Civil Engineering).
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics, healthcare occupations will grow much faster than other job sectors from 2024–2034, with an average of 1.9 million openings per year. Public health professionals are involved in everything from environmental health to infectious disease control and healthcare management. It includes professions in government, business and nonprofit sectors, with roles such as social workers, educators, researchers, and policymakers, among others.
Cohen expects 10-15 students in the major initially before growing to 30 and beyond, on par with Union’s peer schools.
“Public health is a growing field and this major will provide students broad training to prepare them to enter it,” Cohen said. “Particularly important is the internship requirement which will give them practical, hands-on exposure to what it means to be a public health professional.
“For our students, studying public health gives them an important perspective on the field of medicine. It is easy for them to get lost in the details of the science of health and lose sight of the fact that patients are more than what they see in the chart. This major will help them see how external factors and experiences can influence their patients' health.”