Global Health Studies

Global Health Studies
Academic Bulletin

Area of Study: Interdisciplinary Studies
Programs: Major (BA & BS) and Minor

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 (For Spring 2024, GHS 190 “Creating Healthy Communities: is another good option for first-year students)

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/

Suggested Schedule for GHS Majors (for specific courses required for the Major, please see the Academc Bulletin)

GHS Minor Notes

Suggested Schedule for GHS Minor (for specific courses required for the Minor, please see the Academic Bulletin): 

Additional Notes:

• Academic Advisor: Students shoujld first consult the GHS Chair before declaring their major. The program funnels students to academic advisors in order to maintain balance among its faculty.
• Junior Seminar and Senior Comp: Ideally, students should complete their required methods courses by Junior Spring Year in order to apply these methods most effectively to the Senior Project proposal (created in the Junior Seminar) and to the Senior Project.