Davidson College faculty approved making public health a standalone major at their Oct. 20 meeting, according to The Davidsonian.
The change moves the major out of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, ending its separate application process and enrollment cap. An advanced seminar replaces the required capstone or thesis, although students may still choose to write a thesis, the campus newspaper reported.
Department chair Lauren Stutts said the aim was to make the major easier to pursue. Faculty told the newspaper that advising demands under the CIS structure had restricted how many students the department could accept.
Since 2023, 13 students had completed or declared the CIS major. The minor averaged about 24 students per graduating class starting with the Class of 2024. Student Annabelle Okwenje ’29 told the newspaper that the new structure made pursuing public health feel more achievable.
The program began as a student-designed major in 2006, and the Department of Public Health was established in 2021.
According to the department’s website, its curriculum examines the social, political and behavioral factors that influence health, with opportunities for research, community-based learning, internships and study abroad. Students seeking current requirements can contact the department at [email protected].
