Jacksonville State University to Introduce New Public Health Degrees in 2024 to Combat Local Professional Shortage

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Jacksonville State University (Jax State) plans to launch two new degree programs in the fall of 2024. These programs, a Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) and a Master of Public Health (MPH), aim to address the shortage of public health professionals in Alabama. Both degrees will be offered through the College of Health Professions and Wellness Department of Kinesiology. This initiative comes in response to a projected 17 percent increase in demand for public health specialists by 2030, including epidemiologists, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

The BPH and MPH programs will focus on training students to identify and address public health needs, implement solutions, and organize services to reduce health disparities and improve wellness. The MPH program will include concentrations in generalist public health and rural health, targeting the specific needs of rural communities.

Dr. Tracey Matthews, Dean of the College of Health Professions and Wellness, stated that these programs are designed to empower students to significantly improve community health. The goal is to produce skilled healthcare leaders who can make a lasting difference in both individual and population health.

Louis A. Bass, President and CEO of the Health Care Authority of the City of Anniston, supports the new programs. He noted their importance, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, in preparing graduates to serve effectively in both public and private healthcare sectors.