Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Global Health Studies (Pre-Med) provides students with an interdisciplinary perspective to understanding how issues surrounding global health relate to the greater impacts on society, culture, and the environment. This major combines social science and humanist perspectives and crosses the disciplines of anthropology, religious studies, geography, regional studies, classics, history, literature, and sociology.
The GHS (Pre-Med) major (24 credits plus pre-med requirements) will fulfill the STEM area of knowledge requirement.
Whereas medicine as a field addresses disease diagnosis and care, the field of global health is much broader, and still being defined. Global health in the social sciences encompasses disease prevention, education, health policy, access, and resiliency. Global health in the humanities examines the history and cultural significance of medicine and health from ancient times to today. This major provides students with the opportunity to explore the cultural and social aspects of health and underlying causes that affect the well-being and provide an important interdisciplinary platform for the empirical and theoretical interaction of humanists and social scientists.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
Fulfilled through the Calculus Sequence | ||
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People and Society Cognate | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Calculus Sequence (B.S. Requirement) | 8 | |
| Calculus I and Calculus II | ||
| Calculus Concepts with Foundations A and Calculus Concepts with Foundations B and Calculus II | ||
| Calculus I and Calculus II | ||
| UMX 100 | The University of Miami Experience | 0 |
| Language Requirement | 3-9 | |
| Minor Requirement | 15 | |
| GHS Required Core Course | ||
| GHS 201 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| GHS Methods Course (Choose 3 credits) | 3 | |
| Hospital Ethnography | ||
| Introduction to Social Research | ||
| Geographic Research Methods | ||
| Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics Section B | ||
| GHS Policy Course (Choose 3 credits from the following) | 3 | |
| Global Health Policy and Ethics | ||
| Applied Health Policy | ||
| Globalization and Change in World Politics | ||
| GHS Electives 1 | 12 | |
Humanities (Choose at least 3 credits from the following) | ||
| Religion and Medicine: Health Care as Spiritual Practice | ||
| Religion and Bioethics | ||
| Ancient Medicine | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
Social Sciences (Choose at least 3 credits from the following) | ||
| People, Plagues, and Pandemics | ||
| Health and Medical Geography | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Medical Sociology | ||
Additional GHS Elective Options | ||
| HIV: Sex, Science, and Society | ||
| Principles of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| The Sounds of the World's Languages | ||
| Medicine and Health Care in Society | ||
| Human Adaptation | ||
| Folk and Alternative Medicine: Psychedelic Plants in Cultural Context | ||
| The Evolution of Language | ||
| Caribbean Cultures | ||
| Drugs and Culture | ||
| Violence and Ritual | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Human Osteology | ||
| Bioarchaeology-Peopling the past | ||
| Interpreting Bodies | ||
| Paleopathology: Health and disease in ancient peoples | ||
| Methods of Anthropological Research | ||
| Advanced Medical Anthropology | ||
| Medical Terminology | ||
| Sexuality and Gender in the Ancient World | ||
| Magic and the Occult in Antiquity | ||
| Sciences in Ancient Greece and Rome | ||
| Ancient Medicine | ||
| Health Economics | ||
| Literature and Medicine | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Introduction to Human Geography | ||
| Health and Medical Geography | ||
| Geographic Research Methods | ||
| Sustainable Development | ||
| Sustainable Food Systems | ||
| Hazards and Disasters: The Nature-Society Interface | ||
| Climate Change, Sea Level Rise and Society | ||
| Landscape Character, Dynamics, Evolution; Influence on Societal Habitation and Risks | ||
| Population, Health, and Environment | ||
| Population, Sustainability, and the Media | ||
| Global Water Security Sustainability | ||
| Immigrant and Refugee Health | ||
| Climate Change and Public Health | ||
| GIS for Health and Environment | ||
| Climate Change and Security | ||
| Sociocultural Foundations of Global Health | ||
| Hospital Ethnography | ||
| People, Plagues, and Pandemics | ||
| Topics in Global Health Studies: Humanities | ||
| Topics in Global Health Studies: Social Sciences | ||
| Advanced Seminar in Global Health Studies: Humanities | ||
| Advanced Seminar in Global Health Studies: Social Sciences | ||
| Global Health Response to Disasters: From Management to Recovery and Reconstruction | ||
| Globalization and Health | ||
| Global Health and International Development | ||
| Global Health Policy and Ethics | ||
| Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Gender, Race, and Class | ||
| LGBTQ Communities | ||
| Gender and Language | ||
| Issues in Reproductive Medicine | ||
| Mental Illness, Gender, and Psychiatry | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in Cultural Context | ||
| The Scientific Revolution | ||
| Science and Society | ||
| Global Perspectives | ||
| World in Crisis | ||
| Globalization and Change in World Politics | ||
| Culture, Civilizations and Religion in International Relations | ||
| International Migration and the Health Care System | ||
| Interdisciplinary Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Studies | ||
| Interdisciplinary Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Studies-Travel Course | ||
| Drug Trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean | ||
| Topics in Comparative Cultural Studies | ||
| Comparative Topics in Gender and Sexuality | ||
| Migration Studies | ||
| The Caribbean through Literary and Cultural Studies | ||
| Studies in Literature, Culture, and Science | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy and Health Sciences | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
| Relationships and Health | ||
| History and Philosophy of Science | ||
| Evidence and Knowledge in Medicine | ||
| Refugees and Migrants | ||
| Politics of Globalism | ||
| Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Political Conflict | ||
| Gender and Politics | ||
| International Organizations | ||
| Social Movements | ||
| LGBTI Politics | ||
| Sex, Babies, and the State | ||
| Relationships and Health | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| Cultural, Values, Religiosity, and Mental Illness | ||
| Religion and Medicine: Health Care as Spiritual Practice | ||
| Religion and Gender | ||
| Death and Dying | ||
| Religion and Science | ||
| Religion and Bioethics | ||
| Spiritual Healing in the Americas from Controversy to Cure | ||
| Social Epidemiology: Illness and Death in Society | ||
| Population and Society | ||
| Violence in America | ||
| Sociology of Mental Health and Illness | ||
| Sociology of Drug Abuse | ||
| Aging in Society | ||
| Medical Sociology | ||
| Health Disparities in the U.S. | ||
| Medical, Cultural and Bioethical Debates in Spanish | ||
| GHS Capstone Experience 2 | 3-6 | |
| The capstone experience must focus on issues/experiences related to global or planetary health. Students will be able to choose between the following capstone experiences. | ||
| Global Health Studies Senior Thesis I: Humanities and Global Health Studies Senior Thesis II: Humanities | ||
| Global Health Studies Senior Thesis I: Social Sciences and Global Health Studies Senior Thesis II: Social Sciences | ||
| Global Health Internship | ||
| Pre-Med Requirements | ||
| Students must satisfy the requirements of the Office of Pre-Health Advising and Mentoring | ||
| (Sample Plan of Study, May Vary with Advising) | ||
| Statistics Course | 3 | |
| BIL 150 | General Biology | 4 |
| BIL 151 | General Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIL 160 | Evolution and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIL 161 | Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory | 1 |
| CHM 121 & CHM 113 | Principles of Chemistry and Chemistry Laboratory I | 5 |
| CHM 221 & CHM 205 | Introduction to Structure and Dynamics and Chemical Dynamics Laboratory | 5 |
| CHM 222 & CHM 206 | Organic Reactions and Synthesis and Organic Reactions and Synthesis Laboratory | 6 |
| BMB 401 | Biochemistry for the Biomedical Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 101 & PHY 106 | College Physics I and College Physics Laboratory I | 4 |
| or PHY 201 | University Physics I for the Sciences | |
| PHY 102 & PHY 108 | College Physics II and College Physics Laboratory II | 4 |
| or PHY 202 | University Physics II for the Sciences | |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 121 | |
- 1
Electives from outside of the College of Arts & Sciences may be taken with the approval of the GHS Director and the Course Instructor.
- 2
The Capstone experience will vary by student but should focus on issues/experiences related to global or planetary health. Students who enter into the accelerated 5-year program will be advised to take the thesis or research project course to begin their research for their Master’s degree. Similarly, students may be advised to take the internship course to satisfy their capstone requirement so that they may engage in fieldwork and practical experiences.
- *
All Pre-health students must select a major as specified in the undergraduate bulletin. There are two distinct areas of academic preparation for the pre- health student. First, students must fulfill degree requirements and second, they must complete the requirements for admission to health professional school. Students do not need to major in a biological or physical science in order to declare a pre-health track.
- **
If students choose a major outside the natural sciences it is important to take additional science courses beyond the required pre-health courses to prepare for the professional school entrance exam.
- ***
Pre-health students are expected to maintain a full-credit load of at least 15 credits.
Sample Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| BIL 150 | General Biology | 4 |
| BIL 151 | General Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| MTH 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| UMX 100 | The University of Miami Experience | 0 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| WRS 106, 107, or ENG 106 | First-Year Writing II or First-Year Writing II: STEM or Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| BIL 160 | Evolution and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIL 161 | Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory | 1 |
| CHM 221 | Introduction to Structure and Dynamics | 4 |
| CHM 205 | Chemical Dynamics Laboratory | 1 |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHM 222 | Organic Reactions and Synthesis | 4 |
| CHM 206 | Organic Reactions and Synthesis Laboratory | 2 |
| GHS 201 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| BMB 401 | Biochemistry for the Biomedical Sciences | 4 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHY 201 | University Physics I for the Sciences | 4 |
| COS 324 | Health Communication | 3 |
| GHS 301 | Sociocultural Foundations of Global Health | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHY 202 | University Physics II for the Sciences | 4 |
| SOC 321 | Applied Health Policy | 3 |
| GHS 310 | Hospital Ethnography | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| GHS 312 | People, Plagues, and Pandemics | 3 |
| REL 161 | Religion and Medicine: Health Care as Spiritual Practice | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GHS Capstone Experience | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Statistics Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 121 | |
Mission
The mission of the Global Health Studies program is to provide students with a multidisciplinary program that combines social science and humanist perspectives across disciplines that include anthropology, religious studies, geography, regional studies, classics, history, literature and sociology. Global health in the social sciences encompasses disease prevention, education, health policy, access and resiliency. In the humanities it examines the history and cultural significance of medicine and health from ancient times to today. Students in this program stand to benefit from the University’s advantageous geographic location that connects people and institutions from everywhere in the world. Miami, and the University, presents students with opportunities to examine the complex world of global health from multiple perspectives, participate in state of the art research, engage with a vibrant local and international community, and collaborate in developing sustainable solutions for global health issues.
Goals
The program aims for students to:
- Understand the complexities of global health issues from the social science and humanist perspectives
- Understand how issues surrounding global health relate to the greater impacts on society, culture and the environment
- Understand the cultural competencies, ethical challenges and sustainable solutions in addressing global health issues
- Understand health policy and governance at the local and global levels
- Acquire leadership and advocacy skills
- Gain quantitative and qualitative research skills to integrate stakeholders and researchers in the design, implementation, and interpretation of community-based participatory studies
- Prepare students to assist private, government, non-profit, and for-profit organizations formulate new global and community health strategies
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of cultural competencies, ethical challenges and sustainable solutions related to global health issues.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods within global health research.
- Students will be able to critically analyze global health issues from multidisciplinary perspectives, including social, economic, political and environmental factors that shape individual, community, and population health.
