New Finance, Public Health Policy Major Proposals Presented to Faculty
On Thursday, Sept. 12, new finance and public health policy majors were proposed at the second faculty meeting of the year. (Photo Aly Leia Wein/The Gettysburgian)
By Vincent DiFonzo, Editor-in-Chief
The second faculty meeting of the year, held on Sept. 12 in Mara Auditorium, involved the introduction of two new major proposals to the faculty.
President Bob Iuliano opened the meeting, thanking the faculty for their attendance.
Professors Joseph Radzevick and Linus Nyiwul proposed the new finance major, a joint effort by the economics and business, organization and management departments. Following this, the new public health policy major was proposed, a joint effort by the public policy and health science departments.
Radzevick, chair of the management department, and Nyiwul, chair of the economics department, began presenting the finance major proposal by explaining why they believe the College would benefit from it.
“Why are we revisiting this idea of a finance major? And so, quite frankly it’s because of the strong signals that both of our departments are getting — that this is an area of study that there’s just untapped demand for,” said Radzevick.
The Gettysburgian obtained the finance major proposal and detailed its course requirements, if passed by the faculty.
The proposed finance major would have two tracks: a business-track B.A. and an economics-track B.S. The business-track involves 12 total courses, while the economics-track requires 16 courses.
Both tracks include the following core courses in economics and management: Principles of Microeconomics (Econ 103), Principles of Macroeconomics (Econ 104), Accounting for Management Decisions (Mgt 155), Finance (Econ/Mgt 267) and Statistics (Econ 241/Mgt 235).
The business-track includes one foundational course, Calculus I (Math 111). Additionally, the major will require students to take either Marketing (Mgt 361) or Topics in Operations Management (Mgt 321), in addition to Financial Analysis, Modeling and Forecasting, a new course.
Three additional electives and a capstone. Either Advanced Topics in Finance and Strategy, a new course, or a full credit internship will fulfill the capstone requirement.
In addition to the core courses, the economics track will require students to take foundational courses Calculus I (Math 111), Calculus II (Math 112) and Calculus III (Math 211), Linear Algebra (Math 212) and Differential Equations (Math 225). Additionally, students choose either Introduction to Scientific Computation (CS 107) or Data Science Programming (DS 256), except for computer science majors who would be allowed to substitute Computer Science I (CS 111) for Scientific Computation (CS 107).
Another course requirement includes a choice between Intermediate Macro Theory (Econ 243), Intermediate Micro Theory (Econ 245) and Financial Econometrics, a new course.
Elective requirements for the major will be one in economics, two in finance and two in quantitative finance courses. Additionally, either a capstone seminar or experience such as a full credit internship, portfolio management or entrepreneurial activity will be required to graduate under the proposed B.S. finance major.
The two departments will host two information sessions, a motion at a Sept. 12 faculty business meeting and a faculty vote to either approve or disapprove of the proposal at a future faculty meeting.
After the presentation, Iuliano opened the floor for faculty questions.
Professor Dina Lowy, chair of the history department, asked “how should we talk to students about the benefits of this versus economics versus management in the scheme of what they’re interested in and what is this going to do for them?”
Nyiwul responded, explaining how the finance major would differ from economics. “[Students] themselves already identified that the economics degree they’re going to get here is not going to serve them well in the finance world.” He also emphasized that the finance major would involve more quantitative-focused courses.
After other questions, Iuliano introduced health science chair Amy Dailey and public policy department chair Anne Douds, who presented the public health policy major.
“This will be a B.A., and we believe that we can start this as soon as possible, so students could declare this major during the 2025-26 year,” said Dailey.
She shared that the curriculum will involve 12 courses, including a required internship, capstone class and two electives. She also said all the major’s core courses are already offered at least one to two times per year.
The major included introductory and intermediate public policy and health science courses, as well as a plethora of elective choices from various departments.
Iuliano opened the floor for questions. One professor asked why the major would be called public health policy as opposed to public health.
“I think the reason that we are calling it public health policy is because policy is a core discipline of public health. It’s an interdisciplinary field, and we’ve designed a major that is heavy on policy compared to what other majors in public health offer,” Dailey said. “So we actually see it as a benefit that students are going to get this rigorous training in policy that other public health programs don’t offer.”
Provost Jamila Bookwala thanked the presenters for their work on the proposals, the recognized faculty promoted to associate professor last year.
She also recognized promotions to full professor and welcomed back faculty who were on sabbatical last semester.
Bookwala said the faculty will receive communication on Friday with updates on progress reports, reminders and a new link for faculty to submit “thoughts, suggestions, questions, concerts, either anonymously or not to [the Provost’s] office.”
Lowy spoke again, sharing that the history department and Civil War Institute, with support from the President’s office, the Provost and College Advancement, will host a celebration of life for Professor Peter Carmichael, who died in July. The Gettysburgian previously reported on his death and legacy.
At the celebration, which will be held at the Majestic Theater, attendees are invited to wear scarves in Carmichael’s memory.
The meeting concluded as Iuliano thanked the faculty for their attendance.
