Health Studies

Daniel D. White, Ph.D., M.P.H. Program Coordinator
Track Coordinators:
Daniel White, Ph.D., Health Science Track
Christopher Stein, Ph.D., Health Administration Track
Health Studies Webpage

The B.A. in Health Studies is an interdisciplinary liberal arts program. Health studies majors take courses from the Schools of Business, Liberal Arts, and Science that allow them build the toolkit they need to work in academic, administrative, clinical, global, and public health settings upon graduation. Students take foundational natural science (e.g., biology and chemistry), foundational social science (e.g., sociology and psychology), healthcare policy, healthcare informatics, and statistics to prepare them for a wide array of post-graduate opportunities. Students must choose to specialize in one of two possible tracks, health science and health administration. Each track requires the completion of 21-22 credit hours. In the Spring of their senior year, students take a capstone course and complete a capstone project that allows them to use and demonstrate the attitudes, skills, and knowledge they have gained throughout their education. Many health studies students graduate and pursue graduate education to become athletic trainers, medical doctors, nurses, nutritionists, physical therapists, physician assistants, public health specialists, and occupational therapists, Some students go on to careers in healthcare administration, law, medical device sales, quality control, pharmaceuticals, and many more.

Health Studies Mission

The mission of the Health Studies Major is to prepare students to become active members of the health and healthcare community. The Health Studies Major emphasizes a multi-disciplinary approach to developing knowledgeable, skilled graduates imbued with an understanding and appreciation of the many issues associated with a society’s health and health care; and with the problems and promises of the systems, policies, programs, and organizations intended to support a society’s health and health care, both in the United States and globally.

The Minors in Health Studies and Healthcare Management are offered as a result of diverse interests in the healthcare industry today. This program provides students, regardless of major, with a cohesive core of courses that focus on significant aspects of healthcare 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 workplace.

Students interested in the Health Studies Major should contact Dr. Daniel White (Nobel Hall 308), call (518) 782-6924 or email ddwhite@siena.edu.

Students interested in the Health Studies Minor should contact Dr. Megan Kelly (Roger Bacon Hall 401), call 518-783-2592 or email mkelly1@siena.edu.

Students interested in the Healthcare Management Minor should contact Dr. Christopher Stein (Colbeth Hall 214), call (518) 782-6543 or email cstein@siena.edu.

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

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Minor

Courses

Health Studies