"What's the Collateral Field and How is it Fulfilled?"

A community’s health status is impacted by factors as far-ranging as economic disparities, historical inequalities, educational opportunities, and cultural and ethnic make-up, among others. The collateral field component was designed to ensure the kind of background knowledge that supports critical thinking and creative problem-solving for current Public Health problems. The breadth of this classification allows students to explore areas of particular interest and relevance to public health, drawing connections between disciplines in ways that foster awareness of complex issues.

The required “Collateral Field” classes are an important foundation for students in both the Social Science track and the Science track. At least 18 credits are required in this area, and at least 12 must be at the 300 level or higher (this is true for both tracks).

While the foundation, math & statistics, and public health course areas are fairly structured, the collateral field is purposefully more open, encouraging students to make use of appropriate classes available through both the University and Five College offerings. There are a variety of ways to fulfill the requirement, and while suggestions are listed below, students are welcome to create their own compendium of classes that constitute a relevant sub-field in Public Health.

For example, appropriate collateral field courses for the Social Science track may be taken from departments such as:ANTHRO, SOM, COMM, AFRO AM, ECON, EDUC, HIST, JOUR, PSYCH, SOC etc. or any area approved by the student’s academic advisor. For the Science track, courses from Courses may be taken from departments such as: BIO, CHEM, COMM- DIS, ENV SCI, GEOSCI, KIN, MICRO, NUTR, SOC, etc., or any area approved by the student's academic advisor. Note:  Organic Chemistry will fulfill the upper-level collateral field requirement.

In addition, keep in mind that the collateral field requirement for both Social Science and Science track may be met in one of the following ways:

1. Completion of a major in one of the above named areas (or another area approved by the student’s academic advisor).
2. Completion of a minor of at least 18 credits in any one of the above named areas (or another area approved by the student’s academic advisor).
3. Completion of at least 18 credits of coursework chosen by the student and approved by the student’s academic advisor in accordance with the following rules:
   1. The proposal presented by the student must, in the judgment of the Department Undergraduate Program Director, satisfy the criterion of relevance to Public Health set forth in the requirement, and form a coherent set of courses (the student is responsible for presenting a convincing case for the proposed course of study);
   2. Courses used to satisfy other areas of the Public Health Major (such as foundation) cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If a student takes elective PUBHLTH courses over and above those needed to fulfill that area of the Major, then those electives can be applied to the collateral field.

Along with researching the University Course Catalogue (available on SPIRE), The Five –College Program for Culture, Health and Science website (http://www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/chs/) is a good place to look for areas of interest.