While politicians continue to debate increasing access to public health services, administrators at the Mailman School of Public Health are planning to make an education in public health more accessible to interested undergraduates.
The school is in the process of developing a program in which current undergraduates, if on track with their current undergraduate major, may begin taking graduate-level courses in public health and continue those into a fifth year at Columbia.
The result would be both an undergraduate degree in the major of their choice as well as a masters of public health from the Mailman School.
The development is primarily the result of student interest in public health careers, but also for those who feel that being introduced to public health-related coursework could provide context for their majors.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for students who during their time at Columbia begin to feel strongly that this is an area of potential professional study for them,” said Alastair Ager, a professor at the Mailman School who is currently teaching the course “Fundamentals of Global Health” to undergraduates.
He added that it is a way for students “not to just do some study in their major, but maybe to pursue other majors, and have an opportunity to study for an MPH as well.”
Traditionally seen as a graduate area of focus, Ager was quick to add that the field of public health is a discipline that has a place in the undergraduate system.
“I think the responsibility is really for a university to create a variety of routes for people. It has been my experience that students who are appropriately skilled and oriented can have great benefits from mixing with students who have had more experience,” Ager said.
Linda Fried, dean and a professor at the Mailman School, also said she believes that public health does have a place in the undergraduate experience.
“It’s very important for students at Columbia to understand what public health is and why we need it,” Fried said.
By offering the opportunity to take public health courses as an undergraduate, and potentially receive an MPH in the process, Mailman administrators hope that more undergraduate students will be exposed to and consider entering the field.
Fried also noted that there will be a huge workforce shortage in the field in upcoming years, another important reason to appeal to a younger audience.
There are currently two courses being offered for undergraduates, “Fundamentals of Global Health,” which Ager teaches, and “History of Public Health in the U.S.,” which will be offered in the fall. A third on the topic of sexuality and public health is being added for next year.
For students like Elise Mordos, BC ’13, who is considering a career in public health, the major would be ready just in time for her to plan her schedule accordingly for a joint degree.
“It’s a jump start for your career. Employers will me more likely to consider you for jobs and internships,” Mordos said.
Mailman is hoping to bring the program into being formally next year, and is in the process of fundraising to make sure it will be sustainable over the long term.
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