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Required Courses – Core Curriculum

Foundations in Global Health
Students are exposed to different social, economic, political and environmental factors that affect global health. Focused on interventions that address health disparities, social justice and low-income settings, students learn to appraise global health problems and suggest innovative solutions.

Introduction to Integrative Medicine
The field of integrative medicine involves many complex disciplines. This course explains the basic philosophies and practices of Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, naturopathic medicine, homeopathy, shamanic healing and other integrative medicine practices.

Social and Behavioral Foundations of Health
This course provides students with an introduction to social and behavioral science issues that influence patterns of health and healthcare delivery. Students explore biomedical, social, psychological and behavioral factors that must be considered when global health initiatives are developed, implemented and evaluated.

Principles of Epidemiology
In this course, the basic concepts, principles and methods of epidemiology are introduced and applied to integrative and global health issues. Students explore measures of disease occurrence and association, observational and experimental study designs, disease causation, how to critically assess epidemiologic evidence, and how to solve public health and clinical problems using epidemiological methods.

Biostatistics I
This course covers different statistical designs, concepts and procedures commonly used in clinical and integrative medicine research. This will equip students to understand the statistical rationale and analysis presented in medical literature. Basic concepts of probability, random variation, and common statistical probability distributions are introduced.

Biostatistics II
In this advanced course, students learn techniques appropriate for handling a single outcome variable and multiple predictors. They develop skills in the use of appropriate statistical procedures for estimation and inference, according to underlying assumptions and type of study design. The interpretation of statistical analysis and understanding the limitations of the data and its consequences will also be discussed. The other component of this course includes developing basic skills for analyzing data using statistical computing software packages.

Environmental Global Health
This course covers the most pressing environmental concerns across the globe while examining the relational element involved with human interaction. Topics include climate change, air and water pollution, issues of solid and hazardous waste disposal, land degradation and desertification, population growth concerns, globalization and consumption patterns, and chemical and toxic exposures. Additional focus will be given to global environmental policy and examples of solution-oriented programs.

Comparative Global Health Systems
This course examines diverse structural models of public health and healthcare systems currently in use around the globe. Topics include the historical development of international public health and healthcare systems; the organization and financing of systems of care; access and utilization patterns across regions; resource allocation challenges; and relevant policy development and implementation processes.

Program Development
This course equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to systematically develop and implement health-related programs, services and interventions for defined populations in local, national and international settings.

Program Evaluation
This course is designed to generate the knowledge and skills necessary for students to design and implement an evaluation protocol for health related programs, services, policies and interventions in local, national and international settings.

Bioethics
In this course, students explore ethical issues and common problems encountered in human research and program/service protocols. Students review the roles and responsibilities of those involved in the conduct of health-related research and practice/service, with special attention to vulnerable populations in diverse settings.

Public Health Policy
Learn about the important role policy plays in public health and governmental responses to public health issues. Social justice and health access are discussed, as well as integrative medicine strategies to address these concerns. Guest lecturers provide perspective on the diverse issues impacting public health.

Community Organizing
In this course, students examine the history, theory and best practice of community organizing to improve health outcomes. Modalities include advocacy, marketing and media campaigns, group dynamics and coalition building, community outreach and empowerment, leadership development, and grass roots methods for social change. Local and global case studies are presented, and the practical application of learned skills is an integral part of this course.

Professional Development I
This course will provide students with skills, knowledge, and perspectives that are germane to professional development in the health sciences. Specifically, it will discuss critical thinking, professional ethics, creativity, oral and written communication, teamwork and leadership, engaging diversity, community engagement, digital literacy, career management, and durable learning.

Technical Writing
This course provides students with practical experience in forms of technical communication, emphasizing academic products such as research protocols, theses and manuscripts. Students learn organization and presentation of technical information for both professional and lay audiences.

Grant Writing
This course teaches skills in technical writing, information research, communication and program/service design that will be integrated to prepare successful grant proposals. Students will be introduced to diverse funders and grant formats; learn how to identify appropriate funding sources; and develop the capacity to prepare and submit grant proposals. Particular attention will be paid to foundation and governmental agency grants.

Global Health Discussion Series
Each session in the series has a thematic frame that guides facilitated discussion. Formats might include: presentations; showing and discussion of a documentary; discussion of a news report, book chapter or article; or, attending a special campus speaker’s presentation or event. Students present their proposed projects in this forum for feedback.

Global Health Seminar
Students examine global health issues through journal and news articles, and discuss challenges to practicing medicine and targeting research to different areas. Experts in global health from various medical backgrounds bring their perspectives.

Population Research Approaches
This course examines different approaches used to systematically investigate health-related issues across and within populations. Using a global health framework, students will explore the processes of defining research topics and questions, collecting and analyzing data, and interpreting and disseminating results using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. Additional focus is placed on research ethics and information sourcing.

Global Health Fieldwork
Students conduct a project in the field with a nonprofit, university or community group. Students are responsible for conducting the project, evaluating it, and completing weekly reflections on the process. At the end of the quarter, students present their project to the global health faculty in a conference format.

Elective Courses

Maternal and Child Health
This class focuses on improving the health of mothers, children, youth and families, including socially vulnerable populations, and the environments and policies that affect their well-being.

Conferences in Global Health
Students attend one conference in global health, or at least 10 hours of global health seminars locally. A reflective paper summarizing the experience is required.

Wilderness First Aid
This course is an advanced wilderness first aid training. Topics include basic emergency medicine-related anatomy and physiology; response and assessment; musculoskeletal and soft tissue injury assessment; environmental emergencies and survival skills; medical emergencies and critical care; emergency pharmacology; and travel and tropical medicine, along with practical skills training. An optional CPR component is available. Note: additional fee required

Psychology of Connection
This course examines concepts, theories and research in the subject of human connection as related to global health and healing arts professions. Special attention is given to practices aimed at increasing student capacity for connection in the context of their intended work and to cross-cultural dialogue and experience.

Ghana Global Health Experience
This course is a global health experience trip in Ghana, West Africa. The coursework will cover topics in globalization, natural childbirth, maternal and child health, cultural humility, West African herbalism, clinical services in an international setting, and working with local NGOs to empower and educate rural Ghanaian women.

Tanzania Global Health Experience
This course is a three-week cultural immersion trip with a focus on examining the healthcare system in Tanzania. Students will have the opportunity to visit and stay in remote villages to learn about life and medicine in rural areas, observe in various urban and rural clinical settings, learn about traditional medicine, and provide public health education.