2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Dec 03, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

ID 108 - What is Public Health?

What is public health? What is the role of public health in preventing disease and responding to different kinds of health challenges? Who are the key players in public health, and what are their roles and responsibilities? In this course students will be introduced to the field of public health as a mode of inquiry that focuses on population health and as a government institution that is designed to protect the public’s wellbeing. With a growing recognition in the United States that every citizen deserves health care, informed and engaged citizens must understand the role that public health plays in maintaining a healthy populace. This course will examine the many intricacies of public health in the United States by focusing on the history of public health and the responsibilities and functions of public health and health care agencies. Much of this inquiry will employ classic case studies in public health, from seat belt laws to the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina.

Anticipated Terms Offered: bi-annually