GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH CONCENTRATION

Interdivisional

Updated August 13, 2018

Advising Faculty

1. Michael Tibbetts – Biology (coordinator)

2. Helen Epstein - Human Rights (spring only)

3. Felicia Keesing – Biology

4. Michelle Murray - Political Studies (leave of absence fall ‘18)

Program Requirements

Bard's Global Public Health (GPH) concentration is designed to expose students to the range of disciplines and approaches that provide the backdrop for and inform public health research and policy. The field of public health focuses on the health of communities, which can be as small as local neighborhoods or as large as entire regions. Public health specialists take an inclusive view of health, focusing on topics as wide-ranging as access to medical care, disease prevention, and support for healthy lifestyles. The field is particularly concerned with preventing health problems before they arise and with overcoming disparities in health among groups. Practitioners of public health can choose to focus on research, education, intervention, policy-making, or some combination of all of these areas.

Moderation Requirements:

GPH students are required to take a total of six courses before graduation, three at the 300-level or above. To moderate into the concentration, students must have taken two courses that fulfill GPH requirements.

Normally, moderation into GPH happens alongside the student’s moderation into their primary program. In addition to the course requirements, students must write a one-page plan of study that describes their interest in the GPH concentration and details plans for future course work, study abroad and/or away, and the Senior Project. Any student interested in moderating into GPH should contact Professor Tibbetts to discuss their plans.

Graduation Requirements:

GPH addresses the social, scientific, and political dimensions of public health. Concentration requirements include taking courses in each of these areas. Sample courses that fulfill the requirements are listed on the website (see link above).

1. Course in the Social Dimensions of Public Health. Courses may come from any of the social studies disciplines that offer health courses, including anthropology, philosophy, political studies, and sociology.

2. Course in Biology at the subcellular level.

3. Course in Biology in organismal diversity.

4. Course in Political Studies (and related disciplines) on theories of international relations.

5. Course in Political Studies (and related disciplines) on theories and practice of globalization.

In some cases, students can substitute a second course in theories and practice of globalization for a course in theories of international relations. While the majority of courses that fulfill these requirements are listed in political studies, courses from other disciplines, such as history and anthropology, may also be suitable.

6. Course in statistics.

7. Senior Project I

8. Senior Project II

The two-semester Senior Project, based in the student’s primary discipline, must address global health themes by incorporating the interdisciplinary lessons they’ve learned during their GPH course work.