Global Health

Degree Offered

Program Description

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Global Health is a predominantly online, 31-credit program that will allow students to be trained in best practices of global health education, research, and practice and to specialize in one of three areas of concentration. The M.S. in Global Health program is organized around a completely online core curriculum (19 credits). The areas of concentration are: 1) Implementation and Dissemination Science (online); 2) Global Health Program Monitoring and Evaluation (online, starting Fall 2021); and 3) Global Health Innovation (10-week study abroad in Costa Rica, starting Fall 2021). Students can also pursue the degree with no concentration but rather pursue a generalized 31-credit M.S. in Global Health.  Degree students are required to complete a research seminar (online) followed by a capstone project (online) on a global health topic chosen in cooperation with UMB faculty. Full- and part-time plans of study are available to students.

Learning Outcome

By the completion of the proposed M.S. in Global Health and consistent with the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) competencies, students will be able to:

1. Understand the Global Burden of Disease, and
   1. Describe the major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world, and how the risk of disease varies with regions
   2. Analyze major public health efforts to reduce disparities in global health (such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria).
   3. Validate the health status of populations using available data (e.g., public health surveillance data, vital statistics, registries, surveys, electronic health records and health plan claims data).
2. Understand Globalization of Health and Health Care, and
   1. Critically evaluate different national models or health systems for provision of healthcare and their respective effects on health and healthcare expenditure.
   2. Analyze how global trends in healthcare practice, commerce and culture, multinational agreements and multinational organizations contribute to the quality and availability of health and healthcare locally and internationally.
   3. Describe how travel and trade contribute to the spread of communicable and chronic disease.
   4. Critique general trends and influences in the global availability and movement of health care workers.
3. Understand Social and Environmental Determinants of Health, and
   1. Describe how cultural context influences perceptions of health and disease.
   2. List major social and economic determinants of health and their impacts on the access to and quality of health services and on differences in morbidity and mortality between and within countries.
   3. Analyze the relationship between access to and quality of water, sanitation, food and air on individual and population health.
4. Understand Capacity Strengthening, and
   1. Collaborate with a host or partner organization to assess the organization’s operational capacity.
   2. Co-create strategies with the community to strengthen community capabilities and contribute to reduction in health disparities and improvement of community health.
   3. Integrate community assets and resources to improve the health of individuals and populations.
5. Understand Collaboration, Partnering and Communication, and
   1. Include representatives of diverse constituencies in community partnerships and foster interactive learning with these partners.
   2. Demonstrate diplomacy and build trust with community partners.
   3. Communicate joint lessons learned to community partners and global constituencies.
   4. Exhibit interprofessional values and communication skills that demonstrate respect for, and awareness of, the unique cultures, values, roles/responsibilities and expertise represented by other professionals and groups that work in global health.
   5. Acknowledge one’s limitations in skills, knowledge, and abilities.
   6. Apply leadership practices that support collaborative practice and team effectiveness.
6. Understand Global Health Ethics, and
   1. Demonstrate an understand of and an ability to resolve common ethical issues and challenges that arise in working within diverse economic, political and cultural contests as well as working with vulnerable populations and in low resource settings to address global health issues.
   2. Demonstrate an awareness of local and national codes of ethics relevant to one’s working environment.
   3. Apply the fundamental principles of international standards for the protection of human subjects in diverse cultural settings.
7. Understand Professional Practice, and
   1. Exhibit integrity, regard and respect for others in all aspects of professional practice.
   2. Articulate barriers to health and healthcare in low-resource settings locally and internationally.
   3. Demonstrate the ability to adapt clinical or discipline-specific skills and practice in a resource-constrained setting.
8. Understand Health Equity and Social Justice, and
   1. Apply social justice and human rights principles in addressing global health problems.
   2. Implement and evaluate strategies to engage marginalized and vulnerable populations in making decisions that affect their health and well-being.
   3. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the relationship between health, human rights, and global inequities.
   4. Describe the role of WHO in linking health and human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research involving human subjects.
   5. Exhibit a commitment to social responsibility.
   6. Develop understanding and awareness of the health care workforce crisis in the developing world, the factors that contribute to this, and strategies to address this problem.
9. Understand Program Management, and
   1. Plan, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based program.
   2. Apply project management techniques throughout program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
10. Understand Sociocultural and Political Awareness, and
    1. Model the roles and relationships of the major entities influencing global health and development.
11. Understand Strategic Analysis, and
    1. Identify how demographic and other major factors can influence patterns of morbidity, mortality, and disability in a define population.
    2. Execute a community needs assessment.
    3. Conduct a situational analysis across a range of cultural, economic, and health contexts.
    4. Design context-specific health interventions and evaluations based upon situational analysis.

Program Admission

The minimum academic standard for admission to the Graduate School is a B average, or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, in a program resulting in the award of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree and standing from a comparable foreign institution.

Degree Requirements

Degree candidates must complete a minimum of 31 credits. Students must maintain a minimum, cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. All courses must be taken for letter grade; courses taken as Pass/Fail (P/F) or Audit (AU) do not count toward the degree. All requirements for the degree must be completed within three years after admission and all credits for the degree must be completed at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Complete guidelines and requirements for progression and completion are outlined in the Academic Performance and Progress section of this catalog.

Required Courses

Concentrations and Elective Courses

The Global Health Innovation certificate offers students an opportunity to learn about global health and health care innovation in Costa Rica, a country recognized as a global leader in translating good ideas into positive health outcomes—especially in the areas of biotechnology and health care delivery. The certificate is designed to be completed in one 10-week semester with all of the content delivered during a 10-week learning experience in Costa Rica.  Starting Fall 2021

Global Health Innovation Concentration

The Global Health Innovation certificate offers students an opportunity to learn about global health and health care innovation in Costa Rica, a country recognized as a global leader in translating good ideas into positive health outcomes—especially in the areas of biotechnology and health care delivery. The certificate is designed to be completed in one 10-week semester with all of the content delivered during a 10-week learning experience in Costa Rica.  Starting Fall 2021

Global Health Program Monitoring and Evaluation Concentration

This curriculum prepares student to understand and analyze the key elements of program monitoring and evaluation: assess population health needs using qualitative and quantitative information, identify key program elements and their implementation, monitor the program’s cost and efficiency, and evaluate the success of implementation, including program outcomes.

Implementation and Dissemination Science Concentration

Students interested in Implementation and Dissemination Science will have the opportunity to learn about a field that is quickly emerging worldwide. With this degree, students will be able to study methods that promote systematic uptake and translate the results of clinical and population research into everyday clinical practice and public health. We also intend to help students ensure that the knowledge and materials produced by health research will improve individual and population health.