Master of Science in Global Health

The Duke Global Health Institute is planning to offer a Master of Science in Global Health (MSc-GH) beginning in the fall of 2009 (pending approval from the Duke Board of Trustees). 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.

A guiding principle of the Master's 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.

The 32-credit curriculum includes five core courses, one elective from each of four thematic blocks, a field experience to apply learned research methods, and a research-based scholarly thesis.

The five core courses are:

• GH Challenges (3 credits)
• GH Systems and Health Policy (3 credits)
• Research Methods in GH Science I (4 credits)
• Research Methods in GH Science II (3 credits)
• Bioethics (1 credit)

The thematic blocks are:

• Disease Causation and Prevention (3 credits)
• Global Environmental Health (3 credits)
• GH Policy and Management (3 credits)
• Population Sciences (3 credits)

The MSc-GH is administered by the Duke Global Health institute (DGHI) and involves many other institutes, departments, and schools.