The Public Health Policy major at Gettysburg College offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to analyze and shape health policy. Through coursework in public health, policy analysis, and research methods, students develop a deep understanding of how policies impact health outcomes at local, national, and global levels.
First Year Advising and Registration recommendations
First-year students interested in exploring this major can begin by taking PHP 120 Public Health which is offered in both semesters and fulfills the First Year Data and Society requirement. PHP majors must also take an introductory biology class (BIO 111 or BIO 102). BIO 111 Introductory Biology for Life Sciences is offered in the fall semester and BIO 102 Contemporary Topics in Biology: Biological Basis of Disease is offered in the Spring. Students may also consider taking PHP Introduction to Public Policy (offered in fall and spring semesters) and PHP 222 Health Organizations and Policy (offered in fall semester). For advising help, contact Dr. Amy Dailey or Dr. Anne Douds.
Public Health Policy Major
Students begin with Public Health (PHP-120), an essential course that introduces the core disciplines of public health, including epidemiology, environmental health, and health behavior. This course provides a foundational understanding of public health systems and the factors influencing population health. As they advance, students take Health Organizations and Policy (PHP-222), which examines how governmental, non-governmental, and private organizations interact to implement public health policies. By studying real-world case studies, students learn how policy decisions shape healthcare access and outcomes.
To refine their analytical skills, students enroll in Advanced Public Policy Analysis (PHP-305), an intensive course that challenges them to assess complex policy issues and develop evidence-based recommendations. Through hands-on research projects, students produce professional policy reports that address current public health concerns.
The program culminates in a capstone experience where students apply their learning in a real-world setting. With a strong foundation in public health and policy, graduates are prepared to pursue careers in health advocacy, government, and policy research or continue their studies in graduate programs.
This course introduces students to the core disciplines of public health including epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, social and behavioral sciences, and health policy. Using a social-ecological framework, emphasis is placed on understanding the determinants of health and approaches to public health challenges in the United States. HS 120 and PHP 120 are cross-listed.
This foundational course for the Public Policy and Public Health Policy majors covers all major areas of public policy studies and provides in-depth analysis of policy making processes and outcome evaluation. The class begins with problem definition, examining how communities and societies define, prioritize, and respond to complex, “wicked” social problems. The course examines the policy process, historical antecedents to the discipline, foundational policy theory, and several models for analyzing policy. The course then proceeds through a series of policy arenas, allowing for topic-specific consideration of key aspects of policy analysis. This course lays the foundation for all subsequent study of public policy and public health policy, and it is a prerequisite to all upper-level Public Policy classes and the required internship. PHP 221 and PP 221 are cross-listed.
This foundational required course for the Public Health Policy major examines how public health policy operates in complex webs of governmental, non-governmental, non-profit, and private organizations that deal with wicked public health problems. This course introduces students to all major types of public health organizations’ missions and operations at local, state, national, regional, and global levels. Simultaneously, the course requires students to analyze health outcome optimization from an organizational perspective and communicate with the public on public health issues. PHP 222 and PP 222 are cross-listed.
This course is an introduction to the research process and is designed to make you both a better consumer and a better producer of research and knowledge. We will begin at its earliest stages and consider fundamental concepts, including how to conceive of – and write – good research questions and ask where data comes from. We will consider intermediate stages, including what available evidence
exists that might answer our question or consider why this question has not been asked yet. We will end our journey by learning about specific tools or methods you can use to answer specific questions and understand when which tool is best. Prerequisite: PP 221 PP 251 and PHP 251 are cross-listed.
Interactive course combining study of fundamental texts with student-led research projects. Students learn how public policy problems are defined and policy responses are developed, evaluated, and implemented. Students work intensively with the professor to apply these principles to an issue that interests them. The final output is a comprehensive white paper on the issue and recommended policy response. Prerequisite: PP 221 PHP 305 and PP 305 are cross-listed.
Introduction to the complex social, economic, environmental, political, biological, and cultural intersections that influence the global burden of disease. Emphasis is placed on understanding health inequities and the challenges to improving health outcomes on a global scale. Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors only. HS 322 and PHP 322 are cross-listed.
This course analyzes the social determinants of health – the non-medical and non-health factors that affect health outcomes. Social factors, such as education, race/ethnicity, income, environment, and housing, shape our health in obvious – and not-so-obvious – ways. This course outlines the historical causes of various social factors, illustrates how these social factors harm health, including the particular health outcomes linked with each of them, and examines public policies
designed to mitigate the deleterious effects of these social factors. HS 323, PHP 323, and PP 323 are cross-listed.
Introduction to epidemiological approaches to understanding disease and health outcomes among populations. This course covers the basic principles and methods of epidemiology and the application to real-world public health issues in order to characterize and promote health at the population level. Content will include a variety of health topics, such as infectious diseases, chronic diseases, social determinants of health, environmental health, and health behaviors. HS 326 and PHP 326 are cross-listed.
Introduction to the field of health equity, which focuses on ensuring that all populations—regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, immigration status, disability status etc.—have equal opportunity to achieve and maintain a healthy life. Due to issues of marginalization, discrimination, and social determinants of health, many groups do not have access to the means necessary to achieve health and well-being. This course raises conceptual, methodological and substantive issues, including applications to health care and community-based solutions. HS 328 and PHP 328 cross-listed.
Overview of the aspects of environmental exposure assessment. Exposure assessment is a key component of environmental public health. Students will learn the foundations of exposure assessment including identifying sources of exposure, measuring and assessing exposures, and preventing harmful exposures to protect the health of populations. Topics will include the basics of exposure science, specific examples of sources and environmental agents (air, water, food, soil, etc.), routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, absorption), methodology on assessing exposure, specific exposures impacting vulnerable populations, and the role of agencies and policies in protecting human health. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior
HS 350 and PHP 350 cross-listed.
Topics differ each year. Students read a common core of literature in the field of Public Policy as well as specific readings on the seminar topic. Students also produce a major research project. Prerequisite: POL 221 PP 401 and PHP 401 are cross-listed.
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F