The Rutgers Board of Governors unanimously voted on Tuesday, June 21, to approve a proposal for the new Department of Health Sciences at Rutgers University–Camden. The proposal now goes to the New Jersey Presidents’ Council, which oversees the state’s colleges and universities.
The proposed Department of Health Sciences would serve as the administrative home of the popular health sciences major, currently the largest in the College of Arts and Sciences with more than 500 students enrolled. If approved, the Department of Health Sciences would be able to hire more faculty and expand opportunities for students pursuing careers or advanced degrees in health care.
“Our caring and compassionate community has a long history of serving the health needs of the region,” said Rutgers–Camden Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis. “We will lead the effort in South Jersey to educate future health care professionals, such as dietitians, social workers and home health care aides, to meet the demand for high-quality services to keep residents healthy.”
Health science majors receive a thorough foundation to prepare them for a wide variety of health-related professions. Through an interdisciplinary program, students receive instruction in basic science and take courses designed to help them meet the needs of a modern health delivery system. The major can be a foundation for careers in fields such as nursing, public health, physical therapy, pharmacy, science writing, and medical research.
