Global Health
This diploma provides complementary graduate training in the basics of global health practice to those interested in learning more about global health methods and concepts.
In addition to core courses, elective courses help students apply learning experiences to their global health interests and activities.
The diploma is a useful adjunct to clinical training (e.g. medicine or nursing), academic training in complementary fields (e.g. development, international relations, public policy) and for those who wish to work internationally, or learn about global health research challenges and practice.
Program Requirements
Students complete a minimum total of 22 units, including all of the following core courses
Basic statistical concepts as applied to diverse problems in epidemiologic and public health research. Emphasizes interpretation and concepts rather than calculations. Basic study designs' statistics. Descriptive and graphical methods, fundamentals of probability distribution, rates and standardization, contingency tables, odds ratios, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, life tables, Linear regression. Prerequisite: An undergraduate course in statistics or completion of HSCI 800.
The underlying concepts and methods of epidemiology in the context of population and public health. Study designs (clinical trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and cross-sectional), measures of disease frequency and effect, validity and precision, confounding and effect modification, analysis of two-by-two tables, and options for control. Students will acquire skills in the critical interpretation of the epidemiologic literature, methodology of estimating measures of disease frequency and effect and common measures of potential impact; evaluation of study design; analysis of bias and confounding; and options for control of extraneous factors. HSCI 801 may be taken concurrently.
Problem-focused introduction to global health. Critical appraisal of current global health problems in the context of processes of globalization. Understanding and addressing health inequities, within and between countries. A case approach. Graded. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the graduate program or permission of the instructor.
The mechanisms by which globalization impacts health. Roles of technologies, politics, economics, legal structures, culture, and social environments. The positive and negative impacts of global trends in trade, ideology, governance, community building, conflict, poverty, and the environment. A case studies approach. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the graduate program or permission of the Instructor.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 6 – Apr 13, 2015: Tue, 1:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
and eight additional units chosen from the list of elective courses that follow.
In addition to the core courses listed above, students also complete a minimum of three elective courses, two of which must be chosen from global health area requirements
Statistical methods related to public health. Probability distributions, basic statistical inference on means and proportions and general concepts of hypothesis testing. Measures of association. Simple and multivariable linear regression models, dummy variables, and logistic regression models. Survival data analysis. Prerequisite: HSCI 801.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 6 – Apr 13, 2015: Tue, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Follow-up course to HSCI 802. Designing, conducting, analyzing, and interpreting epidemiologic research. Theoretical frameworks, concepts of inference, measures of disease occurrence and effect, study designs, issues in measurement, bias, confounding, and interaction. Critical assessment of the epidemiologic and public health literature. Prerequisite: HSCI 801 and 802.
This seminar course is designed to introduce students to demographic techniques and principles through the discussion of the applications of various measures, case studies, and software programs. The emphasis is on applying techniques and principles learned in class to undertake demographic analyses in the lab. Prerequisite: HSCI 801.
Central role played by gender in health and development. Relationship of gender inequities to access to and control of resources needed to protect health. Use of gender lens in evaluating health systems and economic outcomes. Practical application of gender in health development approach to health financing, resource allocation policy problems in resource-constrained nations. A case studies approach. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the graduate program or permission of the instructor.
Concepts of health, illness, sickness and disease. History and development of health systems, and comparison of the social ethics, organization, and financing of different national health systems. The design of health systems - strengths and weaknesses of alternative systems for health care and delivery. Current strategies for health system reform in resource-rich and resource-constrained nations. A case studies approach. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the graduate program or permission of the instructor.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 6 – Apr 13, 2015: Wed, 8:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
Health advocacy, the policy framework within which it operates, its key principles, skills, and practice issues. Role, theories, and methods of health communication and advocacy in global health from the community to global level. Useful means: media advocacy, community mobilization, and trans-national collaboration. Use of information technology to promote population health and pro-health policy change. A case studies approach. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the graduate program or permission of the instructor.
Practical approaches to health needs assessment, needs prioritization, health program planning, and health program evaluation in low-to-middle income countries and/or resource-poor settings. Gender-based analyses are emphasized throughout. A case study approach. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the graduate program or permission of the instructor.
A case-study based approach to policy analysis, formation, decision-making and evaluation in global health contexts. Frameworks for developing policy. Program planning and evaluation methodologies. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the graduate program or permission of the instructor.
Build knowledge and skills around working with others to enable change and empower individuals and communities to improve their health. Provide strategic direction to foment participation, mobilizing resources for health promotion, and build capacity. Use a social ecological framework as a guide to theories and frameworks of health behavior. Students occupy central facilitation role in the classroom to help model and practice health promotion skills. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the graduate program or permission of instructor.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 6 – Apr 13, 2015: Thu, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
The evolution of health promotion in Canada. Definitions and concepts of health promotion. Approaches to address issues of disease prevention and control, including advocacy, inter-sectoral and community action. Contextual factors that influence health promotion practice and policy and contrasting entry points for interventions in health promotion. Presentations of health promotion interventions. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the graduate program or permission of the instructor.
Intersection of international affairs and global health. Pressing global health issues are analyzed as they intersect with the global economy, international development, and security. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the graduate program, or permission of the instructor.
and the third course can be chosen from HSCI graduate courses, or from other ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV graduate programs. Students should choose electives in consultation with the co-ordinator and/or director, graduate programs.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.