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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

Students listening to a lecture

What Makes Roanoke Different?

Public Health at Roanoke

"It was overall just a really fantastic experience." Hear directly from real students about their time in Roanoke College's Public Health Studies program.

"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."

Associate Professor Shannon Anderson

Learn By Doing

Proof that 'Think Global/Act Local' really works

Students gather around to listen to Professor Morris in the fieldProfessor Chad Morris has created a unique opportunity for Roanoke students to see, in microcosm, the health issues that beset communities around the globe.

Through his work with the Ministries of Health and Education in the Pacific island of Palau, he and his students have conducted anthropological research that has helped Palauan citizens and their government address issues of nutrition and food security. 

By starting at the community level, the team has been able to engage the Palauan people in the issues and find solutions they'll embrace, said Morris. "It's a great opportunity for Roanoke students to conduct research, analyze data, and see how the public health interventions they've helped develop are making a real difference."

Student Experiences

"I took my first public health class at Roanoke College, and I just really fell in love with it. I've always wanted to go to medical school, and this class showed me exactly what kind of physician I want to become. I don't want to only think about the one patient who's in front of me. I want to think about how I can improve policies and procedures for all patients in the community."

Zoe Krut '20

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

Logos from Boston Children's Hospital, Centra, Carilion Clinic, UnitedHealthcare, and Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

Faculty

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News

Interested in studying public history at Roanoke College?

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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.