Why minor in Global Health?

Why are some communities “healthy,” while others seem to suffer disproportionately? How can we help build a culture of health across all communities? While minoring in global health, you will learn to recognize the importance of cultural belief systems and how they influence personal and communal health. Through coursework and community networking, you will learn to interpret health policy and identify areas of health-care change. Students will learn to analyze the different forms of health disparities and ways social systems affect health outcomes. The minor engages students in direct research and community-based projects that use data to promote evidence-informed health practices. The minor can complement any major and prepares students for careers in organizations with health-focused missions. For students intending to pursue careers in the health professions, the minor offers a distinctive credential in social, ethical and intercultural competencies.

nursing students working in sim lab

Program Distinctives

Using a mixed-method approach, the global health minor is designed to leverage campus expertise alongside the work of our community partners to provide students with a distinctive, skills-based credential that is transferable across communities and health sectors. Students learn from diverse perspectives, develop community-based connections, and produce individualized projects that probe questions about the state and future of global health. Instructors with expertise across different fields and from leaders in community health departments, mental health agencies, addiction recovery centers and child advocacy agencies educate students about health challenges on a global scale.

Social Work professor meeting with students.

Interesting Courses

SW 300: Diversity and Difference

PSY 360: Emotion, Stress and Health

SOC 411: Sociology of Mental Disorders

Student giving a tour.

Student Learning Outcomes

Using an interdisciplinary, mixed-method approach, the global health minor is designed to teach students to:

1. Recognize the importance of cultural belief systems and how they influence personal and communal health

2. Illustrate the different forms of health disparities and how social systems affect health outcomes

3. Recognize the relationship between economics, politics, and health policy and identify areas of health care change

4. Understand the research process and analyze data to promote evidence-informed health practices

5. Incorporate principles of ethics and social responsibility through civic engagement

Career paths in Global Health

Health Agencies

Research Centers

Education

Contact List for Global Health Minor

Tauna Gulley, Ph.D.
Professor of Nursing and Chair, RN-BSN Program
(606) 218-5765
taunagulley@upike.edu

Genesia Kilgore-Bowling, Ph.D., MSW, CSW
Professor of Social Work and Chair, School of Social Work
(606) 218-5011
gkilgore@upike.edu

Jessica Slade, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
(606) 218-5462
JessicaSlade@upike.edu