Guiding Principles

 Cultural humility refers to a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and self-critique. Students in the undergraduate public health program will learn to question their assumptions, redress power imbalances and to develop and maintain mutually respectful and dynamic partnerships with communities. Students will examine their own personal practice in relation to society and culture through the lens of cultural humility.

Interdisciplinary education analyzes, synthesizes and harmonizes links between disciplines into a coordinated and coherent whole. Students in the undergraduate public health program take an integrated core coursework series which examines health through a comprehensive and interdisciplinary focus area. The program's concentration, electives, field exposure and culminating experiences are designed to link multiple views of health across numerous disciplines.

 Undergraduate public health education facilitates the ability of students to become informed citizens who actively engage in the process of building healthy societies. Students in the undergraduate public health program have access to liberal education-focused public health coursework which prepares them to address the every-changing world in which we live.

Educating leaders is a top priority. Students in the program will acquire the necessary skills needed to become leaders in their respective fields of study and practice at local, state, national, or international levels.

Liberal Education is an approach to learning that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. It provides students with broad knowledge of the wider world (e.g. science, culture, and society) as well as in-depth study in a specific area of interest. Students in the undergraduate public health program will develop a sense of social responsibility, strong and transferable intellectual and practical skills such as communication, analytical and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings.

Engaged learning emphasizes student-centered, practical and active learning strategies. Students in the undergraduate public health program will be actively involved in learning. Students will directly experience learning through innovated educational approaches. Learning environments include ample opportunity for students to consider how social, cultural and civic contexts influence health.

Social justice is the belief that all members of a society should have equal access to economic, political and social rights and opportunities; and that citizens should take action to promote a just society by challenging injustices and promoting diversity. Promoting social justice involves taking action to assure equality of access to civil liberties, human rights, and opportunities; as well as challenging unequal distributions of power and privilege.