Program Overview

Global Health Studies Certificate

The Global Health Studies Program prepares students to critically engage with global health and its multifaceted concerns in contemporary societies. Global health is an interdisciplinary field, and as such, students develop a sophisticated understanding of the roles of politics, history, and economics, engage with the insights of anthropology, ethics, law, and sociology, and relate this knowledge to public health and the biomedical sciences. Students will be expected to complete interdisciplinary coursework to gain a broad understanding of global health research, practice, and leadership.

Program Structure

• Students apply to the Program, typically in the fall of their sophomore year.
• Those accepted into the Program are called "Global Health Scholars."
• Global Health Scholars are expected to complete interdisciplinary coursework across four global health competency areas chosen from six options:
  • Biological & Environmental Influences on Health (YC GLHTH Bio & Env Influences)
  • Health & Societies (YC GLHTH Health & Societies)
  • Historical Approaches (YC GLHTH Hist Approaches)
  • Performance, Representation & Health (YC GLHTH Perf, Rep & Health)
  • Political Economy & Governance in Health (YC GLHTH Polit Econ & Govern)
  • Understanding & Interpreting Quantitative Data (YC GLHTH Quantitative Data)

Requirements

• To fulfill the requirements of the program, Scholars must complete the global health introductory lecture course (HLTH 2300), senior colloquium (HLTH 4900), and four elective courses that fulfill four of the global health competency areas.
• Upon completion of the Global Health Studies Program, Scholars earn a Global Health Studies certificate.
• No more than two course credits fulfilling the requirements of the Global Health Studies certificate may overlap with a major, a simultaneous degree, or another certificate.
• Additionally, no course credit may be applied toward the requirements of more than two curricular programs.

Credit and Coursework

• No more than 1 course taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the Global Health Studies requirements, with the exception of the Senior Colloquium, which must be taken for a letter grade.
• Courses taken at another institution or during an approved summer or term-time study abroad program may count toward the program requirements with DUS approval.

Summary of Requirements

• Prerequisite: None
• Number of courses: 6 courses (including senior requirement)
• Specific course required: HLTH 2300
• Distribution of courses: 4 electives to achieve four of the six global health competencies as indicated
• Senior requirement: HLTH 4900, Senior colloquium

Additional Opportunities

• Qualified undergraduates may take graduate courses at the School of Public Health, subject to restrictions on graduate and professional school enrollment described in Academic Regulations, section L, Special Academic Arrangements.
• Further information about these courses can be found in the School of Public Health online bulletin.
• For information about the five-year B.A.–B.S./M.P.H. program offered jointly with the School of Public Health, see Public Health.