School of Public Health Changes Name
The schools new name recognizes its large undergraduate student population.
The school, founded in 1980 as part of a then-new College of Health and Human Services, has had an undergraduate component since the mid-90s.
School director Hala Madanat, who initiated the request for the new name, said the previous designation caused occasional confusion and posed marketing problems. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard major for undergraduate students to find,鈥� Madanat said. The new name should help undergraduates 鈥渢o feel part of what we do.鈥�
It鈥檚 a sizeable population. The school had nearly 500 undergraduates enrolled in fall 2017 and granted 129 bachelor鈥檚 degrees in 2016-17.
鈥淲e have amazing undergraduate students,鈥� Madanat said, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 good to be able to highlight them.鈥�
It鈥檚 perfect timing, too, Madanat noted, as San Diego will host the in November.
Steven Hooker, who begins as on June 29, said he supports the change. The new name is 鈥渕ore broad and inclusive,鈥� Hooker said, and places the School of Public Health 鈥渙n an equal footing with other schools of public health 鈥� in California and across the country.鈥�
