DGHI Opens Doors (Finally) for New Class of Global Health Students

The halls of DGHI – nearly deserted for the last eighteen months – are once again buzzing with students.

Last week, we welcomed 44 new and 37 returning Master of Science in Global Health students, 228 global health undergraduates, six global health doctoral scholars and 13 global health graduate certificate candidates to campus as Duke kicked off the fall 2021 semester.

Among our undergraduate students are 87 majors, 136 minors and five Program II students whose self-designed, individualized programs of study each have a connection to global health. Among our majors are 22 different co-majors, including biology, public policy and psychology.

This is the thirteenth year of the Duke Master of Science in Global Health (MS-GH) program, one of the first such degrees offered in the U.S.

This diverse crew – tied for our largest class ever – comes from a variety of academic backgrounds, with undergraduate degrees in biology, physical therapy, anthropology, neuroscience, engineering, health policy, economics, religion and more. An impressive 25% of the students are first generation college students. These 44 students are from 13 countries and between them speak 23 different languages.

This year’s cohort includes one Accelerated MS-GH student—a current Duke undergraduate who begins graduate study during their senior year and earns a master’s degree with only one additional year of study—and three global health fellows.

Despite masking precautions and the signature Carolina heat, the excitement of being together prevailed as students bonded at an orientation week event. This return to campus – and some sense of normalcy – provided an important reminder to all of what DGHI is about: community.

First year MS-GH students reach new heights and build community during DGHI's fall orientation activities.