Goucher College has announced a new undergraduate major in public health that will explore the multidisciplinary field and the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. Distinctive features of Goucher’s new program are the emphasis on global health and the strong focus on social justice and environmental sustainability, as well as applied hands-on learning activities and study abroad.

In addition, Goucher students will also have access to an accelerated path to a master’s degree with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Students work toward their undergraduate degree at Goucher and take classes toward a Master of Health Science from the Department of Health, Behavior and Society or a Master of Bioethics from the Berman Institute of Bioethics at the Bloomberg School.

“Public health is a national and international priority. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the global nature of public health, and Goucher is uniquely positioned to leverage its national leadership in global education and sciences to offer this important new program,” said Elaine Meyer-Lee, Goucher College provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “We are also delighted to partner with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to provide accelerated graduate program pathways for our students to continue their rigorous education at an elite level.”

The new public health major at Goucher will build on traditional liberal arts disciplines and students will explore research in health trends, identify disparities in health, understand the direct and indirect causes of health problems, develop strategies to improve health, and advance the equity and quality of systems and structures.

Goucher’s public health curriculum emphasizes the multidisciplinary nature of public health, providing opportunities for students to take courses in a wide variety of relevant traditional liberal arts disciplines in addition to core public health courses. Through public health study abroad programs, students will have opportunities to develop cultural competency, improve their fluency in non-English languages, and learn about health challenges and health systems in other countries.

In addition to the new undergraduate program, Goucher students can now apply to participate in an accelerated path to a master’s degree with one of two Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health degree programs. Goucher students will apply for conditional acceptance into either the Master of Health Science from the Department of Health, Behavior and Society or the Master of Bioethics from the Berman Institute of Bioethics at the Bloomberg School. Accepted students will be able to take classes at the Bloomberg School as non-degree students during the remainder of their time as undergraduate students at Goucher before transitioning to full-time graduate studies. The Bloomberg School is the largest school of public health in the world, ranked the #1 school of public health by U.S. News & World Report since rankings began in 1994.

“In the quest for equity, whether national or global, public health provides a fundamental approach for addressing disparities, preventing disease, and promoting wellness,” says Associate Professor Jennifer Bess, Ph.D, who will oversee Goucher’s public health undergraduate program.

With a range of in-demand programs and small class sizes, Goucher’s core curriculum equips students to collaboratively address complex problems, successfully navigate a global economy, and tackle humanity’s most pressing issues. Named one of the Most Innovative Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, Goucher College provides academic and career experience through an Internship Accelerator that helps students become who they are meant to be.

“Goucher has a distinctive science curriculum, including one of the country’s top post-baccalaureate premedical programs, and progress continues on our new Science Innovation Center, which will be a centerpiece of our hands-on learning and research for students studying science,” said Meyer-Lee.

Goucher believes in the power of global education and offers flexible study abroad programs at no additional cost to further enrich student learning opportunities. This is bolstered by individualized student success teams that support students and guide their self-discovery.

The public health major is now available for students to enroll, and more information is available at https://www.goucher.edu/learn/undergraduate-programs/public-health/.

For more information on Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Master of Health Science from the Department of Health, Behavior and Society and Master of Bioethics, visit https://publichealth.jhu.edu/.