Reimagining Public Health: Innovative Approaches to Introducing Public Health Education in Freshman Seminars
Abstract
Introduction: Public health is a multidisciplinary field focused on improving population health through prevention, intervention, and policy. Introducing public health in freshman-level courses provides students with foundational knowledge about health systems, environmental influences, and behaviors that impact health outcomes. However, since there is currently no dedicated public health course or feeder program within the general education curriculum, students often miss early exposure to this critical field. Incorporating public health into general education could bridge this gap and prepare students to address complex health challenges from diverse perspectives.
Background: Early exposure to public health concepts promotes health literacy and awareness of global health challenges. It allows students from various disciplines to apply public health principles to their personal and professional lives.
Methods: This curriculum uses active learning techniques to introduce core topics, including epidemiology, health disparities, social determinants of health, environmental health, and health policy. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration encourages students to think critically and solve problems relevant to public health.
Anticipated Results: By the course's end, students will be able to identify key public health issues and understand public health's role in addressing global crises.
Conclusion: Incorporating public health in freshman education gives students the knowledge and tools to engage with health-related challenges and contribute to public health initiatives. Early exposure fosters informed citizens capable of improving public health systems and policies.
Keywords
Public health, education, health policy, environmental health, epidemiology, social determinants of health.
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Reimagining Public Health: Innovative Approaches to Introducing Public Health Education in Freshman Seminars
Introduction: Public health is a multidisciplinary field focused on improving population health through prevention, intervention, and policy. Introducing public health in freshman-level courses provides students with foundational knowledge about health systems, environmental influences, and behaviors that impact health outcomes. However, since there is currently no dedicated public health course or feeder program within the general education curriculum, students often miss early exposure to this critical field. Incorporating public health into general education could bridge this gap and prepare students to address complex health challenges from diverse perspectives.
Background: Early exposure to public health concepts promotes health literacy and awareness of global health challenges. It allows students from various disciplines to apply public health principles to their personal and professional lives.
Methods: This curriculum uses active learning techniques to introduce core topics, including epidemiology, health disparities, social determinants of health, environmental health, and health policy. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration encourages students to think critically and solve problems relevant to public health.
Anticipated Results: By the course's end, students will be able to identify key public health issues and understand public health's role in addressing global crises.
Conclusion: Incorporating public health in freshman education gives students the knowledge and tools to engage with health-related challenges and contribute to public health initiatives. Early exposure fosters informed citizens capable of improving public health systems and policies.
