Global Health with Tracks in Biology and Public Policy
The global health major introduces students to global health as an area of study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. A synthesis of population-based prevention with individual-level clinical care, global health aims to reduce health disparities through attention to modifiable determinants of health and provision of sustainable health services and human development. As a field of study, global health has emerged from tropical medicine, public health, and international health to encompass the complex transactions between societies that are a defining feature of globalization. Because many global health problems stem from economic, social, environmental, political, and healthcare inequalities, defining these problems and designing solutions is highly interdisciplinary and involves fields that span across health sciences, medicine, and public health, but also that bridge to a broad range of other academic fields, including biology, agriculture, anthropology, business, computer science, engineering, environmental sciences, economics, history, law, psychology, public policy, and sociology, among others. To introduce students to this interdisciplinary field, the global health major integrates courses in the natural and social sciences and encourages students to take relevant electives in the humanities.
Health issues know no borders. Advances in transportation and the increasing amount of human travel propel nations to address health issues in a timely manner and more deeply than ever before. Given the size of China’s population and its geographic location, there is no better place for students to immerse themselves in the study of global health. Every nation has faced challenges related to global health: from HIV/AIDS to Ebola, SARS, and COVID-19, as well as health issues that arise from poverty, famine and natural disasters. The opportunity for students to study these issues in China will not just provide a generation of global health experts for China itself, but also for the entire world.
The Biology track within the Global Health major is designed for students interested in a biological perspective on global health, in particular cell and molecular biology, infectious diseases, microbiology, and anatomy and physiology. The track is designed to encourage breadth in the life sciences but also allows students to acquire depth in a chosen area of scientific concentration through the choice of electives, as is encouraged for students who desire to pursue graduate studies or intend to pursue a career in research.
The Public Policy track is designed for students most interested in the policy, political, and economic aspects of global health. In addition to identifying and communicating global health issues and potential interventions, students learn how government policies are made and implemented in different political contexts. The track integrates knowledge from basic sciences and public policy studies to prepare graduates for careers in research, industry, consultancy, public affairs, and non-profit organizations.
Major Requirements
(Not every course listed is offered every term, and the course list will be updated periodically. Please refer to the online Course Catalog for Courses offered in 2023-2024.)
Global Health / Biology
Divisional Foundation Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
Choose one from the following two Math courses |
||
|
MATH 101 |
Introductory Calculus |
4 |
|
MATH 105 |
Calculus |
4 |
|
And complete the following courses |
||
|
BIOL 110 |
Integrated Science – Biology |
4 |
|
CHEM 110 |
Integrated Science – Chemistry |
4 |
|
PHYS 121 |
Integrated Science – Physics |
4 |
Interdisciplinary Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
GLHLTH 101 |
Introduction to Global Health |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 201 |
Global Health Ethics |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 205[1] |
Social Determinants of Health |
4 |
|
And choose one from the following three courses |
||
|
GLHLTH 310[2] |
Global Disease Control Programs and Policies |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 303 |
Global Comparative Health Care Systems |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 304 |
Global Health Governance and Policy |
4 |
|
And choose one from the following four courses |
||
|
GLHLTH 280[3] |
Ecosystem Health and Human Well-Being |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 305 |
Biological Basis of Disease |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 306 |
Evolution of Health and Disease |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 307 |
Global Mental Health |
4 |
Disciplinary Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
CHEM 201 |
Organic Chemistry I |
4 |
|
BIOL 201 |
Cell and Molecular Biology |
4 |
|
BIOL 202 |
Genetics and Evolution |
4 |
|
BIOL 208 |
General Ecology |
4 |
|
BIOL 212 |
Microbiology |
4 |
|
BIOL 305 |
Biochemistry |
4 |
|
And choose one from the following courses |
||
|
STATS 101 |
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods |
4 |
|
MATH 205 |
Probability and Statistics |
4 |
|
MATH 206 |
Probability and Statistics |
4 |
Electives
Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year. (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
Students are encouraged to take GLHLTH 301 Global Health Research Methods |
||
|
Epidemiology/Biostatistics |
||
|
GLHLTH 301 |
Global Health Research Methods |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 311 |
Introduction to Epidemiology |
4 |
|
SOSC 320 |
Data in the World: Applied Social Statistics |
4 |
|
INFOSCI 302 |
Introduction to Geographical Information Science |
4 |
|
BIOL 203 |
Molecular, Behavioral and Social Evolution: Evolution of Genomes, Traits, Behaviors and Societies |
4 |
|
BIOL 308 |
Evolution of Infectious Diseases |
4 |
|
HIST 212 |
Pandemics in World History from the Black Death to COVID-19 |
4 |
|
Advanced Biology for Graduate School and Methods |
||
|
INTGSCI 205 |
Integrated Science – Research Methods and Science Communication |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 301 |
Global Health Research Methods |
4 |
|
BIOL 306 |
Cell Signaling and Diseases |
4 |
|
BIOL 307 |
Cancer Genetics |
4 |
|
BIOL 308 |
Evolution of Infectious Diseases |
4 |
|
BIOL 309 |
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy |
4 |
|
BIOL 310 |
Developmental Biology: Development, Stem Cells, and Regeneration |
4 |
|
BIOL 321 |
Advanced Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biology |
4 |
|
BIOL 409/ GLHLTH 409 |
Fundamental Immunology |
4 |
|
BIOL 410 / GLHLTH 410 |
Principles of Nutrition and Disease |
4 |
|
BIOL 411/ GLHLTH 411 |
Vaccine Development for Emerging Infectious Diseases |
4 |
|
Health Promotion/ Policy |
||
|
GLHLTH 202 |
Media and Health Communication |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 301 |
Global Health Research Methods |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 312 |
Global Aging and Care |
4 |
|
POLSCI 301 |
Program Evaluation |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 102 |
Introduction to the United States Health Care System |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 220 |
Introduction to Regulatory Governance |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 305 |
War and Public Health in Africa |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 306 |
International Development and Poverty |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 318 |
How to Change the World: The Role of Non-State Actors |
4 |
|
Health Humanities |
||
|
GLHLTH 301 |
Global Health Research Methods |
4 |
|
CULANTH 303 |
Politics of Food: Land, Labor, Health, and Economics |
4 |
|
ECON 301 |
Health Economics |
4 |
|
GCULS 301 |
Religion and Sexuality |
4 |
|
GCULS 302 |
Gender in Global Perspective |
4 |
|
ETHLDR 206 |
Global Justice and Health Care |
4 |
|
BIOL 320 |
Bioethics |
4 |
|
CULANTH 405 |
Medical Anthropology |
4 |
|
Environment and Health |
||
|
ENVIR 101 |
Introduction to Environmental Sciences |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 280[4] |
Ecosystem Health and Human Well-Being |
4 |
|
ETHLDR 204 |
Environmental Ethics |
4 |
|
ENVIR 204 |
Global Environmental Issues and Policies |
2 |
|
ENVIR 304 |
Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology |
4 |
|
ENVIR 402 |
Chemical Transformation of Environmental Contaminants |
4 |
|
ENVIR 306 |
Water Pollution |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 317 |
Plastic Planet: Pollution and Solutions |
4 |
Global Health / Public Policy
Divisional Foundation Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
SOSC 101 |
Foundational Questions in Social Science |
4 |
|
SOSC 102 |
Introduction to Research Methods |
4 |
|
BIOL 110 |
Integrated Science – Biology |
4 |
|
And choose one of the following two math courses |
||
|
MATH 101 |
Introductory Calculus |
4 |
|
MATH 105 |
Calculus |
4 |
Interdisciplinary Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
GLHLTH 101 |
Introduction to Global Health |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 201 |
Global Health Ethics |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 205[5] |
Social Determinants of Health |
4 |
|
And choose one from the following three courses |
||
|
GLHLTH 310[6] |
Global Disease Control Programs and Policies |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 303 |
Global Comparative Health Care Systems |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 304 |
Global Health Governance and Policy |
4 |
|
And choose one from the following four courses |
||
|
GLHLTH 280[7] |
Ecosystem Health and Human Well-Being |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 305 |
Biological Basis of Disease |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 306 |
Evolution of Health and Disease |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 307 |
Global Mental Health |
4 |
Disciplinary Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
STATS 101 |
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 101 |
Introduction to Policy Analysis |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 301 |
Political Analysis for Public Policy |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 303 |
Policy Choice as Value Conflict |
4 |
|
Choose one course from the following two courses |
||
|
ECON 201 |
Intermediate Microeconomics I |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 205[8] |
Microeconomic Policy Tools |
4 |
Electives
Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year. (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
Students are encouraged to take GLHLTH 301 Global Health Research Methods |
||
|
Epidemiology/Biostatistics |
||
|
GLHLTH 301 |
Global Health Research Methods |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 311 |
Introduction to Epidemiology |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 312 |
Global Aging and Care |
4 |
|
SOSC 320 |
Data in the World: Applied Social Statistics |
4 |
|
INFOSCI 302 |
Introduction to Geographical Information Science |
4 |
|
BIOL 203 |
Molecular, Behavioral and Social Evolution: Evolution of Genomes, Traits, Behaviors and Societies |
4 |
|
BIOL 308 |
Evolution of Infectious Diseases |
4 |
|
HIST 212 |
Pandemics in World History from the Black Death to COVID-19 |
4 |
|
Advanced Biology for Graduate School |
||
|
INTGSCI 205 |
Integrated Science – Research Methods and Science Communication |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 301 |
Global Health Research Methods |
4 |
|
BIOL 306 |
Cell Signaling and Diseases |
4 |
|
BIOL 307 |
Cancer Genetics |
4 |
|
BIOL 308 |
Evolution of Infectious Diseases |
4 |
|
BIOL 309 |
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy |
4 |
|
BIOL 310 |
Developmental Biology: Development, Stem Cells, and Regeneration |
4 |
|
BIOL 410 / GLHLTH 410 |
Principles of Nutrition and Disease |
4 |
|
BIOL 411/ GLHLTH 411 |
Vaccine Development for Emerging Infectious Diseases |
4 |
|
Health Promotion/ Policy |
||
|
GLHLTH 301 |
Global Health Research Methods |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 202 |
Media and Health Communication |
4 |
|
POLSCI 301 |
Program Evaluation |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 102 |
Introduction to the United States Health Care System |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 220 |
Introduction to Regulatory Governance |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 305 |
War and Public Health in Africa |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 306 |
International Development and Poverty |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 318 |
How to Change the World: The Role of Non-State Actors |
4 |
|
Health Humanities |
||
|
GLHLTH 301 |
Global Health Research Methods |
4 |
|
CULANTH 303 |
Politics of Food: Land, Labor, Health, and Economics |
4 |
|
ECON 301 |
Health Economics |
4 |
|
GCULS 301 |
Religion and Sexuality |
4 |
|
GCULS 302 |
Gender in Global Perspective |
4 |
|
ETHLDR 206 |
Global Justice and Health Care |
4 |
|
BIOL 320 |
Bioethics |
4 |
|
CULANTH 405 |
Medical Anthropology |
4 |
|
Environment and Health |
||
|
ENVIR 101 |
Introduction to Environmental Sciences |
4 |
|
GLHLTH 280[9] |
Ecosystem Health and Human Well-Being |
4 |
|
ETHLDR 204 |
Environmental Ethics |
4 |
|
ENVIR 204 |
Global Environmental Issues and Policies |
2 |
|
ENVIR 304 |
Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology |
4 |
|
ENVIR 402 |
Chemical Transformation of Environmental Contaminants |
4 |
|
ENVIR 306 |
Water Pollution |
4 |
|
PUBPOL 317 |
Plastic Planet: Pollution and Solutions |
4 |
[1] This course was numbered GLHLTH 302 prior to fall term 2022.
[2] This course was numbered GLHLTH 203 prior to fall term 2022.
[3] This course was numbered GLHLTH 110 prior to fall term 2022.
[4] This course was numbered GLHLTH 110 prior to fall term 2022.
[5] This course was numbered GLHLTH 302 prior to fall term 2022.
[6] This course was numbered GLHLTH 203 prior to fall term 2022.
[7] This course was numbered GLHLTH 110 prior to fall term 2022.
[8] This course was numbered PUBPOL 304 prior to fall term 2022.
[9] This course was number GLHLTH 110 prior to fall term 2022.