The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #73844

James D. Goodyear, PhD, Public Health Studies Program, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218, 410 516-8216, goodyear@jhu.edu

Johns Hopkins University has offered a major in Public Health Studies through its Kreiger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) since 1991. The degree is awarded and the program is administered by KSAS but the program is linked to the Bloomberg School of Public Health (BSPH). Approximately 60 students now graduate per year making it the 3rd or 4th most popular major in the KSAS. Students select an emphasis either in natural sciences or social sciences with the natural sciences fulfilling “pre-med” requirements. Undergraduates with such interests as health policy, health finance, ethics, law, environmental issues or the history of medicine may pursue the social sciences emphasis. Specially designed undergraduate classes include epidemiology, environmental health, health services and biostatistics. These are taught at KSAS by faculty from BSPH. Seniors are required to take approximately one semester of graduate level courses at the BSPH. They select courses of individual interest and attend classes with graduate students.. The program provides flexibility to pursue fieldwork, research or study abroad. Public Health Studies are currently articulating an additional emphasis in computer science, with special emphasis on information security issues. Data will be presented on the trends in the demographic make up of the major and the future directions of graduates. Students motivations for choosing the major will also be examined.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Understand the forces at work encouraging the growth of undergraduate degree programs in Schools of Public Health
• 2. Understand the spectrum of philosophies and goals underlying undergraduate programs offered through Schools of Public Health
• 3. Understand the differences in administrative structured for offering undergraduate degree programs and the implications of these administrative differences

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.