Course content

This course provides an introduction to the field of global health and global health research. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the course discusses a variety of perspectives on global health challenges and solutions, and presents ways of analyzing global health burdens, policies and initiatives. Through lectures, discussions and case studies, the course considers global health from the perspectives of clinical medicine, public health, health systems research, ethics and the field of medical anthropology.

Learning outcome

Knowledge
This course will give you knowledge about

  • The concept of global health
  • Major health-related issues that transcend national boundaries
  • Global health in the context of SDGs
  • Inequities in health
  • Health systems and the aim of universal health coverage
  • Clinical, epidemiological, anthropological, and health policy and health systems perspectives on global health
  • Global challenges related to:
    • infectious diseases (including HIV, TB, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, emerging infections and antimicrobial resistance)
    • non-communicable diseases
    • nutrition
    • mental health
    • maternal and child health
  • Key players in global health (governments, multinational agencies, public-private partnerships, non-governmental organisations, foundations, academic institutions, and non-health actors)
  • Development collaboration for health


Skills
This course will give you the skills to

  • Understand the interdisciplinary nature of global health research
  • Analyse and discuss global health disparities including their geographical, class, race, and gender aspects
  • Analyse and discuss the impact of globalization and global interdependencies on health
  • Carry out critical analysis of global health challenges, policies and initiatives
  • Develop research questions and themes related to global health issues


General competence
This course will help you

  • develop insight into interdisciplinary approaches to complex medical and health research questions
  • consider your own research in a global health perspective                

Admission

The course is restricted to students at the Medical Student Research Programme at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, UiO.

Course registration:

  • Students apply in StudentWeb.
  • Enrollment to this course is automatically registered in StudentWeb
  • Applicants will upon registration immediately receive a reply in StudentWeb if the application is granted.

The courses MEDFL5295 and MF9295 have common admission.

Overlapping courses

5 credits overlap with MF9295 – Global health

Teaching

Monday to Friday, 9-16

This course entails a mix of self-preparation, lectures, discussions, and group work.

You have to participate in at least 80 % of the teaching to be allowed to take the exam. Attendance will be registered.

Examination

Take-home exam: Write an essay that discusses an issue or aspect of your PhD project by employing a perspective, concept or framework in presented in the course.
(7-10 pages, Times New Roman font size 12, line spacing 1.5).

The exam is to be submitted within 3 weeks of the end of the course.

Submit assignments in Inspera

You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. Read about how to submit your assignment.

Use of sources and citation

You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

Resit an examination

Withdrawal from an examination

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

Special examination arrangements

Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.

Evaluation

The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.

Facts about this course

Credits
5
Level
Master
Teaching
Every spring

Teaching spring 2024:   27.5. - 31.5,   Application period:  1.12.2023 - 1.4.2024.

Course registration:  Students apply in StudentWeb

Examination
Every spring
Teaching language
English