The courses below have been approved by the SPH Office of Global Health for the Graduate Certificate in Global Health. Always check with the UNC registrar's official course list to make sure the courses you are interested in are being offered.

Please note that this is not a complete list of courses that qualify towards the completion of the Certificate. New global health-related courses are in the process of being created. Graduate courses in other UNC departments or at Duke, NC State and NC Central may also count towards the Certificate. Be sure to get approval from the Office of Global Health prior to taking a course not listed below to ensure that it qualifies as a global health course (typically at least 50% of the content must be global). Send you request and a copy of the syllabus for the course you want us to consider to ogh@unc.edu. 

Course List

Biostatistics

BIOS 670 - Demographic Techniques I - Suchindran, Bilsborrow, Fall
Source and interpretation of demographic data; rates and ratios, standardization, complete and abridged life tables; estimation and projection of fertility, mortality, migration, and population composition.

BIOS 771 - Demographic Techniques II - Suchindran, Spring
Life table techniques; methods of analysis when data are deficient; population projection methods; interrelations among demographic variables; migration analysis; uses of population models.

Environmental Sciences & Engineering

ENVR 685 - Water and Sanitation Planning and Policy in Developing Countries - Whittington, Alternate Springs
Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Seminar on policy and planning approaches for providing improved community water and sanitation services in developing countries. Topics covered include the choice of appropriate technology and level of service; pricing, metering, and connection charges; cost recovery and targeting subsidies to the poor; water vending; community participation in the management and operation of water systems; and rent-seeking behavior in the provision of water supplies.

ENVR 755 - Design of Water Systems - Lauria and Characklis, Fall
Prerequisite for non-engineering students, permission of the instructor. Use of mathematical models and computer programs for designing water systems, including pumping stations, reservoirs, water distribution, and wastewater collection networks.

ENVR 785 - Public Investment Theory (City and Regional Planning 785, Public Policy 785) - Whittington, Alternate Springs
Prerequisite, PLAN 210 or equivalent. Basic theory, process, and techniques of public investment planning and decision making, involving synthesis of economic, political, and technologic aspects. Theory underlying benefit-cost analysis, adaption to a descriptive and normative model for planning public projects and programs.

ENVR 890 (Section 002) - Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene - Sobsey, Spring
This course focuses on water, sanitation and hygiene in both developing and developed countries from an environmental health perspective. It emphasizes an appreciation and understanding of the need to develop effective, appropriate, accessible and affordable measures to reduce the global burden of disease from environmental exposures to biological and chemical agents of human health and environmental concern. The course content is based on the World Health Organization risk-based framework that uses risk assessments of health effects from exposures to pathogenic (disease-causing) microbes and toxic chemicals in environmental media to inform the development of holistic, integrated risk management policies and systems. Exposures to various agents of health concerns via water, wastes, air, vectors and other transmission routes will be considered, as will the various prevention and control measures of risk management systems intended to reduce these exposures.

Epidemiology

EPID 751 - Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases - Baric, Hall, Seed, Stamm, Spring
Basic principles of infectious diseases, focusng on emerging and re-emerging disease agents that affect public health. Includes an introduction to the biology of viruses, bacteria, and eucaryotic parasites.

EPID 752 - Methods in Infectious Disease Epidemiology - Weber, Fall
Prerequisites: Introductory epidemiology and biostatistics. Course will focus on methodology, public health concerns, patterns of transmission, and "newly" discovered infections. Will focus on diseases in developed countries, especially the United States. Methods for studying infectious diseases are emphasized including host defenses, surveillance, outbreak investigations, study design, new and emerging infections, and control. Lecture topics include malaria, SARS, sexually transmitted diseases in lesser developed countries, and polio and measles eradication.

EPID 754 - Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases - Van Rie, Spring
Introduction to basic methods for analysis and interpretation of epidemiological data on infectious diseases and for predicting the impact of control programs such as HIV prevention programs and vaccination strategies.

EPID 756 - Control of Infectious Diseases in Developing Countries - Meshnick, Spring
Epidemiology of the major infectious diseases in developing countries. Understanding surveillance, prevention and control strategies appropriate for poor countries. Special attention paid to water-bourne diseases, tuberculosis, malaria, and helminthiases.

EPID 757 - Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Developing Countries - Weir, Behets, Fall
This course examines the epidemiology of AIDS from an international perspective. It considers the AIDS pandemic in a broad epidemiology perspective, including key aspects of basic, clinical, and social science.

EPID 785 - Environmental Epidemiology
Epidemiologic ideas and methods applied to evaluation and control of human health consequences of environmental hazards. Pollution of environmental media and global change are considered from a human-ecological perspective, with local and international examples.

EPID 826 - Infection/Inequality - Thomas, Spring
Types of inequalities; how nature of infection accentuates inequalities; social causes of unequal infection rates; measuring infection rates and social contributors; inequality as an ethical issue; interventions to lessen inequalities.

EPID 898 - Global Health Ethics Seminar - Rennie, Fall [supported by Bioethics, Social Justice  and Global Health program]
This course explores current bioethical concerns, dilemmas, and controversies in international health research from an interdisciplinary perspective; examines how bioethics issues in resource-poor countries are linked with issues of social justice; gives those involved in international research an opportunity to share their experiences of ethical problems in the field; connects research ethics questions with 'big picture' issues of international relations and global inequity; seeks creative solutions to ethical problems responsive to both international norms and local circumstances. 

Health Behavior & Health Education

HBHE 708 - U.S. Latino Health Promotion - Staff, Fall
An examination of social, political, geographic, and psychological forces affecting the health of Latinos in the U.S. Discussion of theoretical and methodological issues relevant to U.S. Latino health promotion research to help prepare students to do research or work in the Latino community. An emphasis on Mexico and the Mexican-American experience.

HBHE 731 - Anthropology and Public Health: Critical Perspectives on Research and Practice - Staff
The course is for students who want to gain critical tools designed to improve analytical policy and cultural skills. Public health topic areas include AIDS, global health, reproductive health, cancer, violence prevention, and federal public health goals. Not Currently Offered.

HBHE 753 - Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods - Maman, Spring
Theoretical and methodological approaches of applied medical anthropology for health program development and evaluation. Field methods for collecting and analyzing data through observation, interviewing, group methods and case studies.

Health Policy & Administration

HPAA 510, Section 2 - Global Perspectives on Ethical Issues in HPAA  - Harris, Spring
This course will address the ethical issues of Health Policy and Management, with particular attention to the global perspectives on these issues. These global perspectives are both comparative and trans-national. Thus, we will compare the ethical approaches to health system issues in various countries, such as the different perspectives on informed consent, refusal of treatment, physician-assisted suicide, and reproductive health. The course will address global perspectives on the ethical issues in rationing of care, allocation of resources, and cost-containment; ethical issues of corruption, kickbacks, and conflicts of interest; and ethical aspects of research with human subjects in both developing and developed countries. We will also consider the cross-border issues that arise from movement of patients and providers across national boundaries, such as treatment of undocumented aliens, medical tourism, and the "brain drain" of health care personnel from developing countries. Finally, the course will deal with organizational ethics and compliance, including ethical issues for U.S. health care professionals and organizations providing services in other countries.

HPAA 660 - International and Comparative Health Systems - Fried, Fall
Methods of comparing health systems, examinations of related national health systems and analysis of related high prevalence health issues.

HPAA 664 - Crosslisted as MHCH 664 Globalization and Health - Fried, Spring                                
This course is a foundation course and one of two courses students can take to fulfill the foundation course requirement for the Global Health Certificate Program.

The course examines multiple dimensions of globalization and explores their direct and indirect effects on determinants of health through presentations, case studies, class discussions, small group seminars, readings, weekly written assignments, a critical book review, and a final paper and poster session. An expected outcome of the course is that students will gain a deeper understanding of how the changes and transformations of globalization and development affect health, and will have examined responses and approaches to current global patterns that contribute to positive and adverse health effects, and health inequalities.

HPAA 715 - Health Economics - Thirumurthy, Spring
This course provides a broad overview of health economics, with direct applications to current policy issues.  The course examines how standard concepts and methods in economics can be used to analyze the strengths and weaknesses in various health policies, and how economic analysis can assist in the development of solutions to various diseases and health care problems.  By reading papers that use data to answer health policy questions, students are able to reinforce their understanding of basic microeconomic theory and empirical methods.

HPAA 772 - Techniques for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care - Biddle, Fall
In this course, health care technology is defined broadly as: "programs, processes, procedures, drugs or other interventions aimed at improving health, preventing disease, alleviating symptoms or postponing death of human populations". The course is based on the premise that we currently know how to treat or prevent more disease than we are willing to pay for. Thus, the allocation of resources to the most efficient competing technologies and equity in access to cost-effective technologies are essential health policy issues that should be informed, but not dictated by, qualitative and quantitative policy analyses

Maternal and Child Health

MHCH 664 - Crosslisted as HPAA 664 Globalization and Health - Fried, Spring
This course is a foundation course and one of two courses students can take to fulfill the foundation course requirement for the Global Health Certificate Program.

The course examines multiple dimensions of globalization and explores their direct and indirect effects on determinants of health through presentations, case studies, class discussions, small group seminars, readings, weekly written assignments, a critical book review, and a final paper and poster session. An expected outcome of the course is that students will gain a deeper understanding of how the changes and transformations of globalization and development affect health, and will have examined responses and approaches to current global patterns that contribute to positive and adverse health effects, and health inequalities.

MHCH 712 - Program Assessment in MCH - Farel, Spring
Using a current request from a local health agency, students will learn how to provide consultation about a selected program activity in child health, women's health, and global health. Student teams will make site visits, collect and analyze program data, prepare reports, conduct literature reviews, prepare a written report with recommendations, and make an oral presentation to the agency staff, MCH Department faculty and students. Permission required for non-majors.

MHCH 716 - International Family Planning and Reproductive Health - Curtis, Bloom, Spring
This course will provide an overview of the critical issues in international family planning and reproductive health, including major theoretical frameworks, patterns and trends over time, and family planning and reproductive health policy development. We will trace the evolution of the field from its demographic roots through the current expansion to a broader reproductive health perspective.  The main theoretical models to explain the determinants of fertility and reproductive mortality and morbidity will be presented.  Demographic data will be used to describe the trends and patterns of family planning and reproductive health within the global context.  The development of population, family planning and reproductive health policy through the last three decades, along with the more recent focus on the field within the context of health and human rights, will be discussed.

MHCH 721 - Maternal and Child Health Issues for Immigrant Populations - Weathers, Spring
Pre-requisites: BIOS 110, EPID 160, MCH 209, MCH 210. The purpose of this discussion-based course is to examine the research, program, policy, and advocacy implications of immigration today on the health of women and children in the U.S. By the end of this course, MCH student professionals should be able to: 1) critically describe and evaluate the implications of the demographic characteristics of current U.S. immigrants for research, advocacy, program, and policy, and 2) critically evaluate policies, programs, and the research literature addressing the health of immigrant women and children, using historical and contemporary ecological contexts.

MHCH 722 - Issues in International Maternal and Child Health - Singh, Fall
This course focuses on key issues concerning the health status and needs of mothers and children under-five in the developing world. Topics include discussions of the major causes of both maternal and under-five mortality, measurement and indicators of health status, levels and patterns of maternal and child morbidity and mortality and major programmatic interventions (e.g., antenal care, the Safe Motherhood Initiative (SMI), IMCI, oral rehydration therapy, immunizaton (EPI)). Permission required for non-majors.

MHCH 723 - Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation - Speizer, Fall
This course provides students with the basic concepts and methodologies needed to monitor and evaluate programs in maternal and child health both domestically and internationally.  The course covers program planning, conceptual frameworks, program monitoring, indicators, information sources, evaluation designs, and survey development.  The focus is on practical issues for undertaking program monitoring and evaluation on maternal and child health programs.

MHCH 730 - Reproductive Health Policy - Bennett, Spring
Seminar participants will examine forces that shape social policy relating to reproduction and the differential impact of policy based on age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, marital status, and other factors. Focus will be on global controversies in reproduction and reproductive health services in the context of human rights and women's rights.

MHCH 605 (Section 001) - Survey Course on Optimal Infant and Young Child Feed - Labbok, Spring 
This survey course briefly covers the principal topics in this broad field of knowledge, including domestic and global issues.  Teaching methods are primarily lecture with discussion and student presentations. The topics include relevant maternal and infant anatomy, physiology, and endocrinology; complementary feeding; immunology and disease; pathology, pharmacology and exposures; psychology, sociology and anthropology; growth and development; research issues; ethics, Code of Marketing and other legal issues; breastfeeding support skills; counseling, communication and advocacy; and programming and policy.

MHCH 862 - MCH Program Evaluation - Angeles, Spring
Analytic skills seminar, focusing on the methodology and practice of MCH progam evaluation. Review of concepts and methods for program evaluation will expose students to all phases and issues surrounding program evaluation. Case studies will be examined, with applications from developing countries. Prerequisites: Knowledge of SAS or Stata, MHCH 213 or equivalent. Permission required for 1 yr doctoral students, non-majors and master's students.

Nutrition

NUTR 753 - Crosslisted as HBHE 753- Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods - Maman, Spring
Theoretical and methodological approaches of applied medical anthropology for health program development and evaluation. Field methods for collecting and analyzing data through observation, interviewing, group methods and case studies.

Public Health Leadership Program

PUBH 420 - AIDS: Principles, Practice and Politics - Strauss, Spring
This course offers participants a multi-disciplinary perspective on acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) -- its etiology, immunology, epidemiology and impact on individuals and society. How AIDS is framed by a society determines not only how sick persons are treated by the degree to which the rights of the individual are upheld. GOAL: To understand the complexity and multi-dimensionality of the evolving phenomenon known as AIDS as a paradigm for the relationship between disease, society and public policy.

PUBH 500 - Global Health Discussion Series - Fried, Fall/Spring 
Global health certificate students are required to sign up for two semesters of the dinner series at the time they register for the Certificate. Each dinner in the series will have a thematic frame that guides facilitated discussion during and after dinner. Themes will be recommended by students and by participating faculty. Formats might include: presentations; showing and discussion of a documentary; discussion of a news report; discussion of a book chapter or article; or, attending a special campus speaker's presentation or event. Please note: this course is only available to graduate students pursuing the Global Health Certificate.

PUBH 510 - Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Global Health - Bentley, Van Vliet, Fall
This course is a foundation course and one of two courses students can take to fulfill the foundation course requirement for the Global Health Certificate Program.

The course explores contemporary issues, problems, and controversies in global health through an interdisciplinary perspective; examines the complex tapestry of social, economic, political, and environmental factors that affect global health; analyzes global health disparities through a social justice and human rights lens; and exposes students to opportunities in global health work and research.

PUBH 732 - Cultural Competencies of Health Organizations - Harlan, Summer
This course will provide health care professionals with a framework for the implementation of National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care (CLAS). Online course.