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Global Health Studies
Academic Bulletin
Area of Study: Interdisciplinary Studies
Guidance for summer entrance advisors
Students interested in Global Health Studies as either a major or minor should consider the following core class and elective courses in the Dimensions of Global Health. The courses listed here can be taken without any prerequisites - a more complete list is provided below under the GHS major description.
Additional advice to position students well for the Global Health Studies major: Start or complete the language requirement during their first year. Complete the Fundamental Science course elective during their first year.
We would also note that GHS 130 “Introduction to Global Health Studies” is an excellent foundational course for students who have indicated an interest in medicine or health-related careers.
Core Courses (Area 1): GHS 130 (Introduction to Global Health Studies)
NOTE: Ten seats in each section of GHS 130 are reserved for incoming first years
Fundamental Science Courses: BIO 220, BIO 221, ENVSC 110, GEO 109, GEO 110, GHS 223, GHS 228
Science and the Environment: Not likely to be able to enroll as first year
Ethics and Social Responsibility: COMJ 160, COMM 256, PHIL 140, POLSC 140, POLSC 248, POLSC 280
Power and Economics: POLSC 120, POLSC 130, POLSC 242, POLSC 245
Cultures and Societies: HIST 277, HIST 280, PHIL 205, WGSS 100, WGSS 211, WGSS 275
Language: A modern language course numbered 120 or above, or pre-requisite courses needed to reach the 120 level.
Note 1 re: Language requirement: Students cannot place out of the language requirement. For example, an entering student who tests at the 200-level would take a course at the 200-level following placement test or consultation with the chair of Modern & Classical Languages. Reach out to the Chair of Global Health Studies for specific questions related to this requirement.
Note 2 re: Language requirement: This must be a modern language (i.e. Latin does not fulfill the requirement) and taught in the target language, not in English (Arabic 250; and German 365 do not fulfill the requirement).
Note 3 re: Language requirement: American Sign Language (WLC 200) counts, but please be advised that while WLC 100 is readily available, WLC 200 is offered sporadically.
Note re: Transfer courses: Many courses transfer in at 3-credits. Students may need an additional credit to fulfill the total credits for the major.
NOTE: For Students interested in the Health Professions
Advisors and students should be aware that completing the Global Health Studies major does NOT fulfill the requirements needed for the MCAT or other pre-health profession entrance exams or graduate programs. For example, most pre-health fields require a year of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics (with the appropriate labs), and English. Students interested in majoring in Global Health Studies, who are also interested in a career in the health professions, should consider choosing a minor (such as BIO or CHEM) that contains many of the pre-health requirements. See the following link for more information on the pre-health requirements: http://sites.allegheny.edu/health/
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See details about the GHS Major and GHS Minor, to follow.
Description of Global Health Studies Major
Required Core Courses (recommended year for taking these courses)
- GHS 130: Introduction to Global Health (First year, no later than second year)
- FSGHS 201: Approaches to Global Health | Sophomore writing seminar (Second year, preferred that GHS130 is taken before FS GHS 201)
- Two methods classes. Choose from:
- GHS 321: Epidemiology (Second, junior or senior year)
- GHS 350: Cultures and Health (Second, junior or senior year)
- GHS 352: Ethnographic Methods (Second, junior or senior year)
- GHS 575: Global Health Challenges | Junior Seminar (junior year)
- GHS 600: (2 cr) 1st semester Global Health Studies senior project (First semester senior year)
- GHS 610 (4 cr) 2nd semester Global Health Studies senior project (Second semester senior year)
Fundamental Science Courses
Take one elective (recommend taking first or second year):
- BIO 220: Organismal Physiology and Ecology (CHEM 120, pre-reqs)
- BIO 221: Genetics, Development, and Evolution (BIO 221, pre-reqs)
- ENVSCS 110: Introduction to Environmental Science
- GEO 109: Geologic Hazards
- GEO 110: Physical Geology
- GHS 223: People & Poisons: Foundations of Public Health Toxicology
- GHS 228: Global Health Data and Visualization
Dimensions of Global Health Courses
In addition to the Core Courses and Fundamental Science Course, GHS majors must take a minimum of one elective course from each of four primary dimensions of global health: Science and the Environment; Ethics and Social Responsibility; Power and Economics; and Cultures and Society. These elective courses should preferably be completed by the end of the junior year. If a student has a particular focal interest, suggest that they take courses in that area first.
Note 1 re: Dimensions: At least eight credits of work taken to satisfy the “Dimensions of Global Health” requirements above must be at the 300 or 400 level.
Note 2 re: Dimensions and transfer courses: Many courses transfer in at 3-credits. Students do not need to complete four credits in each dimension, just a minimum of one course. Additional credits to fulfill the total credits for the major can be from another elective in any dimension or general Global Health Studies credits.
Science and the Environment:
Take one elective course (Pre-requisites are noted in parentheses):
- BIO 310: Microbiology (BIO 221, FSBIO 201, prereqs)
- BIO 350: Immunology (BIO 221, FSBIO 201, pre-reqs)
- ENVSC 305: Environmental Spatial Analysis (ENVSC 110 prereq)
- ENVSC 321: Ecosystems, Birds, and People (ENVSC 110 prereq)
- BIO 370: Insect Ecology and the Environment (ENVSC 210 or BIO 220, prereqs)
- ENVSC 385: Introduction to Sustainable Energy (ENVSC 110 prereq)
- GHS 223: Peoples and Poisons (*cannot count for both Foundational Science and Science and the Environment elective)
- GHS 228: Global Health Data Visualization (*cannot count for both Foundational Science and Science and the Environment elective)
- GHS 322: Climate and Health (junior / senior status)
- GHS 324: Environmental Health (junior / senior status)
- GHS 425: Global Health Transitions (junior / senior status)
- GEO 330: Climate Change Past & Present (GEO 108/110 or ENVSC 210 prereq)
- GEO 400: Hydrogeology (prereq)
- PSYCH 172: Health Psychology
- PSYCH 360: Health and Psychophysiology (prereq, has co-requisite PSYCH 365)
Ethics and Social Responsibility
Take one elective course (pre-requisite courses noted in parentheses):
- COMM 256: Power, Politics, and Communication
- COMM 360: Rhetoric and Civic Engagement (prereq COMRT 120. 145, or FSCOM 201)
- COMJ 160: Introduction to Community and Justice Studies (cannot be taken by seniors)
- GHS 235: Global Health Ethics
- PHIL 140 Ethics and Community (not open to seniors)
- PHIL 210: Oppression and Liberation
- PHIL 310: Global Justice (PHIL 140 or 210 prereq, or instructor permission)
- PHIL 385: Medical Ethics (Not open to first year students)
- POLSC 140: Political Philosophy
- POLSC 248: Introduction to International Human Rights
- POLSC 280: The Tragedy of Citizenship
- POLSC 348: Direct Action Organizing
- WGSS 310: Gendered Violence (WGSS 100, prereq)
Power and Economics
Take one elective course (pre-requisite courses noted in parentheses):
- ECON 231: Environmental Economics and Policy (ECON 100 prereq)
- ECON 238: Poverty, Inequality, and Efficiency (ECON 100 and/or ECON 101 prereq)
- ECON 250: Issues in Financing Health Care (ECON 100 and/or ECON 101 prereq)
- ECON 251: International Economics (ECON 100 and/or ECON 101 prereq)
- ECON 256: Economic Development (ECON 100 and/or ECON 101 prereq)
- ENVSC 352: Environmental Justice (Junior / senior status)
- GHS 345: Economics of Food and Agriculture
- GHS 440: Global Health and Nutrition
- POLSC 120: Comparative Government and Politics
- POLSC 130: World Politics
- POLSC 213: Health Policy in the US (POLSC 101 recommended)
- POLSC 242: Immigration and Citizenship
- WGSS 400: Global Feminisms (WGSS 100, and WGSS 210 or 211, prereqs)
- WGSS 410: Critical Perspectives in Global Women’s Health (WGSS 100, prereq)
Cultures and Societies
Take one elective course (pre-requisite courses noted in parentheses):
- COMM 331: Bodies and Health in Public Communication (COMM 120, 145, or FSCOM 201 or permission of the instructor prereq)
- GHS 354: Medical Anthropology and Perspectives of Health in Asia-Pacific
- HIST 277: American History of the Body
- HIST 280: Bodies, Bloodletting, and Bile
- HIST 380: Disease and Medicine in Modern History (one HIST course prereq)
- EXL 530: Community Health Care: Internship in Community Health (EXL 230 prereq) (renumbering of INTDS 530/230)
- PHIL 205: Literature, Film, and Medicine: Ethical Perspectives
- PHIL 230: Science in its Cultural Setting (One course in PHIL or Natural Science, prereq)
- WGSS 100: Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- WGSS 211: Queer Lives
- WGSS 275: Bodies in American Culture
- WGSS 310: Gendered Violence (WGSS 100, prereq)
Required Elective: Students also must take an additional four credits from the “Dimensions of Global Health” categories above: ‘Science and the Environment,’ ‘Ethics and Social Responsibility,’ ‘Power and Economics,’ ‘Cultures and Societies.’
Languages: Students must successfully complete at least one modern language course numbered 120 or above.
Fulfillment of this requirement involves the completion of one course in a foreign language at the level of 120 or above. Students cannot place out of this requirement. For example, an entering student who tests at the 200-level would take a course at the 200-level following placement test or consultation with the chair of World Languages and Cultures.
Note 1 re: Language requirement: Students cannot place out of the language requirement. For example, an entering student who tests at the 200-level would take a course at the 200-level following placement test or consultation with the chair of Modern & Classical Languages. Reach out to the Chair of Global Health Studies for specific questions related to this requirement.
Note 2 re: Language requirement: This must be a modern language (i.e. Latin does not fulfill the requirement) and taught in the target language, not in English (Arabic 250; and German 365 do not fulfill the requirement).
Note 3 re: Language requirement: American Sign Language (WLC 200) counts, but please be advised that while WLC 100 is readily available, WLC 200 is offered sporadically.
Note 4 re: Language requirement: Students who study away in a region whose primary language is not taught at Allegheny may substitute an introductory 3-4cr language class from an accredited higher education institution (ex: Hungarian | Hungary, Afrikaans | South Africa, Swahili | Tanzania, Tagalog | Philippines)
Experiential Component
Students are strongly encouraged to complete at least one Global Health Studies-related learning experience (e.g. EL seminars, semester away programs, and research or internship opportunities) that goes beyond clinical observation or shadowing. They should consult with their advisor, a GHS steering committee member, or the program chair for guidance about suitable experiential learning opportunities.
We encourage students to prepare for their experiences by partaking in a pre-departure seminar, and encourage all students to reflect on their experiences in a seminar upon their return.
- GHS 510: Global Health Fieldwork (2cr)
- GHS 515: Global Health Practice (2cr)
Description of Global Health Studies Minor
Because this minor is Interdisciplinary Studies, students may complete any major to satisfy the college requirement that the major and minor be in different areas of study.
Required Introductory Core Course
Required Elective Courses in Global Health Dimensions
Take one elective course from each of the four “Dimensions of Global Health.” See list of approved electives for each Global Health Dimension in the GHS Major description.
- Science and the Environment
- Ethics and Social Responsibility
- Power and Economics
- Cultures and Societies
Required Capstone Synthesis Course
Note re: Capstone courses: Given the high demand for the minor capstone classes, additional courses may be designated as a “capstone” course during a given semester, so there are typically three capstone electives available each semester. These additional capstone courses are in addition to courses with GHS 420-475 designation. Students should consult with the Chair of GHS for a list of approved GHS courses, including capstones, distributed before each registration period.
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