Syllabus

Graduate Programs in Public Health

GPH 740: Global Health – Spring B 2024

Credits - 3

Description

This course introduces you to critical issues in global health emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach to understanding global health problems. The concepts and issues of global health will be considered as well as emerging issues and future concerns. Selected critical global topics in such areas as maternal and child health, food security, environmental health, chronic disease, and infectious disease will be covered. 

Course Format

The course will be delivered in 8 weekly online modules, with each module beginning on Wednesday at 12:01 AM and ending the following Wednesday at 11:59 PM, except for the last week (Week 8), which will begin on Wednesday and end on Sunday. Students will watch online lectures produced by the lead instructor, engage in readings and other media provided by the lead instructor and field experts. Each section of this course will be facilitated by an instructor with significant professional and academic expertise in the area of study. Individual meetings with the course instructor will be the student’s responsibility to schedule.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Course Outcomes

  • Apply the goals and principles of global health to provide a systematic public health approach to global health challenges and solutions.
  • Incorporate public health measurement and data to describe the status of health and the major burdens of disease across the globe.
  • Evaluate the drivers of health inequities across the globe to understand the root causes of poor health outcomes and health disparities.
  • Examine the roles of culture, community participation, and systems in responding ethically to global health issues.
  • Assess the health-related impacts of climate change on global populations.
  • Propose opportunities to address global health issues through collaboration, innovation, and strengths-based approaches.
  • Develop a poster presentation and associated abstract that summarizes a global health issue and offers a possible solution that advances health equity.

Program Competencies

PC1: Synthesize and incorporate scientific evidence into professional writing

Public Health Competencies

FC6. Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community, and systemic levels
FC 7. Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health
FC8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs
FC 9. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
FC 13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes

Assignments

Discussions

Your original contribution (initial post) to a discussion must be submitted by Sunday at 11:59 PM ET of the week it is assigned. A response to a colleague must be completed by Wednesday at 11:59 PM ET of the week it is assigned. If the initial post and response are not submitted within the discussion week, you will be given a zero.

  • Weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 (4 points each)
 20

Assignments

  • Final Project Section Assignments: weeks 2, 3, and 5 (5 points each, 15 points total)
  • Final Project: Poster Presentation with Abstract: week 7 (20 points)
  • Case Study Assignments: weeks 4 and 8 (10 points each, 20 points total)
  • Global Health eLearning Course: week 6 (9 points)
 64

Quizzes

  • Week 1 Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement Quiz – 1 point

  • Quiz 1 – 5 points

  • Quiz 2 – 5 points
  • Quiz 3 – 5 points
16
   100

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

AssignmentPoints
Acknowledgment of Academic Engagement1
Week 1 Discussion: Introduction and Global Health Data Source4
Week 1 Quiz5
Week 2 Discussion: Healthcare System4
Week 2 Assignment: Final Project Section 15
Week 3 Assignment: Final Project Section 25
Week 3 Quiz5
Week 4 Discussion: Sustainable Development Goals4
Week 4 Assignment: Case Study - Women and Nutrition10
Week 5 Assignment: Final Project Section 35
Week 5 Quiz5
Week 6 Assignment: Case Study - Guinea Worm Disease 4
Week 6 Assignment: Global Health eLearning Course and Self-Reflection9
Week 7 Assignment: Final Project - Poster Presentation and Abstract20
Week 8 Discussion: Final Project Poster Presentation Feedback4
Week 8 Assignment: Case Study - Disasters and Humanitarian Response10

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Course Weeks

Each week opens on Wednesday at 12:01 AM Eastern Time. Each week closes on Wednesday at 11:59 PM ET, with the exception of Week 8, which ends on Sunday.

Week 1: Mar 13 – Mar 20
Week 2: Mar 20 – Mar 27
Week 3: Mar 27 – Apr 3
Week 4: Apr 3 – Apr 10
Week 5: Apr 10 – Apr 17
Week 6: Apr 17 – Apr 24
Week 7: Apr 24 – May 1
Week 8: May 1 – May 5

Weekly Schedule


Week 1: Global Health Overview

Weekly Outcomes

  • Explain the fundamental principles, goals, and themes of global health.
  • Identify key global health measurements and data.
  • Summarize the global burden of disease and associated risk factors.
  • Explain the determinants of health and drivers of health inequities across the globe.

Readings

  • Skolnik RL. Global Health 101. Fourth edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2020.
    • Chapter 1 – 4
  • Salm M, Ali M, Minihane M, Conrad P. Defining global health: findings from a systematic review and thematic analysis of the literature. BMJ Glob Health. 2021;6(6):e005292. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005292

You do not need to read every detail of the following journal articles. Focus primarily on the results, discussion, and conclusion sections.

  • GBD 2019 Risk Factors Collaborators. Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020;396(10258):1223-1249. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30752-2
  • GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators. Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 [published correction appears in Lancet. 2020 Nov 14;396(10262):1562]. Lancet. 2020;396(10258):1204-1222. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30925-9

Videos

  • Building the Global Health Pillars

Lecture

  • Week 1 Lecture

Assignments

  • Week 1 Discussion: Introduction and Global Health Data Source

  • Quiz 1

  • Week 1 Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement Quiz

Week 2: Systems, Ethics, and Culture

Weekly Outcomes

  • Summarize ethical considerations for addressing global health issues.
  • Describe the relationship between culture and health.
  • Compare key components of global healthcare systems.

Readings

  • Skolnik RL. Global Health 101. Fourth edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2020.
    • Chapter 5-7
  •  International Health Care System ProfilT.R. Reid talks about healthcare systems around the world (Read a couple of the country’s profiles. This resource will be helpful for the discussion board.)
  • Global Health Equity Strategy (Read the Executive Summary and scan the report.)
  • Grandmas and Global Health — The Role of Culture in Health Promotion (Read the website and listen to the podcast) 

Videos

  • T.R. Reid talks about healthcare systems around the world
  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Lecture

  • Week 2 Lecture

Assignments

  • Week 2 Discussion: Healthcare Systems
  • Week 2 Assignment: Final Project Section Assignment – Section 1

Week 3: Environment Across the Globe

Weekly Outcomes

  • Describe the relationship between environment and health.
  • Define environmental threats to human health.
  • Discuss why a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) aligns with a health inequity and a proposed intervention

Readings

  • Skolnik RL. Global Health 101. Fourth edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2020.
    • Chapter 8
  • Pan American Health Organization. Health and Climate Change Country Profiles. (Read one of the Country Profiles)
  • Council on Foreign Relations. Managing the Health Risks of Climate Change.

Videos

  • Climate Change and Health
  • What is One Health? From Concept to Action

Lecture

  • Week 3 Lecture

Assignments

  • Week 3 Assignment: Final Project Section Assignment – Section 2
  • Quiz 3 

Week 4: Nutrition and Women’s Health

Weekly Outcomes

  • Apply global health principles, measurement, and health equity approach to the importance of nutrition.
  • Apply global health principles, measurement, and health equity approach to women’s health.

Readings

  • Skolnik RL. Global Health 101. Fourth edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2020.
    • Chapters 9-10
  • Global Index 2012 Global Index 2012 (Read the website and associated articles)

Videos

  • State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023
  • Our Century’s Greatest Injustice

Lecture

  • Week 4 Lecture

Assignments

  • Week 4 Discussion: Sustainable Development Goals
  • Week 4 Assignment: Case Study – Women and Nutrition

Week 5: Children’s Health and Injury

Weekly Outcomes

  • Apply global health principles, measurement, and health equity approach to the health of young children.
  • Apply global health principles, measurement, and health equity approach to the health of adolescents and young adults.
  • Explain the burden of disease related to injuries and related prevention measures.

Readings

  • Skolnik RL. Global Health 101. Fourth edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2020.
    • Chapters 11, 12, 15

Videos

  • Preventing Unintentional Injuries to Children Under 5 Years in Low-income Settings

Interview

  • Week 5 Interview: Ousmane Nayaya Aboubakar

Assignments

  • Week 5 Assignment : Final Project Section Assignment – Section 3
  • Quiz 3

Week 6: Burden of Diseases

Weekly Outcomes

  • Explain the burden of disease related to communicable diseases and considerations for a global health response.
  • Explain the burden of disease related to non-communicable diseases and considerations for a global health response.

Readings

  • Skolnik RL. Global Health 101. Fourth edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2020.
    • Chapters 13 and 14

Interview

  • Week 6 Interview: Gert Mulvad

Assignments

  • Week 6 Discussion: Guinea Worm Disease
  • Week 6 Assignment: Global Health eLearning Course and Self-Reflection

Week 7: Collaboration and Innovation

Weekly Outcomes

  • Propose opportunities to address global health issues through collaboration, innovation, and intersectoral approaches.
  • Create a poster presentation and associated abstract summarizing a global health issue and offering a possible solution advancing health equity.

Readings

  • Skolnik RL. Global Health 101. Fourth edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2020.
    • Chapters 17-19

Lecture

  • Week 7 Lecture

Assignments

  • Week 7 Assignment: Final Project – Poster Presentation and Abstract

There are two components to the Final Project Assignment.  First, students complete a poster presentation on a proposed intervention to address a global health project.  Second, students complete an abstract to submit to a conference for presenting the poster.

 


Week 8: Global Disasters and Humanitarian Response

Weekly Outcomes

  • Describe the health impacts of natural disasters and the global health response to prevent health disparities.

Readings

  • Skolnik RL. Global Health 101. Fourth edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2020.
    • Chapter 16
  • Mitigating Health Disparities After Natural Disasters: Lessons From The RISK Project
  • World Bank Group Announces Comprehensive Toolkit to Support Countries After Natural Disasters

Interview

  • Week 8 Interview: Rosemary (Maria) Rouza

Assignments

  • Week 8 Discussion: Poster Presentations Review
  • Week 8 Assignment: Case Study – Disasters and Humanitarian Response

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Public Health page

UNE Libraries:

UNE Student Academic Success Center

UNE's Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of free online services to support your academic achievement. Writing support, ESOL support, study strategy and learning style consultations, as well as downloadable resources, are available to all matriculating students. The SASC also offers tutoring for GPH 712 Epidemiology, GPH 716 Biostatistics, GPH 717 Applied Epidemiology, GPH 718 Biostatistics II, and GPH 719 Research Methods. To make an appointment for any of these services, go to une.tutortrac.com. For more information and to view and download writing and studying resources, please visit:

Information Technology Services (ITS)

  • ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

AMA Writing Style Statement

The American Medical Association Manual (AMA) of Style, 11th edition is the required writing format for this course. Additional support for academic writing and AMA format is provided throughout the coursework as well as at the UNE Portal for Online Students.

Online resources: AMA Style Guide

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools that University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.

Late Policy

Students are responsible for submitting work by the date indicated in Brightspace.

Quizzes and Tests: Quizzes and tests must be completed by the due date. They will not be accepted after the due date.

Assignments: Unless otherwise specified, assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit https://www.une.edu/studentlife/plagiarism.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations.  Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final.  Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.