Global Health
Departmental Guidelines & Mission
The mission of the Global Health major is to provide an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the social, physical, and mental dimensions of wellbeing with an emphasis on population-level policies and individuals’ approaches to health practices. Global Health majors will learn how to understand, evaluate, and critically assess health from a global perspective through an interdisciplinary lens that will contribute to multiple sectors of society and aligns with the mission of Denison University.
The learning competencies for the major are:
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Analyze the roles, relationships, and resources of the entities influencing global health (GH100 and GH400);
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Apply ethical approaches in global health research and practice (GH201 and GH400);
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Apply monitoring and evaluation techniques to global health programs, policies, and outcomes (GH202 and GH400);
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Propose sustainable and evidence-based multi-sectoral interventions, considering the social determinants of health and resources specific to the local area (Experiential Learning Component, GH 202 and GH 400);
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Display critical self-reflection, cultural humility, effective communication, and ongoing learning in global health (all GH core courses and Language courses).
Global Health majors are uniquely positioned to evaluate the patterns and societal issues associated with understanding and responses to diseases and contribute to the public and private sectors. Furthermore, the required courses will introduce majors to the opportunity to analyze quantitative and qualitative data in order to inform policy and programmatic change. Central to Global Health is a critical examination of health disparities, the interaction between health and the environment, and the burden of disease and mortality. Upon completion of the Global Health major, students will be competent in addressing global health issues with a critical lens and from a culturally relevant perspective.
The Global Health major is geared to provide critical exposure to applied and experiential-based learning to understand health from a local yet global context. Interdisciplinarity is at the core of the discipline of Global Health. We are committed to actively exposing students to critical problems and methodologies that are specific to Global Health as well as additional fine arts, humanities, social and natural science disciplines.
Faculty
Professor of Biology, Jessica Rettig, Director
Associate Professor Ehab Farag; Assistant Professor Sahra Ibrahimi; Visiting Assistant Professors Thomas Henshaw, Andrea Lourie
Program Coordinator
Pamela Satterfield
Affiliated Faculty
Anthony Bonifonte (Data Analytics), Cristina Caldari-Torres (Biology), Gina Dow (Psychology), Clare Jen, (Biology / Women's & Gender Studies), Zarrina Juraqulova (Economics), Susan Kennedy (Psychology), Tess Lanzarotta (History), Laura Russell (Communication), Jane Saffitz (Anthropology), Taku Suzuki (International Studies), Christine Weingart (Biology), Eric Winters (Health, Exercise and Sports Studies)
Global Health Major
Required Components (10 courses)
- 6 courses in Global Health Core (24 credits)
- 2 Intermediate Language courses (i.e. two courses beyond the General Education language requirement K) (8 credits)
- 2 Global Health Cognate Courses (8 credits)
- Experiential Learning Requirement
Global Health Core
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| GH 100 | Introduction to Global Health |
| GH 201 | Global Health Research Methods (prerequisite GH 100) |
| GH 202 | Epidemiology (prerequisite GH 100) |
| GH 400 | Global Health Capstone (prerequisites GH 201 & GH 202) |
| Two GH Electives | |
| - Special Topic electives are 200 or 300 level (prerequisite GH 100) | |
Global Health Special Topics electives:
Students are required to take a minimum of two Special Topics electives taught by Global Health faculty members. The purpose of the special topics electives is to provide students with additional depth in the current topics in the field of Global Health through building on concepts and challenging assumptions introduced in GH 100 - Introduction to Global Health and expanding knowledge and critical thinking skills. Special topics course options are shared with students prior to enrollment for upcoming semester. Contact the Global Health office for more details.
Language and Culture Requirement
All GH majors are required to attain depth in a language other than English, typically by taking at least two language courses beyond the K GE requirement. If students are already native speakers of a language other than English, they must still fulfill the language requirement of the GH major by studying at least two semesters of a language other than English. Any modification to the global health language and culture requirement must receive approval from the GH program director.
Approved GH Cognate Courses:
Students are required to take two GH cognate courses. One course from a set of courses from the Natural Science Division (Global Health Cognate Courses A) and one course from the Fine Arts or Humanities or Social Sciences Divisions (Global Health Cognate Courses B). The Global Health Cognate courses represent the breadth of the major in which students will be introduced to concepts of health from disciplines represented at the college. Students will have the opportunity to build on the concepts introduced in the Global Health cognate courses in GH 400 - Global Health Capstone. Below are examples of approved Global Health Cognate courses that are often taught, but courses vary per semester. Course options for Global Health cognate courses are shared with students prior to enrollment for upcoming semesters. Please contact the Global Health Program for more information.
Natural Science Division (Global Health Cognate Courses A)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| BIOL/WGST 110 | Biology and Politics of Women's Health |
| BIOL 315 | General Microbiology |
| BIOL 316 | Virology |
| BIOL 341 | Immunology |
| EESC 200 | Environmental Geology |
| HESS 202 | Applied Anatomy |
| PSYC 210 | Development in Infancy and Childhood |
| PSYC 245 | Adolescence |
| PSYC 265 | Cultural Psychology |
| PSYC 270 | Health Psychology |
| PSYC 280 | Psychology of Diversity |
Fine Arts or Humanities or Social Sciences Divisions (Global Health Cognate Courses B)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| COMM 244 | Theories of Intercultural Communication |
| COMM 320 | Language, Culture, and Communication |
| DANC 274 | Cultural Studies |
| DANC 374 | Somatics I |
| ECON 307 | Introductory Econometrics |
| ECON 462 | Health Economics |
| HESS 302 | Nutrition |
| HESS 305 | Chronic Disease Prevention |
| HESS 405 | Health Behavioral Theory |
| INTL 200 | Themes and Approaches in International Studies |
| PHIL 285 | Biomedical Ethics |
| PPA 102 | Introduction to Policymaking in Democracies |
| PPA 122 | Introduction to Global Governance |
| REL/WGST 327 | Women and Social Ethics: In the Global Context |
Additional Notes:
- Majors must take respective prerequisite for cognate electives.
- Directed Study on a relevant topic could count as an elective course based on approval from the GH Director and faculty of record.
- No more than 2 non-core courses can be transferred from an approved Off Campus Study program for the Global Health major.
- Any exception or new Cognate must be approved by the GH Director.
Experiential Learning Requirement
The proposed major requires an experiential learning component for every student. The learning competencies associated with this requirement are for students to apply ethical approaches in global health research and practice, and to display critical self-reflection, cultural humility, and ongoing learning in global health. Driven by these competencies, approved experiences will involve global health application, research, or both, with global health issues at the core of the program or experience. The experiential learning does not necessarily need to be in another country to be a meaningful application of global health principles. Examples are provided below to demonstrate the range of experiential learning that would be counted toward this requirement:
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Semester-long directed study working with Columbus-based organization focusing on health services for refugee families.
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A semester off-campus study in Costa Rica working with clean water health initiatives for indigenous people.
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Summer internship based in Washington DC with government or non-governmental agencies focused on health policy.
For example, we anticipate many students could achieve this requirement through working with Columbus-based organizations focused on healthcare provided to clients whose primary cultural identity or citizenship is outside of the United States or who are underserved domestic populations. Because many health outcomes are influenced by social or environmental determinants, internships in the US that engage these issues also may fulfill the Global Health experiential learning requirement (often referred to as a “glocalism” focus). Additionally, we anticipate that many students will complete this requirement in a non-US location with a global health emphasis in the experiential learning (e.g., study abroad program with an experiential learning component that involves meaningful engagement with community health in the location of study). Finally, experiential learning that involves student-driven research would fulfill this requirement if the research question is sufficiently rooted in global health perspectives and using methodology that is consistent with the global health discipline.
Courses
GH 100 - Introduction to Global Health (4 Credit Hours)
The course will provide an overview of health from a global perspective with a societal and anthropological focus. The purpose of the course is to evaluate the patterns and societal issues associated with understanding and responses to diseases. Furthermore, students will have an opportunity to analyze quantitative and qualitative data in order to address policy and programmatic change. Central to the course is a critical examination of health disparities, the interaction between health and the environment, and the burden of disease and mortality. Upon completion of the course, students will be competent in addressing global health issues with a critical lens and from a culturally relevant perspective.
GH 199 - Introductory Topics in Global Health (1-4 Credit Hours)
A general category used only in the evaluation of transfer credit.
GH 201 - Global Health Research Methods (4 Credit Hours)
This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of research study design and methods and data collection in the discipline of Global Health. It serves as an introduction to quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods and participatory approaches to research, as well as ethical issues in conducting research. Through different types of texts and articles from global health literature and course work, students will build skills for conducting research and evaluation.
Prerequisite(s): GH 100.
GH 202 - Epidemiology (4 Credit Hours)
In this introductory course, students will learn and apply basic concepts of epidemiology to multiple domains of global health. We will illustrate and practice using epidemiology to better understand, characterize, and promote health at a population level. The class will engage the students in active and collaborative learning through team activities, case studies, group discussion, and individual projects. Using a case-study approach, the course will consider a variety of diseases or health problems of international importance and will focus on approaches to dealing with these different problems, and the methodologies used to study them. This course will allow students to gain both skills and a greater understanding of global health research and practice as it applies to global health. Each week students will be introduced to epidemiological methods in a lab format in a three hour time block. This course counts for "non-lab" science GE.
Prerequisite(s): GH 100.
GH 250 - Special Topics in Global Health (1-4 Credit Hours)
This course provides a venue to explore different topics in Global Health.
GH 299 - Intermediate courses in Global Health (1-4 Credit Hours)
A general category used only in the evaluation of transfer credits.
GH 350 - Special Topics in Global Health (1-4 Credit Hours)
This course provides a venue to explore different topics in Global Health.
GH 352 - Planetary Health (4 Credit Hours)
Human health is intimately linked to the natural systems on which it depends. With advances in technology, agriculture, and health knowledge, humans are living longer than ever. However, those same technologies have pushed planetary systems to a breaking point. This class seeks to elaborate a path forward that recognizes the profound impact human ‘progress’ has on our planet and the reciprocal impact changes in natural systems will have on the future of human health.
Prerequisite(s): GH 100.
Crosslisting: SES 352.
GH 361 - Directed Study (1-4 Credit Hours)
GH 362 - Directed Study (1-4 Credit Hours)
GH 363 - Independent Study (1-4 Credit Hours)
GH 364 - Independent Study (1-4 Credit Hours)
GH 399 - Advanced topics in Global Health (1-4 Credit Hours)
A general category used only in the evaluation of transfer credit.
GH 400 - Global Health Capstone (4 Credit Hours)
The main purpose of this course is to provide the culminating, integrative curricular experience during the last year of the major. As such, the course draws on students’ prior training in the three other core courses and their experiential learning experience gained in the field prior to their graduation. More than just providing a review of the GH curriculum, however, the Capstone is designed to challenge students to reflect and integrate their experiential learning with the goal of developing their own individual point of view regarding the role of global health in contributing to the improvement of the health and well being of populations across the globe.
Prerequisite(s): GH 202.
GH 451 - Senior Research (4 Credit Hours)
Research in selected topic of Global Health.
GH 452 - Senior Research (4 Credit Hours)
Research in selected topics of Global Health.