Public Health Studies
Available as a major or minor
Public Health Studies reveals how health is related to all aspects of human life and how societies serve the health care needs of people. The course of study will help you find a niche in the health field that matches your own personal passions and will give you an advantage over those who've pursued a purely technical approach to health education.
Curriculum & Courses
Sample Course Offerings
PHST 201: Health and Society
PHST 301: Introduction to Epidemiology
PHST 420: Community Health Seminar
Learn By Doing
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Hannah Guthrie ‘20 started researching the relationship between social connection and childhood obesity. Guthrie, a Public Health Studies major who grew up in Salem, was particularly interested in the 42 percent of Roanoke children who were overweight or obese.
Many people are finding that they underestimated the importance of social connection to their health, Ackley said, and this study sheds light on that.
“I think her data really highlights that for the first time,” Ackley said. “It’s the first study that we’ve been able to find that actually looks at this relationship in small children.”
Ackley wasn’t the only one impressed by Guthrie’s research. The Council on Undergraduate Research, based in Washington, D.C., selected Guthrie’s project from hundreds of submissions nationwide to include in its annual Posters on the Hill session. During the event, student researchers have an opportunity to present their studies to members of Congress and their staff, who in turn, learn about the importance of undergraduate research. Only 30 students nationwide are selected each year to participate.
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Healthy foods could become more accessible to lower-income local communities thanks to research by Dr. Liz Ackley and her students. Their food-mapping research is being showcased as a national model. Read more.
Student Experiences
Careers & Outcomes
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for medical and health managers to grow by 17% in the next decade, more than twice the national employment growth average.
Roanoke graduates go on to do great work in health care
Faculty
News
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The annual conference will bring together students, faculty and community leaders to explore important aspects of racial justice, AI ethics and more.
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Riya Patel ’24 is organizing the Days for Girls program to make reusable menstrual hygiene kits for women in need around the world.
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A collaborative grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth will allow the center, along with six community partners, to support breastfeeding education as a tool to reduce or prevent childhood obesity.
"With the rapid growth of specialties and the need for trained experts across the health sector, we want to provide an avenue for more students to find a place for their expertise and passions within the global health system."
Dr. Shannon Anderson, Associate Professor
Our program is an interdisciplinary approach to the health care arena, offering you diverse perspectives on health through courses in both life and social sciences.
Through rigorous investigation and analysis, Public Health Studies provides you with a strong foundation for a range of careers in the health field, such as administration, advocacy, counseling, medical practice, public policy, research and analysis, social work, and occupational and physical therapy.
Roanoke has exceptionally strong relationships with local health care organizations. These partnerships offer you a myriad of opportunities for research and internships in some of the finest health organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region. Practical experience through community projects, internships and research, coupled with strong academic and alumni connections, will prepare you for a top graduate program.
We offer both a major and a minor in Public Health Studies.