VCU introduces a public health minor for fall 2026

By Maggie Christ

As the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Public Health enters its third year, it is expanding its course offerings for undergraduate students.

The school's new public health minor will be ideal for students studying in a variety of disciplines, such as clinical radiation science, dental hygiene, pharmaceutical science, psychology, sociology, and urban and regional studies. The curriculum will reward and enrich the learning of those who are curious about how public health impacts the world around them.

After completing the 19 required credits, students will have a greater understanding of what influences and improves public health. Courses such as How Health Policy and Health Systems Work and Health in the Global World will teach foundational principles essential to improving and protecting public health for all.

In addition, the School of Public Health is partnering with VCU School of the Arts to offer a new public health and the arts minor beginning this fall. The minor is designed for students with an interest in careers at the intersection of health, nonprofits, public agencies and creative organizations. The minor is the result of growing research in public health and the arts led by faculty from different fields at VCU. (Read more about the minor and other new interdisciplinary minors with an arts emphasis.)

"We are growing and looking to be innovative in how we present public health through curriculum, experiential learning and collaboration across the university," said Krista Mincey, Dr.P.H., director of undergraduate public health education and training at the School of Public Health. "These minors signify a shift in exposing more students to public health early in their collegiate career and showing them all of the possibilities that exist to enhance and improve the health of communities."

This story was originally published on the School of Public Health website.