Georgia State University's Perimeter College launched a Public Health Pathway this fall, giving students at its Dunwoody campus and four other locations a structured route into public health careers.

The 60-credit-hour program, announced Oct. 20, is open to undergraduates according to a Georgia State press release. It combines coursework in science, data analysis and social impact with fieldwork and community engagement. Students who complete the pathway earn an Associate of Science degree and are prepared to transfer into Georgia State's School of Public Health on the Atlanta campus to pursue a bachelor's degree.

The degree is available online and in person. Classes are offered at Perimeter College campuses in Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Clarkston, Decatur and Newton, according to the program's webpage. Core courses are available at most campuses and online, but some pathway-specific classes may only be offered at certain locations, the college said.

"By providing a strong foundation in public health, we are creating new opportunities for students to address today's most pressing health challenges and continue their education at Georgia State," Perimeter College Dean Barbara Johnson said in the announcement.

The pathway requires 42 hours of core coursework and 18 hours of public-health-specific courses. Georgia State's School of Public Health is ranked in the top 30 among public institutions by U.S. News and World Report, according to the press release. Bachelor's students there choose between two concentrations: Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences or Population Health Sciences, which includes an optional pre-med track.

Sarah Callaghan, associate professor of kinesiology and health at Perimeter College, said in the press release that public health goes beyond treating disease. The field focuses on prevention, policy and advocacy to address health challenges such as addiction, domestic violence and pandemic response, she said.

Shannon Self-Brown, distinguished university professor and associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Public Health, said the pathway focuses on removing barriers to degrees that lead to public health careers.

Application deadlines for Perimeter College run on a rolling basis: Aug. 1 for fall semester, Dec. 1 for spring and May 1 for summer.