Global Public Health
Crossing boundaries to advocate for the well-being of all
Introduction
As the recent pandemics of COVID-19 and H1N1 influenza have shown all too starkly, health issues transcend country boundaries and can affect all aspects of society, from economic development to political stability to national security.
Global Public Health (GPH) explores the connections between health, culture, economic development and environmental sustainability around the world while advocating for the well-being of all communities. Through class discussions, group projects and lectures from guest speakers, students:
- Learn about the range of health problems that cross borders;
- Consider the ways in which cultural and social issues affect a population's overall health; and
- Analyze the major public health approaches, and challenges, to reducing global health inequalities.
With careers in global public health experiencing tremendous growth, interdisciplinary training and collaboration in these areas is more important than ever. Students therefore are exposed to a wide swath of global public health issues, including health inequalities, nutrition, maternal and child health, infectious disease, noncommunicable disease and environmental health.
GPH offers students from all majors opportunities to connect what they're learning with their future career goals. The program may be of particular interest to those interested in health education and policy, the health professions, global development, research and service.
Colloquium and Lecture Topics
- The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global health
- Global health through the lens of local action
- Maternal, child and family health in global contexts
- Social determinants of health
- Ethics, economics and human rights
- Global health “players” (e.g., multilateral and bilateral aid organizations, private foundations, national governments, UN agencies)
Because of GPH, I could access opportunities I would never have imagined, such as working at the Center of Vaccine Development and going on to aid in the COVID-19 vaccine trials. I greatly appreciate the community that I was able to form with my peers and the valuable professional mentorship I received from my instructors, as I know it has positively impacted my career trajectory.
Other Learning Opportunities
Students in GPH enjoy multiple opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom to the world around them. Thinking globally and acting locally, students will:
- Interact with leading experts in the field of public health, both domestic and international;
- Visit agencies involved in global health, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID);
- Participate in service-learning activities such as Global Handwashing Day at the Center for Young Children; and
- Enjoy unique opportunities to get involved in research teams, such as the campus CATCH the Virus and COVID studies.
Finally, students directly engage with public health organizations and community-based health agencies through internships, research and service-learning. Past practicum opportunities have included:
- Internships at government organizations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
- Service-learning projects in hospital, education and mental health care settings;
- Research in labs studying a variety of topics such as vaccinations, pesticides and RNA; and
- Support of community health work in Peru, Sierra Leone and India, through the GPH-associated student organization, Public Health Beyond Borders.
Curriculum Overview
Over the two-year program experience (four semesters), students will complete 2 supporting courses totaling 6 credits that will count toward your GPH Scholars citation. In most cases, these, as well as your GPH required courses, will fulfill General Education requirements. Note that your Scholars courses—colloquiums, capstone practicum and supporting courses—will generally be in addition to any courses you take to satisfy major requirements.
The following table represents a typical two-year curriculum, but individual schedules may vary. Details about courses and requirements can be found on the GPH Citation Checklist.
| SEMESTER | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman Fall | Scholars Colloquium | 1 credit |
| Families and Global Health | 3 credits | |
| Academic Writing (can be taken either Freshman Fall or Spring semesters) | 3 credits | |
| 2–4 courses toward degree and major requirements (including possible supporting course) | 6–12 credits | |
| Freshman Spring | Scholars Colloquium | 1 credit |
| 4–5 courses toward degree and major requirements (including possible supporting course) | 12–15 credits | |
| Sophomore Fall | Scholars Colloquium | 1 credit |
| 4–5 courses toward degree and major requirements (including possible supporting course) | 12–15 credits | |
| Sophomore Spring | Scholars Practicum | 1–3 credits |
| 4–5 courses toward degree and major requirements (including possible supporting course if not already completed) | 12–15 credits |
Sponsoring College
Residence Hall
Centreville Hall
Office Address
1213 Centreville Hall
Office Phone
Faculty
Social Media Etc.
Global Public Health News
In-Person Service Day Relaunches With Enthusiasm
Kids bent over boxes of school supplies. Tubs of tomatoes, picked fresh off the vine. College students clad in waders, waist-deep in pond water. These were just a few of the scenes witnessed during College Park Scholars’ annual Service Day, which took place on Friday, Aug. 27, this year.
10 Scholars Alums to Serve as Spring Commencement Senior Marshals
A significant number of Scholars alumni will be serving as Senior Marshals at the University of Maryland commencement this Friday, May 21, 2021. Senior Marshals are graduating seniors who display the highest levels of scholarship, service, extracurricular activity and personal growth.
Despite Being Virtual, Scholars Showcases Promote Personal Interaction
For most University of Maryland (UMD) students, the end of the spring semester heralds the start of finals. But for sophomores in College Park Scholars, for the past 24 years, this time of year has signified Academic Showcase. The event, one of the largest exhibitions of undergraduate student learning on campus each year, typically involves more than 600 Scholars sophomores presenting on their capstone projects to fellow students, faculty, parents and other members of the UMD community.
Scholars-helmed Teams Win $8,000 in Awards at 2021 Do Good Challenge
An entirely virtual environment for this year’s University of Maryland Do Good Challenge did not stop teams led by Scholars alums from earning significant monetary awards for their initiatives. The annual event features student teams that are working to make a difference competing for funding support. Of this year’s six finalist teams, three were helmed by those with ties to Scholars:
Scholars Citation Class of 2020 Recognized at Virtual Awards Ceremony
When the Scholars Citation Class of 2020 arrived at the University of Maryland in fall 2018, they were wide-eyed freshmen who took part in the usual rites of passage in Scholars: Service Day, excursions related to the annual theme, a kickball tournament the spring of their freshman year. And, while the 984 students’ second year in Scholars fell during the program’s 25th anniversary, “that year turned out to be anything but ordinary,” observes Scholars Executive Director Marilee Lindemann. In March of their second year, the UMD campus shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and these students faced an abrupt pivot to remote learning.
On Global Handwashing Day, GPH Students, Preschoolers Discuss ‘the Best Vaccine’
Washing your hands is serious business—something that the students at the University of Maryland’s Center for Young Children are learning hands-on. “Our kids wash their hands all the time,” says Director Mona Leigh Guha, of the center’s 3- to 6-year-old students. The state requires certain handwashing protocols in licensed preschools, and frankly, it’s good practice. Handwashing with soap is widely recognized as one of the easiest and most effective ways of preventing disease. “Handwashing is the best vaccine,” observes Elisabeth Maring, director of the Global Public Health (GPH) Scholars program. GPH is sponsored by the School of Public Health.