Course Detail (Course Description By Faculty)

Overview

Global health is an interdisciplinary and empirical field, requiring holistic and innovative approaches to navigate an ever-changing global environment in the pursuit of health equity. This course will emphasize specific health challenges facing vulnerable populations in low resource settings, and the large scale environmental, social, political, and economic forces that contribute to them through literature review and case studies. Students will engage with topics addressing global burden of disease and population health; health effects of climate change; maternal and child health; mental health and wellness; health and human rights; international legal frameworks; health systems reform; importance of science and technology for sustainable development and ethical considerations in research.  

Students are encouraged to propose interventions or innovative solutions to reduce global burden of communicable and chronic non-communicable (NCD) conditions and prepare for global emergencies. Team based approach to learning will be emphasized as students gain analytic and presentation skills relevant to global health. Career opportunities in healthcare will be explored throughout the course.

Course Format:

Class sessions will be driven by Socratic questioning and debate integrated with didactic session to expand on assigned readings. As such, class attendance to discuss assigned readings is highly recommended.  Students are encouraged to think critically about each reading and form an opinion regarding, not just individual articles, but the overall theme for each class. Working within groups will provide team based approach to learning on global health case studies..

Objectives – By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss historical context of global health including contributions of colonialism and missionary health 
2. Understand epidemiologic transitions and global burden of disease, with special emphasis on chronic non-communicable (NCD) conditions, including cancer and mental health.
3. Discuss impact of innovations in science and technology in disease eradication and pandemic preparedness.
4. Discuss health effects of climate change and global warming 
5. Develop a deeper understanding of maternal and child health and social determinants of health
6. Discuss health systems reform with special emphasis on expanding access to health insurance to improve quality of care across the cancer care continuum
7. Understand ethics of research in global setting and responsible conduct of research with emphasis onbiobanks and biomarker informed clinical trials

To successfully complete assigned tasks, students should have some background knowledge of Biology and attend preparatory sessions with Teaching Assistants. 

Attendance is required, as every class will provide essential knowledge for successfully completing assignments.

BUSN 42300=CCTS 42005

This course will utilize case studies and relevant articles from scientific journals.  However, a classical textbook can be accessed for free online through the University of Chicago library:

One core textbooks can be accessed for free online through the University of Chicago library. For the real global health enthusiast, two texts are recommended, but not compulsory. See syllabus for details.

-40% In-class participation and attendance.
-20% Mid Term Presentations in response to thematic segments of the class
-40% Final written exam
No pass/fail grades. No auditors.

Grades

Restrictions