HELP 2009-2010 University Catalog Global Health, MS Print-Friendly Page

Banner Code:  HH-MS-GLOH

This degree incorporates epidemiology and biostatistics, region-based nutrition, cross-cultural perspectives in mental health issues, community health assessment, program evaluation, human resource concerns, international health systems and organizations, refugee and internally displaced people health issues, and international health research. Practicum or thesis options allow students to explore in situ current dilemmas, demands, and health services with a global focus and perspective.

Graduates of this program will be given the knowledge base and skills to work and conduct research within the global health environment. Through course work and experiential learning, students will be prepared to work in the diverse cultural and multidisciplinary environments inherent to global health. Students will learn about the fundamentals of global public health, including epidemiology, environmental health, global health policies, and sociocultural influences on health and behavior. Students will also be trained on how to collaborate among nonprofit, governmental, and business sectors. Graduates will be prepared to work in international health organizations such as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), governmental organizations, and multilateral organizations, or may choose to pursue a research pathway and continue toward a terminal degree.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education with a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the last 60 credits. Undergraduate courses in statistics, anthropology or sociology and natural sciences are helpful. In addition, at least 6 credits of a foreign language or equivalent are prerequisites for students who are not already fluent in a second language. Applications to this program are made through the CHHS.

Options

Practicum Option

For the practicum option, which entails the application of an idea or theory through fieldwork, students will be required to complete two practica of 112 hours each. Both practica must be performed within a global health agency under the guidance of a preceptor and a faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to conduct one practicum abroad and one in the Washington DC region. As part of each practicum, students must attend a seminar course, complete a project, and produce a formal report and presentation.

Thesis Option

Thesis option students will select a thesis director who will guide the work and be the ultimate judge of its acceptability. The director must be within the Department of Global and Community Health. Thesis topics must complement one of the areas of GCH faculty expertise, which include epidemiology, biostatistics, rehabilitation science, chronic illness, mental health, social networks, gerontology, nutrition, and health behavior. Students must conduct an original research project that employs a standard research design to collect data and test a theory. Students must develop a research proposal and have it approved by their advisor before beginning the research project. Students must register for 6 hours of thesis research, but completion of these hours is not sufficient to satisfy the thesis requirement. The final thesis must conform to University Libraries guidelines.