Global Health Studies

GHS 201. Introduction to Global Health. 3 Credit Hours.

A focus of this course will be on Global Health and its determinants, in all countries of the world, regardless of their social wealth, and all existing resources, especially those, intended to organize health care. This course blends the methods of geography, history, sociology, anthropology, and related disciplines to expose the layers of causation and meaning beneath what we often see as straightforward, common-sense responses to biological phenomena. The course culminates with pragmatic, student-led assessments of global health policies designed to identify creative and cost-effective solutions to the most persistent health problems in the world today. The course will use a combination of readings, guest speakers, multi-media, in-class activities, and examples that highlight varying contexts.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.

GHS 301. Sociocultural Foundations of Global Health. 3 Credit Hours.

The class examines the sociocultural and historical foundations of Global Health. It analyzes major global health challenges, programs and policies. Students are introduced to emerging global health priorities, social and cultural determinants of health and vulnerability to diseases and human insecurity. It compares health systems across countries and cultures and evaluate access and utilization of health services. It finally assesses key community-based and global initiatives, and identifies resources for learning and career opportunities in global health.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.

GHS 310. Hospital Ethnography. 3 Credit Hours.

Hospital ethnography engages closely with discussions and debates about ethnographic research, ethics, and representation taking a hospital as a sociocultural site. It explores some of the research methodologies anthropologists use to understand, interpret, and analyze cultural practices.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.

GHS 312. People, Plagues, and Pandemics. 3 Credit Hours.

The history of pandemics shows that we have not learned from history. Is there a lesson in this recurring failure? Would we even realize it if there was? After the Ebola outbreak, epidemiologists expressed the important lessons that we failed to learn from previous outbreaks of disease. Many others have taken note of how plagues of swine flu and the like failed to generate more funding for epidemic/pandemic preparedness and response, and declared that government officials overlooked lessons from hypothetical pandemic exercises. Some have drawn comparisons between our slow response and denial of the Covid-19 crisis and the long delay in responding to the AIDS pandemic. Why are we so bad at doing this in practice? Are we ever going to break the vicious cycle of panic and neglect? The purpose of this course is to provide an introductory overview to emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in the context of previous global outbreaks, focusing on geography, origin, and management response. Through a combination of discussions and/or group activities, case studies, and lecture style introductions to weekly themes, students will gain a deeper understanding of disease, or group of diseases as illustrations of the impact of global outbreaks, responses, social, demographic, economic, and environmental context of historical and modern epidemics; and on basic models of infectious disease processes.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.

GHS 330. Topics in Global Health Studies: Humanities. 3 Credit Hours.

Topics vary. Interdisciplinary focus may be thematic or regional.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.

GHS 331. Topics in Global Health Studies: Social Sciences. 3 Credit Hours.

Topics vary. Interdisciplinary focus on policies and impact of globalization on health.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.

GHS 335. Biostatistics in Global Health. 3 Credit Hours.

This course teaches statistical methods and principles applicable to the understanding and interpretation of data used in public health, as well as health policy evaluation and formation.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.

GHS 430. Advanced Seminar in Global Health Studies: Humanities. 3 Credit Hours.

Specialized topics in global health to involve students into current research specializations in the humanities. Content varies by semester.
Prerequisite: GHS 201.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.

GHS 431. Advanced Seminar in Global Health Studies: Social Sciences. 3 Credit Hours.

Specialized topics in global health to involve students into current research specializations in the social sciences. Content varies by semester.
Prerequisite: GHS 201.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.

GHS 440. Global Health Response to Disasters: From Management to Recovery and Reconstruction. 3 Credit Hours.

The course will examine the global health impacts of disaster on populations in different communities/societies around the world. Drawing from a variety of case studies, the course will analyze current social science and health investigations and contributions to disaster management, recovery and reconstruction efforts. It will analyze the underlying factors that define vulnerability to various disasters in the world and identify processes that shape disparate outcomes within affected societies in recovery and reconstruction. Guided by these analyses, we will then examine the impact of international aid to recovery and reconstruction on populations in different communities throughout middle- and low-income countries. The course operates under the premise that disasters and its health impacts must be understood as processes embedded in ongoing changes and developments in relationships among humans and between humans and the natural world. Such developments shape vulnerability to various hazards and highlight the subjectivity of disasters for victims.
Prerequisite: GHS 310 or GHS 312.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Summer.

GHS 498. Independent Study in the Humanities. 1-3 Credit Hours.

Independent study leading to a thesis, original piece of research, or project in global health.
Prerequisite: GHS 201 and junior or senior standing.
Components: IND.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.

GHS 499. Independent Study in the Social Sciences. 1-3 Credit Hours.

Independent study leading to a thesis, original piece of research, or project in global health.
Prerequisite: GHS 201 and junior or senior standing.
Components: IND.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.

GHS 501. Intercultural Practicum in Global Health. 3-6 Credit Hours.

The Intercultural Practicum is designed to provide students with fieldwork experience in the area of global health is geared toward providing an opportunity to apply global health academic theory and knowledge to global health problems. This experience places students in health-related settings to work on projects of mutual interest to both the field organization and the student. Students will be asked to identify a community partner with which to complete the Intercultural Practicum.
Prerequisite: GHS 201 and junior or senior standing.
Components: PRA.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.

GHS 505. Global Health Studies Senior Thesis I: Humanities. 3 Credit Hours.

General reading, preparation of research design and collection of information for senior thesis. Open only to GHS majors.
GHS 201 and junior or senior standing.
Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.

GHS 506. Global Health Studies Senior Thesis II: Humanities. 3 Credit Hours.

Continuation of GHS 505: writing and defense of the thesis.
Prerequisite GHS 505.
Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.

GHS 507. Global Health Studies Senior Thesis I: Social Sciences. 3 Credit Hours.

General reading, preparation of research design and collection of information for senior thesis. Open only to GHS majors.
GHS 201 and junior or senior standing.
Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.

GHS 508. Global Health Studies Senior Thesis II: Social Sciences. 3 Credit Hours.

Continuation of GHS 507. Writing and defense of the thesis. Open only to GHS majors.
Prerequisite GHS 507.
Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.

GHS 570. Globalization and Health. 3 Credit Hours.

Globalization and its benefits and threats to public health; the relationship between global economic, political, social, cultural, environmental and technological changes and their impact on human health.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.

GHS 571. Global Health and International Development. 3 Credit Hours.

Health and development links; macroeconomic polices and their impact on social equity; poverty and structural inequities; and other key issues that influence human development.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.

GHS 572. Global Health Policy and Ethics. 3 Credit Hours.

National, regional and global health policies with special consideration to ethical and human rights issues; policies and the moral considerations that shape public health policy.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Summer.

GHS 573. Disasters, Terrorism and Global Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.

The historical processes and present trends of disasters, terrorism, humanitarian emergencies and their impact on human health, safety and security.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.

GHS 590. Global Health Internship. 1-6 Credit Hours.

Internship with an academic, governmental, non-profit and/or private sector entity focused on issues related to Global Health Studies. The goal is to acquire and practice skill sets required for advancement in professional careers. Students are encouraged to work with the Toppel Career Center to identify an internship experience. Open only to GHS majors with junior or senior standing. Prerequisite: GHS 201 and 24 credits towards the GHS major. Students minoring in Social Science & Medicine or Medical Humanities will need permission of the GHS Director.
Components: PRA.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.