Gary Bennett is Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Duke Global Health Institute
Published March 8, 2013, last updated on April 6, 2020 under Education News
The Trinity College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Council voted to approve the creation of a global health major and minor for Duke undergraduates. The vote establishes one of the country’s first liberal arts majors in global health.
The major offers students a rigorous, liberal arts program that approaches global health challenges from disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, and will be offered only as part of a double major program of study.
“We have designed the global health major so that students can pair it with any other undergraduate major at Duke,” said Gary Bennett, director of undergraduate studies at the Duke Global Health Institute and associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, global health and medicine. “The double major model is ideal for our students because they will reap the benefits of a rich, interdisciplinary education within a global health context.”
The global health major at Duke builds on the success of the global health certificate program. More than 150 students have completed that program since it began in 2006. Students currently enrolled in the global health certificate have the option of completing the certificate or transitioning to the major or minor.
“This major is a distinctive way for students to learn about global health with depth and breadth; in addition, this course of study enables our students to connect undergraduate research, global engagement, and interdisciplinary learning in innovative and meaningful ways,” said Lee Baker, Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences.
The major begins in fall of 2013, and requires three core courses, three foundations courses, three electives in an area of focused study, an immersive fieldwork experience, and a senior seminar. These components will allow students to integrate global health content with their co-major to create a rigorous and complementary learning experience. A minor in global health will also begin in Fall 2013. “This new liberal arts major solidifies Duke’s position as a leader in global health education,” said Michael Merson, director of the Duke Global Health Institute.
“The major is one more example of Duke’s commitment to global health, and I am pleased to work closely with the faculty of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and Dean Laurie Patton to continue this path of success.”
Duke now offers the most comprehensive portfolio of global health education programs of any university in the US. Since 2008, Duke has established a Master of Science in Global Health, Third Year Study Program for medical students, a doctoral certificate, and postdoctoral fellowships to prepare the next generation of global health leaders.
Learn more about the global health major at Duke.
Established in 2006, the Duke Global Health Institute works to reduce health disparities in our local community and worldwide. Recognizing that global health problems stem from economic, social, environmental, political and health care inequalities, DGHI brings together interdisciplinary teams to solve complex problems, and to train the next generation of global health leaders. http://www.globalhealth.duke.edu
Integrate global health content with a co-major to create a rigorous and complementary learning experience
