CSUMB launches public health degree

By Mark Muckenfuss

Beginning this fall, Cal State Monterey Bay will offer a bachelor’s degree in public health. 

Phillip Post, dean of the College of Health Science and Human Services, said the college has offered a concentration in the subject until now, but it was decided that it should be elevated to degree status.

“I think a lot of students who are interested in public health didn't see how they fit into the existing collaborative health and human services degree,” Post said.

As a result, he said, CSUMB was losing students to other universities offering the major. In particular, he said, those graduating with associate degrees in the subject from local community colleges often enrolled in schools out of the area.

“Students now can see us as a go-to institution,” he said.

The program is designed to give students the tools they need to “promote and protect the health of individuals and communities,” according to the CHSHS website, preparing them for  “careers in local, state, and federal health agencies, nonprofit and community organizations, healthcare systems and private industry. The program also provides a strong foundation for advanced study in public health and related fields.”

“They’re really on the front lines, but not doing the direct patient care,” Post said of public health professionals. “They’re doing things such as studying the prevalence and impact of diabetes, providing preventative education and working with communities to make sure they know about diet and exercise.”

Assessing research and data analytics are other potential career areas, he said. 

Post said he expects most current students who are working on the public health concentration will move into the major. Within the next few years, he anticipates having between 100 and 125 students in the program. 

“Public Health programs are relatively popular throughout the U.S.,” he said. “There is a strong demand.”

That corresponds with a solid demand for workers as well. 

“From our contacts with the county, there appears to be a need for this,” Post said. 

Having the bachelor’s degree, he said, is likely just the first step for most students. 

“What we hope is that many of these students would go on to get a master’s in public health,” he said. “That would allow them to really run programs and engage in leadership opportunities.

“The long-term plans,” he added, “are to add a master’s in public health at CSUMB.”

While the department already has approval to run a master’s degree program, it currently lacks the staff to do so, Post said, even though two new faculty members are starting this fall to meet the needs of the bachelor’s degree students.

“I’m excited about the faculty coming in,” he said. “They’re going to do a lot of system and policy analysis at the county level. They’re going to be able to plug right in to our nonprofits and health agencies in our county. Clearly, we want our students to be involved in those projects as well.

“I do think,” he added, “that this is going to be a very successful program.”