The Washington Post today ran an interesting article about the mounting interest in public health courses on college campuses across the country. According to the Post, “They are drawing undergraduates to lecture halls in record numbers, prompting a scramble by colleges to hire faculty and import ready-made courses.”

As you know, nearly every political and social movement in America began with college students. It’s fantastic to see such a consistent outpouring of interest and desire to learn about global poverty and global health amongst you!

Excerpts below, full piece here

A recent survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities found that 137 of its 837 members, or 16 percent, now offer majors or minors in public health. (The number offering single courses is unknown.) Nearly two-thirds of the schools in that group require students majoring in the subject to undertake fieldwork or research.

“Today’s students want to contribute, to empower individuals and communities to take charge of their own health,” said Ruth Gaare Bernheim, who teaches health policy at the University of Virginia. “I think they also intuitively realize that the world is their community and that the gains of the 21st century will be in global public health.”

-Chris Scott