Program Overview

Online Global Health Certificate

The Public Health Leadership and Practice (PHLP) Department offers an online Certificate in Global Health for working health professionals around the world. The Online Global Health Certificate is a formal academic certificate for degree and non-degree seeking students that examines the complexities inherent in improving health on a global scale. This is a 9-credit certificate.

Learning Objectives

This interdisciplinary Online Global Health Certificate strengthens competencies and abilities of healthcare and public health practitioners to understand and address public health issues from a global perspective, understanding the interconnectedness of local with global processes.

Specific learning objectives of the Online Global Health Certificate:

• Analyze how the roles, relationships and resources of entities influencing global health policies and practices affect disparities in health outcomes at the local, regional and global level.
• Discuss the role of public health professionals working on addressing the health of local and global populations, and the ethics of global health work.
• Apply implementation, monitoring and evaluation strategies in global public health programs.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Online Global Health Certificate will include three courses totaling 9 graduate credit hours:

• PUBH 711 Critical Issues in Global Health: This course explores contemporary issues, problems, and controversies in global health through an interdisciplinary perspective; examines the complex tapestry of social, economic, political, and environmental factors that affect global health; analyzes global health disparities through a social justice and human rights lens; and exposes students to opportunities in global health work and research. This course is a prerequisite for all other courses in the Online Global Health Certificate Program.
• PUBH 712 Global Health Ethics: This course will introduce students to the theoretical and practical aspects of public health ethics and develop students’ analytical skills to evaluate ethical issues related to public health policy, prevention, treatment, and research. Topics include: ethical reasoning; concepts of justice; principles of interacting with communities; professional conduct and research. Prerequisite: PUBH 711.
• PUBH 714 Monitoring and Evaluation of Global Health Programs: This course covers the fundamental concepts and tools for monitoring and evaluation of public health programs such as for HIV/AIDS/STDs, maternal health, reproductive health, child health, environment, and nutrition. Basic concepts and practices in M&E will be covered such as performance monitoring, impact evaluation, indicators, information systems, data collection methods, evaluation designs, strategic information in decision making, and communicating results to policymakers. Prerequisite: PUBH 711.

Course Schedule

Possible sequence of classes for the Global Health Certificate:

• Online Certificate in Global Health (PGHC)
  • Admit Term: Spring
    • Term | Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours
      • Spring | PUBH 711 | Critical Issues in Global Health | 3
      • Summer | PUBH 714 | Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation of Global Health Programs | 3
      • Fall | PUBH 712 | Global Health Ethics | 3
      • Total Credit Hours | 9
• Online Certificate in Global Health (PGHC)
  • Admit Term: Fall
    • Term | Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours
      • Fall | PUBH 711 | Critical Issues in Global Health | 3
      • Fall | PUBH 712 | Global Health Ethics | 3
      • Spring | PUBH 714 | Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation of Global Health Programs | 3
      • Total Credit Hours | 9
• Online Certificate in Global Health (PGHC)
  • Admit Term: Fall
    • Term | Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours
      • Fall | PUBH 712 | Global Health Ethics | 3
      • Spring | PUBH 711 | Critical Issues in Global Health | 3
      • Summer | PUBH 714 | Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation of Global Health Programs | 3
      • Total Credit Hours | 9
• Online Certificate in Global Health (PGHC)
  • Admit Term: Fall
    • Term | Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours
      • Fall | PUBH 712 | Global Health Ethics | 3
      • Spring | PUBH 711 | Critical Issues in Global Health | 3
      • Spring | PUBH 714 | Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation of Global Health Programs | 3
      • Total Credit Hours | 9

Eligibility

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2-3 years of relevant public health, healthcare, global work, or related field experience preferred.

Application

There are two application cycles for this certificate.

• Fall application to Start in Spring: September 4, 2025 and closes December 5, 2025
• Spring Application to Start in Fall: Dates TBD

Tuition

For more information regarding tuition rates, please consult the UNC Finance Office‘s tuition rates document (see Off-campus Programs tuition rates). Please note that the certificate programs do not qualify for financial aid at UNC-CH.