The Global Health Sciences (GHS) MS degree is a one-year, four-quarter program designed for students or practitioners in a health science profession or related field who wish to achieve mastery and leadership skills in the emerging field of global health. Graduates are prepared for leadership careers in international health policy, health care, research and development.

More than 70 faculty members from UCSF's four professional schools (Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing) and the Graduate Division, as well as from the UC Global Health Institute teach and mentor the masters students. Courses emphasize hands-on global health practice through lectures, seminars, case studies and fieldwork. Throughout the courses and seminars, faculty incorporate the trans-disciplinary nature of global health so that students comprehend the many perspectives of global health problems and their solutions. The learning environment emphasizes faculty involvement, peer teaching, problem-solving, and discussion.

A unique aspect and strength of our program is the high faculty to student ratio. The entire class attends the lecture together and then divides into smaller seminar groups; each student having ample opportunity to actively participate in discussions, debates, and case study analyses. Faculty are easily accessible to students in class, through office hours, by appointment and by e-mail.

A cornerstone of the program is a yearlong seminar dedicated to preparing students for fieldwork (which takes place in the spring quarter) by emphasizing project management, study design, practicalities of field research, and cultural sensitivity.