Public Health
Overview
Public health seeks to improve human health through the development and application of knowledge that prevents disease, protects the public from harm, and promotes health throughout local communities, the state, the nation, and the world. The field of public health confronts complex health issues, such as improving access to health care, controlling infectious disease, and reducing environmental hazards, violence, substance abuse, and injury.
Through the Public Health Minor at Occidental College, students develop and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines for the promotion and protection of the health of the human population, giving due consideration to principles of human rights and cultural perspectives that abound in our multicultural country and world. The minor, like the field itself, is interdisciplinary. Students will learn about the scientific aspects of disease as well as the political and policy issues involved in improving people’s health and well-being. The minor is jointly administered by the departments of Biology, Kinesiology, and Urban & Environmental Policy (UEP), with course offerings from multiple departments.
Minor Requirements
Five courses are required to complete the Public Health minor.
COURSEWORK
Core Courses
| UEP 203 | Introduction to Public Health | 4 units |
| BIO 238 | Epidemiology | 4 units |
STATISTICS REQUIREMENT
Students must complete one of the following courses:
| BIO 268 | Biostatistics | 4 units |
| PSYC 201 | Statistics in Psychological Science | 4 units |
| UEP 305 | Urban Data Analysis | 4 units |
ELECTIVES
Two additional courses from the list below:
*Each elective course selection must be from a different department.
As new courses develop, more options may be added to this list. Students will be strongly encouraged to participate in internship, volunteer, or research opportunities within the field of public health (e.g. UEP 307) before they graduate.
Transfer Credit Policies
Courses approved for transfer by the appropriate department or program will be considered to apply toward the Public Health minor. Students should reference the
Transfer Credit section for details.
Faculty
Advisory Committee
Cheryl Okumura
Assistant Professor, Biology
B.A., Pomona College; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Marcella Raney
Associate Professor, Kinesiology
A.B., Occidental College; Ph.D., University of Southern California
Bhavna Shamasunder
Assistant Professor, Urban and Environmental Policy
B.S., B.A., University of California, San Diego; M.ES. Yale University; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Jane Schmitz
Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Urban and Environmental Policy
B.A., University of California, Davis; M.P.H., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles