Should Public Health Be Considered a STEM Major? Let’s Discuss!

Public Health is a growing field that focuses on identifying and improving the health of populations. It encompasses a range of topics including infectious disease control, health education, health promotion, and environmental health. With the current global health crisis, there has been a growing need for individuals who specialize in public health. But should public health be considered a STEM major? Let’s discuss!

STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is a field that focuses on applying scientific principles to solve various problems. STEM majors are considered to be some of the most in-demand and highly paid jobs in the world. In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for public health majors to be considered as a part of the STEM field.

One of the main reasons why public health should be considered as a STEM major is that it involves a lot of mathematics and statistics. Public health professionals use data to analyze health trends and to design and implement interventions to improve health outcomes. Epidemiologists, for example, use mathematical models to predict the spread and pattern of infectious diseases.

Another reason is that public health majors need to have a strong foundation in science. Understanding human anatomy and physiology is essential for designing interventions to prevent and treat illnesses. Public health professionals need to have a good understanding of the science underlying different health conditions and diseases.

In addition, public health majors also need to have a sound knowledge of technology. Technology is an integral part of public health, and the use of digital tools has become increasingly important. For example, public health professionals use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map the spread of diseases and to identify areas where interventions are needed.

Moreover, public health majors need to be well-versed in engineering principles. Engineers work to create and design systems to improve health outcomes. They work on projects such as distributing clean water, designing sanitation systems, and building hospitals and clinics.

Finally, public health majors need to be able to think critically and solve complex problems. They must be able to analyze data, identify trends, and design interventions to address health problems. These critical thinking skills are essential for designing effective public health interventions.

In conclusion, public health should be considered a STEM major because it involves a lot of mathematics, science, technology, and engineering. The current global health crisis has highlighted the importance of public health interventions in improving population health outcomes. So, if you are interested in pursuing a career in public health, it might be worth considering it as a STEM major. It is important to note, however, that public health is a multidisciplinary field that encompasses much more than just STEM subjects. Public health professionals must also have strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills to be effective in their roles.

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