Global Public Health Minor
Requirements - Application Information
Sponsor: Department of Public Health Sciences (School of Medicine)
Co-sponsors: College of Arts & Sciences
Center for Global Health
Institute for Practical Ethics and Public Life
Faculty Steering Committee:
Department of Public Health Sciences: Ruth Gaare Bernheim, JD, MPH
College of Arts & Sciences: Richard Handler, PhD, Associate Dean
Center for Global Health: Rebecca Dillingham, MD
Department of Urban and Environmental Planning: Nisha Botchwey, MCP, PhD
Background:
A large and increasing number of College students wish to pursue academic or professional careers in public health in both domestic and global health settings. In addition, they are incorporating field work in international health and public health into their undergraduate experience. As a foundation for their field work and future careers, they desire a liberal arts perspective on global public health, including an introduction to relevant theoretical frameworks on public health and global health.
Global Public Health Minor Foci:
- An introduction to public health from different disciplines and perspectives, including epidemiology, ethics, anthropology, sociology, and politics;
- An introduction to global health analytic frameworks, international institutions, and methods to understand and address health inequities;
- An exploration of contemporary public health issues at the intersections of public policy, law, human rights, and ethics;
- The cultivation of cultural understanding and humility.
Global Public Health Minor Requirements:
Six courses (18 credits), which includes a capstone course with a major writing requirement; one internship/field placement; and an additional language requirement.
1) Required core courses
- PHS505: Germs, Guns, and Lead: Public Health Policy, Law, and Ethics (the capstone course)
- PHS510: Health Care Policy and Management or approved alternate course on health policy
- Global Health Course: one course that focuses on global health issues offered by the Center for Global Health, or departments and schools throughout the university (approved by advisor)
2) Three elective courses related to health offered by departments and schools throughout the University. A list of possible electives will be provided each semester. Courses will be selected in consultation with an advisor.
Highly recommended electives:
- RELG 265 Theology, Ethics, and Medicine;
- PLAC 544 Community Planning;
- PLAN 545 Healthy Communities;
- PLIR 331 Ethics and Human Rights;
- PHIL 504 Global Justice, Health, and Human Rights;
- A statistics course, or other research methods course
3) One language course beyond the 202 level of any language at UVa or in an approved study abroad course.
4) A field placement in a global health or national health-related setting. Internship funding can be applied for from the Center for Global Health, the Institute for Practical Ethics and Public Life, and other programs.
Global Public Health Minor Field Placement -- Guidelines:
Students are expected to do a health-related field-placement or service project in either a global or local setting. Normally, such fieldwork will not carry academic credit. For in-depth projects that have academic or research dimensions, students may work with faculty to seek academic research or independent study credit for the field placement.
- Students should review their plans for their field placements with
their global public health minor faculty advisors. - Field placements generally should be between 80-120 hours. These
hours can take place during one summer, or can be spread out over the course of a semester or academic year by working a few hours each week. - Students are expected to keep a journal during their field placement
and provide their (global public health minor) faculty advisors with
about 10 pages (double-spaced) of journal entries. Journal entries are informal, personal reflections about the field placement experience. The goal of the journal entries is to encourage students to integrate the ideas and knowledge they obtained in their coursework with their real-world experience and impressions. Journals are due to the faculty advisors by April 1st of their final year.
Who May Apply?
Rising 3rd year undergraduates from any major or school in the University can apply to be in the Global Public Health Minor Program.
How Do Students Apply?
Students apply at the end of the second semester of their second year, after they receive their grades from the spring semester.
To apply, students must submit an application that includes 1) a statement of interest; 2) a complete transcript with all grades, including the grades from the spring semester; 3) a resume, including a detailed description of any relevant experience; and 4) one faculty letter of recommendation sent directly to Ruth Gaare Bernheim at the address below, or by e-mail at rg3r@virginia.edu.
Applications must be received by July 15th each summer. Students will be notified of their acceptance by August 15th through their UVa email address. At the start of the fall semester during the registration period, students accepted into the Global Public Health Minor will be invited to a special program meeting to discuss requirements and options for course electives.
Applications should be mailed to:
Ruth Gaare Bernheim, JD, MPH Global Public Health Minor Program Department of Public Health Sciences PO Box 800717Charlottesville, VA 22908-0717