Health Studies

Dr. Duane Matcha, Director
Track Coordinators:
Dr. Daniel White, Health Science Track
Joseph Fitzgerald, M.P.A. - Health Administration Track
Dr. Duane Matcha - Health Policy Track
Health Studies Webpage

The health care field is vast and diverse. The B.A. in Health Studies represents a truly interdisciplinary experience for students at Siena College. All students in the Health Studies major are required to take courses from the schools of Business, Science and the Liberal Arts. The core curriculum provides an overview of critical science, policy and administrative disciplines. Additional coursework includes completion of two semesters of biology and two semesters of chemistry. The core feature of the Health Studies major is that in addition to a broad range of core courses, it also enables students to gain valuable depth in one of the three critical health studies tracks that align with broader interests and opportunities in the health care community. Each track requires the completion of 21 credit hours (possibly 22 in the Health Science Track). In the spring of their senior year, students from all three tracks will work together on a capstone project, utilizing the skills and knowledge gained within each of their tracks to solve a current health care issue.

The minors in Health Studies and Healthcare Management are offered as a result of diverse interests in the health care industry today. This program provides students, regardless of major, with a cohesive core of courses that focus on significant aspects of health care issues in American society. These courses are not meant to serve as a major, but rather as an area of knowledge within the broader framework of health. As students decide upon careers, such knowledge is beneficial. The program can assist students if they decide upon a career path within some aspect of the broad field of health. Such career paths include, but are not limited to, work in medicine, nursing, public health, hospital administration, epidemiology, insurance, health research, marketing, health finance, health policy and management, medical sociology, and medical social work. Many of these paths require advanced degrees. However, the minors also benefit students who have decided upon career paths that do not include an advanced degree by making them a more marketable candidate to the work world.

*BIOL 110 does not count towards the Health Care Minor for Biology or Biochemistry Majors. Students majoring in Biology or Biochemistry do not need to complete another Biology course for the Health Studies or Healthcare Management minor. Students should contact the Assistant Dean in the School of Liberal Arts office for a Substitution/Waiver authorization form. Science courses from students’ auxiliary credits can be counted towards the Biology requirement in the Health Studies and Healthcare Management minors.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Minor

Courses

Health Studies