The interdisciplinary curriculum of the one-year 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 completion of 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 in 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 in the US and around the world 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 over four academic quarters in 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, with the exception of a single elective opportunity in the winter quarter. Courses are subject to change.
Office of the Registrar’s Course Catalog
| Fall Quarter (20 units) | Winter Quarter (13-14 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) |
| Social Determinants of Health (3 units) | Global Health Policy (3 units) | Global Health Economics (3 units) | |
| Qualitative Research Approaches (3 units) | Comparative Health Systems (3 units) | Capstone Period I (3 units) | |
| Introduction to Epidemiology (3 units) | Elective (2-3 units) | ||
| Introduction to Biostatistics (6 units) |