Public Health Major, Anthropology

Public Health Majors

Vaccination and pasteurization. Seatbelt and texting laws. Nutritional labels and product warnings. Public health initiatives save lives, extend lives, and improve lives. Our individual safety and wellbeing depends onthe health of our communities. Public health officials study populations and how issues like chronic disease, addiction, and pollution impact global health. They’re also critical partners during pandemics, natural disasters, and other health crises. Wheaton’s public health major—with concentrations in anthropology, sociology and psychology—prepares you for careers in policy, regulation, communication, research, and health promotion. This major is also excellent preparation for advanced study in the social sciences, medicine or law.

The major in Public Health requires 52 credits. Public Health Major students across the three departments (Anthropology, Psychology or Sociology) take a core set of courses in common.

Four credits in:

PH 101 Introduction to Public Health

Four Biology credits chosen from:

Four credits in Ethics chosen from:

PHIL 111 - Ethics
PHIL 242 - Medical Ethics (preferred)

Four credits in a Statistics course chosen from:

Anthropology and Public Health Major

Twenty-four credits in:

ANTH 102 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 265 - Medical Anthropology
ANTH 301 - Seminar in Anthropological Theory
This course must be taken prior to Senior year and is offered in the Spring of each year. Very few study abroad courses serve as an equivalent. If you plan to study abroad during the Spring semester of your Junior year, you must take this course in the Spring of your Sophomore year unless your study abroad program offers an approved equivalent.
ANTH 302 - Research Methods for Understanding Health & Culture
This course must be taken prior to Senior year, and is offered in the Fall of each year. Some study abroad programs may offer a course that would fulfill this requirement, though it is highly desirable that you take this course at Wheaton. Consult your advisor if you plan to be abroad during your junior year in the Fall semester.
PSY 334 - Practicum in Human Services and Public Health
ANTH 401 - Senior Seminar

Twelve credits chosen from:

Eight credits must come from Anthropology courses

Notes

Students who plan to pursue graduate study should strongly consider taking at least one additional 300-level course beyond the required courses as well as achieving proficiency in a second language.