Master of Science in Global Health
The Duke Global Health Institute offers an interdisciplinary Master of Science in Global Health degree program.
Application Instructions
We are currently accepting applications for the cohort starting in the Fall 2010 term.
While administered through the Duke Global Health Institute, this degree is offered by the Duke Graduate School. For application instructions, and information on tuition and fees, please consult the Duke Graduate School website.
Please note: The Statement of Purpose and Educational Objectives within the Graduate School application should include an overview of applicant’s international experience, research interests and potential mentors (if known), as well as reasons for pursuing a global health degree at Duke.
The priority application deadline for submission of Master’s applications to the Duke Graduate School is January 30th, 2010. Applications received after that time will be reviewed on a space-available basis.
Overview of Program
As the 21st century unfolds, international attention is focusing increasingly on the health concerns of poor and marginalized populations, and the ramifications of global health inequities for development. From pandemics to environmental degradation, global health is an economic concern and a human issue.
The Master of Science in Global Health (MSc-GH) is designed to appeal to an array of students, researchers, policy makers, managers, analysts, and clinical practitioners who desire a more complete understanding of the diverse causes of and solutions to health problems from an interdisciplinary global perspective. The following are the primary audiences:
- individuals at any stage of career who wish to pursue a free standing MSc-GH
- Duke medical students who wish to pursue the MSc-GH during the third year of Medical School
- participants in Duke's new GH residency program
Upon completion of the MSc-GH, graduates will be prepared to engage in clinical, epidemiological, social-behavioral, and policy-oriented research, as well as contribute to the design, implementation, and management of health programs.
The MSc-GH is administered by the Duke Global Health institute (DGHI) and involves many other institutes, departments, and schools. A guiding principle of the degree program is the recognition that a multidisciplinary and multi-sector approach to health is essential, as health is influenced by a multitude of factors, including, but not limited to: individual behaviors; family and childhood dynamics; community characteristics; economic status; gender; genetics; country laws and politics; the environment; and the availability, accessibility, and quality of education, health care, nutrition, water, housing, and other basic goods.
Coursework
The 32-unit curriculum includes five core courses, electives from four thematic blocks, a field experience to apply learned research methods, and a research-based scholarly thesis. The five core courses are:
- GLHLTH 310 – Global Health Challenges (3 units)
- GLHLTH 320 – Research Methods in Global Health Science I (4 units)
- GLHLTH 321 – Research Methods in Global Health Science II (3 units)
- GLHLTH 330 – Bioethics (1 unit)
- GLHLTH 340 – Health Systems in Developing Countries (3 units)
The thematic blocks are:
- Disease Causation and Prevention
- Global Environmental Health
- GH Policy and Management
- Population Sciences
Course descriptions can be found here.
Students will choose electives from a list of courses approved to satisfy elective requirements.
Fieldwork
MSc-GH students may choose to undertake their field experience at one of the international institutions with which DGHI collaborates. The experience must be at least 10 weeks in duration. Currently, DGHI is collaborating with institutions in China, Haiti, India, Kenya, Singapore, Tanzania, and Uganda and is pursuing collaborative partnerships in Brazil, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and others. For more information, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Timeline
The MSc-GH program is designed as a four-term program (fall, spring, summer, fall), though it can be completed in three terms (fall, spring, summer) for select students who wish to intensify and accelerate their studies. The core coursework can be completed within one academic year for most students.
