The interdisciplinary curriculum of the Master of Science in Global Health program provides a comprehensive introduction to important topics, research methods, and skills necessary for careers in global health. Students learn multiple perspectives on global health problems and solutions in a dynamic learning environment that emphasizes active participation, peer teaching, problem-solving and discussion. Upon completing the program, students are prepared for careers in research, policy, organizational leadership, academia, and program management and evaluation.
In addition to mastering the content and process of global health as a field of study and scholarship, students learn leadership and communication skills and have ample opportunities to practice their skills in the classroom and the field. Professional development activities include career panels and guidance on CV preparation and interviewing.
The centerpiece of the academic program is the capstone project — an opportunity for students to focus on a particular area of interest and apply rigorous scholarship to active projects in global health.
All classes are held on the UCSF Mission Bay campus, and the capstone research projects are conducted either in the United States or abroad during one quarter of the program. Students work closely with the teaching faculty, advisors, capstone mentors, and program leaders, and study alongside diverse classmates who represent a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds, interests, and countries of origin.
Coursework
The master’s curriculum is organized into thematic blocks:
- Foundations of Global Health
- Scientific Methods
- Diseases and Determinants
- Systems and Policy
Coursework includes lectures, seminars, case studies, debates and team-based projects. All courses are required, except for a single elective opportunity in the winter quarter. Courses are subject to change.
Office of the Registrar’s Course Catalog
Full-Time Track
| Fall Quarter (17 units) | Winter Quarter (16-17 units) | Spring Quarter (11 units) | Summer Quarter (6 units) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Health Practice Seminar (2 units) | Global Health Practice Seminar (2 units) | Global Health Practice Seminar (2 units) | Global Health Practice Seminar (2 units) |
| Foundations of Global Health (3 units) | Communicable Diseases (3 units) | Health, the Environment, and Non-communicable Disease (3 units) | Capstone Period II (4 units) |
| Qualitative Research Approaches (3 units) | Global Health Policy (3 units) | Global Health Economics (3 units) | |
| Introduction to Epidemiology (3 units) | Comparative Health Systems (3 units) | Capstone Period I (3 units) | |
| Introduction to Biostatistics (6 units) | Social Determinants of Health (3 units) | ||
| Elective (2-3 units) |
Part-Time Track
This is a sample schedule for a two-year, part-time track.
Year 1
| Fall Quarter (9 units) | Winter Quarter (8-9 units) | Spring Quarter (3 units) | Summer Quarter (0 units) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Epidemiology (3 units) | Global Health Economics (3 units) | Comparative Health Systems: Financing and Delivering Health (3 units) | |
| Introduction to Biostatistics (6 units) | Social Determinants of Health (3 units) | ||
| Elective (2-3 units) |
Year 2
| Fall Quarter (8 units) | Winter Quarter (8 units) | Spring Quarter (8 units) | Summer Quarter (5 units) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Global Health (3 units) | Global Infectious Diseases (3 units) | Health, the Environment and Non-communicable Disease (3 units) | Global Health Practice Seminar (2 units) |
| Qualitative Research Approaches in Global Health (3 units) | Global Health Practice Seminar (2 units) | Global Health Practice Seminar (2 units) | Global Health Capstone (3 units) |
| Global Health Practice Seminar (2 units) | Global Health Policy (3 units) | Global Health Capstone (3 units) |