Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Systems (BA Degree)
Salem College offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Systems designed to jumpstart students’ careers in public health and social change. This undergraduate program focused on health leadership offers a major and minor for students interested in shaping the policies and systems that impact individual, community, and global health outcomes.
With concentrations in domestic or global health, this interdisciplinary major helps students cultivate the skills to enter humanitarian, nonprofit, governmental, or other health-related careers. Pursuing a career in public health advocacy offers graduates a variety of professional opportunities in a rewarding profession dedicated to improving well-being for all members of society.
Fostering future healthcare leaders, our undergraduate program provides a distinctive avenue for a humanitarian-focused major that explores the dynamic landscape of health advocacy and policy. In particular, there are a variety of emerging public health careers focused on advancing racial equity and improving health disparities.
Salem College’s Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Systems major is part of Salem’s initiative to support more women entering the field of health leadership. The flexible curriculum introduces you to a variety of health topics in sociology, political science, communications, public policy and advocacy, and nonprofit management.
Salem students bring a passion for health leadership to the table and a desire to think critically and propose innovative solutions to the world’s complex healthcare issues. They are motivated by the challenging course material that this humanitarian-focused major offers and to apply that knowledge in their future career paths.
With Ph.D-prepared expertise to share, the faculty are committed to offering up an interdisciplinary approach to public and global health that connects students to a variety of career paths in health leadership, policymaking, and advocacy. We offer our students a personalized rigorous experience that prepares them well for their future endeavors.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Systems, our students are well-equipped to excel in entry-level public service, nonprofit, or public health careers in a variety of settings including:
With further graduate study, students could also pursue careers in public health at a hospital, policy organization, academic institution, legal, or governmental organizations.
The major requires students to complete a total of ten courses (30 hrs min): five required core courses and five elective courses in a domestic or globally focused concentration.
Required Courses:
POLI 100. Survey of Political Science (3 hrs) or POLI 105. Introduction to Public Policy (3 hrs)
NFPM 130/SOCI 130. Making Change: Public Policy, Advocacy, and Grassroots Organizing (3 hrs)
HADV 390. Health Advocacy Practicum (3 hrs)
HADV 395. Health Advocacy Capstone Project (3 hrs)
One methodology course: Choose one:
ENVS 210. Geographic Information Systems (4 hrs)
POLI 130. Research Methods (3 hrs)
MATH 107. Statistical Methods with R (4 hrs)
SOCI 215. Social Statistics (3 hrs)
POLI 255. Quantitative Methods in Political Science (3 hrs)
Or other approved methodology course
Choose one Concentration (15 hrs):
Health Advocacy and Leadership in Domestic Contexts
Choose five (5) of the following electives:
BIOL 070. Issues in Biology for Women (3 hrs)
COMM 170. Intercultural Communication (3 hrs)
COMM 275. Health Communication (3 hrs)
COMM 322. Strategic Communication and Marketing (3 hrs)
EDUC 122. Learners in Context (3 hrs)
ENGL 250. Introduction to Professional Writing (3 hrs)
ENGL 349. Race, Culture and Identity in Multi-Ethnic Literature of the US (3 hrs)
ENVS 100. Introductory Environmental Studies (3 hrs)
HIST/POLI 265. US Constitutional and Legal History (3 hrs)
HIST/POLI 224. The History of US Health Policy (3 hrs)
NFPM 140. Foundations of Entrepreneurship (3 hrs)
NFPM 180. Volunteer and Community Engagement (3 hrs)
NFPM 230. Program Development and Grant Proposal Writing (3 hrs)
NFPM 245. Organizational and Program Evaluation (3 hrs)
NFPM 301. Strategic Thinking and Planning (3 hrs)
NFPM 310. Nonprofit Leadership and Governance (3 hrs)
POLI 105. Introduction to Public Policy (3 hrs)
POLI 220. Ethics and Public Policy (3 hrs)
POLI 230. State and Local Government (3 hrs)
RELI 265. Religion and Migration (3 hrs)
REST 202. Race and Ethnic Relations (3 hrs)
REST 210/HIST 215. Critical Issues in the History of Race and Ethnicity (3 hrs)
SOCI 204. Analysis of Social Issues (3 hrs)
SOCI 222. Women and Reproduction (3 hrs)
SOCI 262. Sociology of the Body (3 hrs)
WGSS 240. Women’s Activism and Advocacy (3 hrs)
Additional relevant courses from other disciplines may be substituted for one of the courses listed above as approved by the program co-directors.
Or Health Advocacy and Leadership in Global Contexts
Choose five (5) of the following electives:
BIOL 070. Issues in Biology for Women (3 hrs)
COMM 170. Intercultural Communication (3 hrs)
COMM 275. Health Communication (3 hrs)
EDUC 333. Comparative Educational Studies (3 hrs)
ENGL 250. Introduction to Professional Writing (3 hrs)
ENGL 325. Modern Writings from Women of the Non-Western World: Global Literature (3 hrs)
ENVS 100. Introductory Environmental Studies (3 hrs)
HIST/REST 241. Women’s Leadership in Global Historical Perspective (3 hrs)
HIST/POLI/ENVS 216. The Nuclear Age (3 hrs)
NFPM 160. International Nongovernmental Organizations (3 hrs)
NFPM 180. Volunteer and Community Engagement (3 hrs)
POLI 110. Introduction to International Relations (3 hrs)
POLI 205. National Model United Nations (3 hrs)
POLI 245. International Development and Political Change (3 hrs)
POLI 257. Development of International Human Rights (3 hrs)
RELI 265. Religion and Migration (3 hrs)
SOCI 240. Globalization and Global Inequities (3 hrs)
Additional relevant courses from other disciplines may be substituted for one of the courses listed above as approved by the program co-directors.
The minor (15 hrs) includes two core courses and three electives that can be chosen from either the domestic or global concentration options listed above.
Required Courses:
POLI 100. Survey of Political Science (3 hrs) or POLI 105. Introduction to Public Policy (3 hrs)
NFPM 130/SOCI 130. Making Change: Public Policy, Advocacy, and Grassroots Organizing (3 hrs)
Choose 3 electives from concentration lists above (9 hrs)
Flexible and interdisciplinary, our Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Systems major allows students to select the unique combination of undergraduate courses that match their interests in health leadership and advocacy. Integrating health advocacy career exploration into the curriculum, all students complete a practicum and capstone project.
Salem College’s Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Systems major is part of Salem’s initiative to support more women entering the field of health leadership. The flexible curriculum introduces you to a variety of health topics in sociology, political science, communications, public policy and advocacy, and nonprofit management.
Salem students bring a passion for health leadership to the table and a desire to think critically and propose innovative solutions to the world’s complex healthcare issues. They are motivated by the challenging course material that this humanitarian-focused major offers and to apply that knowledge in their future career paths.
With Ph.D-prepared expertise to share, the faculty are committed to offering up an interdisciplinary approach to public and global health that connects students to a variety of career paths in health leadership, policymaking, and advocacy. We offer our students a personalized rigorous experience that prepares them well for their future endeavors.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Systems, our students are well-equipped to excel in entry-level public service, nonprofit, or public health careers in a variety of settings including:
With further graduate study, students could also pursue careers in public health at a hospital, policy organization, academic institution, legal, or governmental organizations.
The major requires students to complete a total of ten courses (30 hrs min): five required core courses and five elective courses in a domestic or globally focused concentration.
Required Courses:
POLI 100. Survey of Political Science (3 hrs) or POLI 105. Introduction to Public Policy (3 hrs)
NFPM 130/SOCI 130. Making Change: Public Policy, Advocacy, and Grassroots Organizing (3 hrs)
HADV 390. Health Advocacy Practicum (3 hrs)
HADV 395. Health Advocacy Capstone Project (3 hrs)
One methodology course: Choose one:
ENVS 210. Geographic Information Systems (4 hrs)
POLI 130. Research Methods (3 hrs)
MATH 107. Statistical Methods with R (4 hrs)
SOCI 215. Social Statistics (3 hrs)
POLI 255. Quantitative Methods in Political Science (3 hrs)
Or other approved methodology course
Choose one Concentration (15 hrs):
Health Advocacy and Leadership in Domestic Contexts
Choose five (5) of the following electives:
BIOL 070. Issues in Biology for Women (3 hrs)
COMM 170. Intercultural Communication (3 hrs)
COMM 275. Health Communication (3 hrs)
COMM 322. Strategic Communication and Marketing (3 hrs)
EDUC 122. Learners in Context (3 hrs)
ENGL 250. Introduction to Professional Writing (3 hrs)
ENGL 349. Race, Culture and Identity in Multi-Ethnic Literature of the US (3 hrs)
ENVS 100. Introductory Environmental Studies (3 hrs)
HIST/POLI 265. US Constitutional and Legal History (3 hrs)
HIST/POLI 224. The History of US Health Policy (3 hrs)
NFPM 140. Foundations of Entrepreneurship (3 hrs)
NFPM 180. Volunteer and Community Engagement (3 hrs)
NFPM 230. Program Development and Grant Proposal Writing (3 hrs)
NFPM 245. Organizational and Program Evaluation (3 hrs)
NFPM 301. Strategic Thinking and Planning (3 hrs)
NFPM 310. Nonprofit Leadership and Governance (3 hrs)
POLI 105. Introduction to Public Policy (3 hrs)
POLI 220. Ethics and Public Policy (3 hrs)
POLI 230. State and Local Government (3 hrs)
RELI 265. Religion and Migration (3 hrs)
REST 202. Race and Ethnic Relations (3 hrs)
REST 210/HIST 215. Critical Issues in the History of Race and Ethnicity (3 hrs)
SOCI 204. Analysis of Social Issues (3 hrs)
SOCI 222. Women and Reproduction (3 hrs)
SOCI 262. Sociology of the Body (3 hrs)
WGSS 240. Women’s Activism and Advocacy (3 hrs)
Additional relevant courses from other disciplines may be substituted for one of the courses listed above as approved by the program co-directors.
Or Health Advocacy and Leadership in Global Contexts
Choose five (5) of the following electives:
BIOL 070. Issues in Biology for Women (3 hrs)
COMM 170. Intercultural Communication (3 hrs)
COMM 275. Health Communication (3 hrs)
EDUC 333. Comparative Educational Studies (3 hrs)
ENGL 250. Introduction to Professional Writing (3 hrs)
ENGL 325. Modern Writings from Women of the Non-Western World: Global Literature (3 hrs)
ENVS 100. Introductory Environmental Studies (3 hrs)
HIST/REST 241. Women’s Leadership in Global Historical Perspective (3 hrs)
HIST/POLI/ENVS 216. The Nuclear Age (3 hrs)
NFPM 160. International Nongovernmental Organizations (3 hrs)
NFPM 180. Volunteer and Community Engagement (3 hrs)
POLI 110. Introduction to International Relations (3 hrs)
POLI 205. National Model United Nations (3 hrs)
POLI 245. International Development and Political Change (3 hrs)
POLI 257. Development of International Human Rights (3 hrs)
RELI 265. Religion and Migration (3 hrs)
SOCI 240. Globalization and Global Inequities (3 hrs)
Additional relevant courses from other disciplines may be substituted for one of the courses listed above as approved by the program co-directors.
The minor (15 hrs) includes two core courses and three electives that can be chosen from either the domestic or global concentration options listed above.
Required Courses:
POLI 100. Survey of Political Science (3 hrs) or POLI 105. Introduction to Public Policy (3 hrs)
NFPM 130/SOCI 130. Making Change: Public Policy, Advocacy, and Grassroots Organizing (3 hrs)
Choose 3 electives from concentration lists above (9 hrs)
Flexible and interdisciplinary, our Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Systems major allows students to select the unique combination of undergraduate courses that match their interests in health leadership and advocacy. Integrating health advocacy career exploration into the curriculum, all students complete a practicum and capstone project.
See our Academic Catalog for all of our course offerings.
Salem College’s Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Systems major is an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree designed to prepare students for advocacy and public health careers. Combining a thoughtful liberal arts education with career-ready skills results in an undergraduate program that sparks students’ health leadership ambitions.
Request information to learn more.