Have global health’s terminology, concepts and its alphabet soup of acronyms left you flummoxed – did someone just ask, “What is the influence of SES on FP/RH/HIV SD uptake among KPs in DRC?” Have you wondered how economic and social factors influence health status? Who are the 'big dogs' in global health? What has worked in improving health inequities and health system resiliency around the world? What have been glorious failures? What are the core principles of public health programs? What is the new frontier? And what does this all have to do with you?

This course introduces non-Global Health students to critical issues in global health: (1) underlying economic and social determinants of the distribution of the global health burden; (2) core terminology and concepts in global health (contextualized in thematic areas such as child survival, HIV/AIDS, global tobacco control, and mental health); (3) successful policies and programmatic approaches for reducing the global disease burden, as well as emerging approaches for minimizing health inequity and building resiliency; and (4) ethical principles and considerations in implementing global health programs and policies. A main goal of the course is to introduce students to critical perspectives and resources in global health that they will need as international development practitioners and global citizens.