Spring Hill College recently announced a new Master of Public Health program. Students can complete the program in two years, and it has received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The program is currently accepting students and will have six admission cycles per year. Courses are offered in an accelerated format (7-week sessions) and are completely online.

The initial Master of Public Health program will consist of a general public health curriculum, with plans to introduce up to three concentrations after the first two years of the program's implementation: (1) Social and Behavioral Sciences; (2) Healthcare Policy and Advocacy; and (3) Community Engagement and Health Education. The program will begin in the fall semester of 2022.

Lisa Hager, PhD, interim provost, said, "Spring Hill is excited to offer a Master of Public Health as well as an undergraduate minor in public health. Public health professionals are needed at local, regional, and national levels and these programs are a perfect fit for our mission to educate and develop students in the Jesuit tradition to become responsible leaders in care and service to others."

The lack of public health infrastructure in the United States has been a critical concern for decades and has only been exacerbated by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health is now one of the fastest-growing fields in the US with public health experts in extremely high demand in various capacities.

According to the Alabama Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, almost every county in the state has been categorized as a medically underserved area, meaning they experience a significant shortage of healthcare providers which, in turn, impacts the quality and access of health care in affected populations.

Spring Hill's program is designed to appeal to individuals interested in a career in health professions outside of the more traditional programs of medicine, nursing, physical therapy, etc. Given the increased relevancy of public health, many individuals are learning about this field for the first time, providing previously unknown opportunities to positively impact the health and well-being of others.