Global & Public Health

From our families to our communities, to our states and the globe, we are all interconnected. Global & Public Health is key to the well being of us all, and affects our ability to thrive physically, mentally, financially and peacefully.

This interdisciplinary program integrates the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to seek answers to the enormous health challenges facing the U.S. and the world. This includes how factors influencing health promotion and disease prevention intersect with the environmental, political, and social determinants of health to vulnerable populations locally and globally. The major and minor therefore cover issues of the science of disease and health as they relate to public policy, poverty, race, class, gender, ethics, peace and war, as well as mental healthcare and cultural components of addiction and how healthcare providers can best communicate with the public

Emmanuel Celebrates Launch of Global & Public Health Major

“I think it’s a sign that the institution is committed to stepping into the future and responding to the troubles bubbling up around the world" - Global Health Activist Dr. Ernest Barthélemy

The Curriculum

View the 2024-2025 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements for Major:
1. GPH1201 Perspectives on Global & Public Health

2. GPH2XXX Introduction to Epidemiology

3. GPH2XXX Methods in Global and Public Health

4. One Statistics Course:

  •       MATH117 Introduction to Statistics for Professional Nursing (QA) (QR)
  •       MATH118 Introduction to Statistics with R (QA) (QR)
  •       MATH2113 Statistics with R (QA) (QR)
  •       PSYCH2801 Methods and Statistics I (WI)
  • PSYCH2802 Methods and Statistics II (QA) (QR)

5. THRS2222 Social Justice and Global Health (RCT) (RICT) (SJ)

6. GPH4XXX Internship

7. GPH4XXX Senior Seminar


Three Electives: One from Each Category
Health Sciences

  • BIOL1211 Emerging Infectious Diseases (SI) (NS) (SJ)
  • BIOL2121 Human Health and the Environment (SJ)
  • BIOL1215 Introduction to Nutrition (SI) (NS)
  • BIOL1112 Biology and Society (SI)
  • BIOL2113 Human Nutrition


Social and International Perspectives

  • POLSC2613 Law, Health and Public Policy
  • POLSC2402 Politics of Global and Public Health (SJ)
  • SOC2123 Health Care: Systems, Structures and Cultures
  • SOC2200 Drugs & Society
  • POLSC2705/SOC2705Sustainable Development Paradigms and Policies
  • PSYCH2405 Health Psychology  

Health Humanities

  • LANG1411 Beginning Spanish for Healthcare Professionals I (LC)
  • LANG2412 Spanish at Work in the Health Care Community
  • PHIL1205 Healthcare Ethics (M) (ER) 


Two 3000- Level Electives: Each course must be from a different Category
Health Sciences

  • BIOL3127 Microbiology with lab (SI) (NS) (SJ)
  • NURS3700 Community and Public Health Nursing (SJ) (Nursing Students ONLY)
  • NEURO3214 Psychopharmacology
  • CHEM3115 Introduction to Toxicology Social and International Perspectives
  • ECON3113 Economics of Health Care
  • NURS3600 Culture and Diversity in Health Care (DM)(Nursing Students ONLY)
  • POLSC3403 Human Issues in International Relations
  • PSYCH3210 Child Psychopathology
  • PSYCH3212 Adult Psychopathology

Health Humanities

  • COMM3806 Health Communication (SJ)

 

View the 2024-2025 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Course Requirements for a minor in Global & Public Health

1. Required Course
  • GPH1201 Perspectives on Global & Public Health 
2-5. Four additional courses, at least one from each of the following sections:

Health Sciences

  • BIOL1112 Biology and Society
  • BIOL1211 Emerging Infectious Diseases (SI) (NS) (SJ)
  • BIOL1215 Introduction to Nutrition (SI) (NS)
  • BIOL2113 Human Nutrition
  • BIOL2115 Determinants of Health and Disease
  • BIOL2121 Human Health and the Environment

Social and International Perspectives

  • ECON3113 Economics of Health Care
  • POLSC2613 Law, Health and Public Policy
  • POLSC2705/SOC2705 Sustainable Development: Paradigms and Policies
  • POLSC3403 Human Issues in International Relations
  • PSYCH2405 Health Psychology
  • PSYCH3210 Child Psychopathology
  • PSYCH3212 Adult Psychopathology
  • SOC2103 Qualitative Methods OR SOC2104 Quantitative Methods (QR)
  • SOC2123 Health Care: Systems, Structures and Cultures
  • SOC2200 Drugs & Society

Health Humanities

  • COMM3806 Health Communication (SJ) 
  • LANG1411 Beginning Spanish for Healthcare Professionals I 
  • LANG2412 Spanish at Work in the Health Care Community
  • PHIL1205 Healthcare Ethics (M) (ER)
  • THRS2222 Social Justice and Global Health (RCT) (RICT) (SJ)
Requirements for minor for Nursing Students 
  1. GPH1201 Perspectives on Global & Public Health 
  2. BIOL1215 Introduction to Nutrition (SI) (NS) 
  3. NURS3700 Community and Public Health Nursing (SJ)
  4. NURS3600 Culture and Diversity in Health Care (DM)
  5. THRS2222 Social Justice and Global Health (RCT) (RICT) (SJ)

With a minor in Global & Public Health students will be able to:

  1. Identify the factors influencing health promotion and disease prevention.
  2. Explain how human rights and ethics intersect with public and global health.
  3. Relate the environmental and social determinants of health to vulnerable populations locally and globally.
  4. Evaluate research data related to health issues locally and globally.
  5. Explain the socio-political challenges of access to care locally and globally.
  6. Analyze the complexities of communication in public and global health.

What can I do with a degree in global and public health?

A degree in global and public health can lead to a variety of career paths in the healthcare field. Some examples include:

  • Public Health Officer: Public health officers work for government agencies or non-profit organizations to help prevent the spread of diseases and promote health and wellness in communities.
  • Health Educator: Health educators design and implement programs and campaigns to educate the public about health-related issues such as nutrition, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyle habits.
  • Epidemiologist: Epidemiologists study the causes and spread of diseases and work to prevent and control outbreaks.
  • Health Policy Analyst: Health policy analysts work in government agencies or non-profit organizations to analyze and develop policies related to healthcare, health insurance, and public health.
  • Global Health Program Manager: Global health program managers work for non-profit organizations or government agencies to manage and coordinate international health programs and initiatives.
  • Medical Researcher: Medical researchers conduct research on diseases, treatments, and medications to improve healthcare outcomes for patients.
  • Healthcare Administrator: Healthcare administrators manage and oversee the operations of hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations.
  • Health Information Manager: Health information managers are responsible for managing and securing patient health information in electronic medical records.

Global and Public Health majors develop a diverse set of skills that are essential for addressing public health challenges at both local and global levels. Here are some in-demand skills for these majors:

  • Epidemiology: Understanding the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in populations. Skills in analyzing epidemiological data and conducting studies are crucial.
  • Biostatistics: Proficiency in statistical methods and tools to analyze public health data. This includes designing experiments, interpreting data, and drawing valid conclusions.
  • Health Policy Analysis: Ability to evaluate and develop health policies that improve public health outcomes. This involves understanding the policy-making process and the impact of legislation on health.
  • Health Communication: Skills in effectively communicating health information to diverse audiences. This includes creating public health campaigns, educational materials, and using social media to promote health messages.
  • Environmental Health: Understanding the impact of environmental factors on human health. This includes knowledge of environmental regulations, risk assessment, and strategies for mitigating environmental health risks.
  • Global Health Knowledge: Understanding global health issues, including infectious diseases, global health governance, and health disparities. This involves being aware of cultural, political, and economic factors that influence health outcomes globally.
  • Project Management: Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate public health projects and programs. This includes skills in budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation.
  • Research and Data Analysis: Proficiency in designing and conducting public health research, as well as analyzing and interpreting data to inform evidence-based practices.
  • Community Health Assessment: Skills in assessing the health needs of communities, identifying health disparities, and developing interventions to address those needs.
  • Program Evaluation: Ability to assess the effectiveness of public health programs and interventions. This includes designing evaluation plans, collecting data, and analyzing results to improve program outcomes.
  • Cultural Competency: Understanding and respecting cultural differences in health beliefs and practices. This is essential for working effectively in diverse communities and global settings.
  • Advocacy and Leadership: Skills in advocating for public health policies and programs, and leading initiatives that promote health equity and social justice.
  • Informatics: Knowledge of health informatics, including the use of technology and data systems to improve public health outcomes. This includes electronic health records, health information exchanges, and data visualization tools.
  • Emergency Preparedness: Skills in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies, such as natural disasters, pandemics, and bioterrorism events.
  • Ethical and Legal Understanding: Knowledge of the ethical and legal principles that guide public health practice. This includes issues related to confidentiality, informed consent, and public health ethics.

These skills are essential for public health professionals to effectively address complex health challenges, promote health equity, and improve health outcomes on a global scale.