Anne Dressel, Director, Center for Global Health Equity, Nursing, Certificate Coordinator
Connor Sampson, Advisor, Nursing, sampsocc@uwm.edu
Global Health is an interdisciplinary undergraduate certificate administered by the Director of the Center for Global Health Equity and the Global Health Advisory Committee (GHAC).
The world is economically, politically, culturally, and technologically connected and interdependent with increasingly mobile populations seeking economic opportunity, security, and safety as a result of civil unrest, regional conflicts, diminished natural resources, poverty, and disease. Although some health problems and issues remain specific to levels and contexts of socio-cultural, economic, and political development within countries, many of the same problems, issues, and concerns transcend geographic boundaries, as should appropriate approaches and solutions. The concept of “global health” describes and addresses these realities. An undergraduate certificate in Global Health will provide students with academic inquiry into:
- the global burden of disease
- the social determinants of health in a global context
- the principles, language, and measurement tools used in global health
- ethics and global health
- the global cultural, religious, and historical contexts of health, disease, and health care
The Global Health Certificate will provide undergraduate students with an opportunity to focus on current global health issues and concerns, policies, processes, programs, and practices that contribute to and hinder global health improvement. A wide array of courses will help students better comprehend the interdisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing global health issues.
Eligibility
The Global Health Certificate is intended to enhance a bachelor’s degree. The certificate is available to all students seeking a bachelor’s degree from UWM, to students who previously have received a bachelor’s degree from UWM or any other accredited college or university, and to those who do not plan to pursue a college or university degree (non-degree students) but who have a strong interest in this subject. Non-degree students must meet regular University admission requirements. Students currently involved in baccalaureate studies who successfully complete the requirements of the program will be awarded the certificate at the time of graduation. Students who already have a bachelor’s degree will receive the certificate upon completion of the program requirements.
Requirements
To obtain the certificate, the student must complete, with a minimum grade point average of 2.500, at least 21 credits in approved Global Health courses, of which 12 must be earned in residence at UWM. Of these 12 residence credits, 9 must be taken at the 300 level or above. A minimum of 6 credits must be taken in the College of Letters and Science. A minimum of 6 credits must be taken in the College of Nursing. No more than 9 credits from any one department may count toward the certificate. A maximum of 6 credits of independent study may count toward program requirements. Courses for the certificate may not be taken on a credit/no credit basis.
Independent study courses focusing on global health issues may be accepted with the approval of the Certificate Program Coordinator. Other courses not on this list but relevant to the study of global health may be accepted with the approval of the Certificate Program Coordinator.
Credits earned at other institutions equivalent to courses in the certificate program may be accepted in partial fulfillment of the program requirements, subject to review by the Certificate Program Coordinator. Students currently enrolled at UWM who have fulfilled some of the program’s requirements prior to the approval of this program may count those courses toward completion of the certificate requirements.
The following are required:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| NURS 301 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| PH 101 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| World Regions | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Lifeways in Different Cultures: A Survey of World Societies | ||
| The World: Peoples and Regions | ||
| World History Since 1500 | ||
| Politics of the World's Nations | ||
| World Society | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of 6 credits | 6 | |
| Fieldwork | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Internship | ||
Study Abroad | ||
Independent Study | ||
| Capstone | ||
| NURS 575 | Global Health: Ethics and Human Rights | 3 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFRIC 329 | Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa | 3 |
| AFRIC 351 | Sexuality, Gender, and Health in Africa and the Diaspora | 3 |
| ANTHRO 102 | Introduction to Anthropology: Culture and Society | 3 |
| ANTHRO 104 | Lifeways in Different Cultures: A Survey of World Societies | 3 |
| ANTHRO 440 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 447 | The Global Politics of Human Rights | 3 |
| CES 210 | Introduction to Conservation and Environmental Science | 3 |
| ECON 353 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ETHNIC 375 | Global Violence, Disease, and Death | 3 |
| NURS 204 | Global Maternal and Child Health: From Evidence to Action | 3 |
| NURS 401 | Global Patterns of Disease | 3 |
| NURS 497 | Study Abroad: | 3 |
| NURS 620 | Global Food Security and Systems | 3 |
| NURS 690 | Global Health Governance: Key Players, Financing and Challenges | 3 |
| PH 303 | Climate Change, the Environment and Human Health | 3 |
| POL SCI 374 | Health, Wealth, and Democracy | 3 |
| SPANISH 388 | Health Issues in the Hispanic World | 3 |
Fieldwork
Students are required to do an internship, self-designed research project, or study abroad (for a minimum of 3 credits at the 300-level or above) in the field of global health. The purpose of this requirement is to enable the student to engage in global health work through "practical" experience or research. The area of study must be approved by the coordinator of the Global Health Certificate and must meet the requirements of the department through which it is being completed.
The fieldwork requirement can be fulfilled in one of three ways:
- Internship – A number of global health internships are available through the International Studies Major (INTLST 450), as well as other departments and organizations.
- Study Abroad – UWM offers a number of Global Health study abroad programs, through several departments.
- Independent Study – The student may propose a global health research project to a professor in an area of interest. The independent study also must be discussed with and approved by the Global Health Certificate Coordinator.