Public Health
Offered by the Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology departments.

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 upon the 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.

Programs

Recent student internships

The Wheaton Edge offers experiences beyond the classroom.

Prabha Regmi

2021, Psychology and Public Health

Porter Cleveland Fellowship

Caring Heart Home Health Agency, Columbus, OH

My internship this summer focused on providing extensive care to under-resourced patients who seek daily medical help through aides, skilled nurses, LPNs, RNs and case managers in their own homes. I worked with an online database, helped with patient outreach and interacted with patients.

William Gan

2021, Biology, Public Health (minor)

Martha Van Cott Singdahlsen '57 Wheaton Fund Career Exploration Fund

Columbia University Irving Medical Center NERA MedPrep Scholars Program, New York, NY

I was routinely exposed to various aspects of the medical field and learned about each of the specialties, meeting with both resident doctors and attending physicians. I also was enrolled in higher-level academic coursework in biostatistics, biochemistry and narrative medicine.

Brianna O'Rourke

2020, Sociology and Public Health

Helen C. Powell '65 Crossroads Fellowship

Tides Family Services, Providence, RI

Working at Tides showed me the importance of seeing everyone’s potential. I gained communication, organization and documentation skills and learned how to maintain a professional relationship while showing empathy, have a good work ethic and work as a team.

Faculty

Michael Berg

Professor of Psychology; Co-Coordinator, Public Health Program

M. Teresa Celada

Associate Professor of Philosophy

Phoebe Chan

Associate Professor of Economics

Donna O. Kerner

Professor of Anthropology, Emerita; William Isaac Cole Professor of Anthropology

Katherine Mason

Assistant Professor of Sociology/Women and Gender Studies

Robert L. Morris

Professor of Biology; William & Elsie Prentice Professorship (2015-2020)

M. Gabriela Torres

Professor of Anthropology; Associate Provost for Academic Administration and Faculty Affairs