BS, Global Health

1. Discuss the history and philosophy of global public health as well as its core values, concepts and functions in society.
2. Use basic public health concepts, methods and tools for data collection and analysis.
3. Identify the major health-related needs and concerns of global populations and formulate basic processes, approaches, and interventions as possible solutions.
4. Understand the underlying science of human health and disease including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the lifespan.
5. Examine socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environmental and other factors that impact human health and contribute to global health disparities.
6. Demonstrate the fundamental concepts and features of global health project implementation, including planning, assessment, evaluation and sustainability.
7. Compare and contrast the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of global health systems.
8. Characterize the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions of global health care and policy.
9. Illustrate concepts of cross-cultural public health communication, including professional writing, digital and mass media.
10. Synthesize and apply ethical, evidence-based, collaborative approaches to community-supported interventions relevant to global health challenges.
11. Critically analyze the impact racism has on population health and reflect on what it means to be anti-racist in a global context.
12. Evaluate the impact of social, linguistic and cultural complexities, globalization and development on population health outcomes.

A Bachelor’s degree at UMD requires a minimum of 120 credits, made up of major requirements, General Education requirements, and non-major electives. Additional information on undergraduate degree policies is found in the UMD Undergraduate Catalog.

For the Bachelor of Science in Global Health, students complete at least 77 credits of major-specific requirements in the following categories:

• Global Health Supporting courses (19-26 credits)
• Global Health Core courses (40 credits)
• Global Health Experiential Learning (6 credits)
• Global Health Option courses (12 credits)

Note: Some General Education courses fulfill multiple requirements. Credit totals may vary depending on individual students' coursework at UMD and incoming transfer credit, including AP/IB credit.

• See all BS, Global Health major requirements 
• View world language requirement guidance
• See all SPH major benchmarks and sample plans  

Global Health Courses by Major Category

• The Global Health Core courses introduce students to public and global health foundations and career paths, anthropology, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental and community health. All Global Health majors will enroll in a Capstone seminar in their final semester before graduation.
• Global Health Supporting courses in biology, nutrition, government and politics, and two semesters of a world language round out the requirements.  
• Students choose Global Health Options from a list of approved courses that further explore concepts from their core courses or complement previous learning.
• Experiential Learning may include project-based virtual global classroom courses, research, internships, or field work locally or abroad.

See Global Health Major Courses by Term

• Winter 2025 
• Spring 2025 
• Summer 2024 
• Fall 2024 

Putting classroom learning into practice is an integral part of preparation for a career in public health. In addition to the courses listed above, Global Health majors will be expected to engage in different global health experiences before they graduate.

With prior approval from their academic advisor, students will complete courses in at least 2 different categories of the following 5: 

1. Global Classroom project-based course (virtual)
2. Global Health Field Experience (off campus)
3. Global Health Internship (off campus)
4. Global Health Experiential Study Abroad (off campus)
5. Global Health Research Independent Study (on campus)

Note: While an international experience is encouraged, travel is not required for the Global Health major. 

Global Health majors are supported in their academic and career planning by professional advisors in the School of Public Health and across the UMD campus. 

Academic Support

In addition to the undergraduate advising team in the GEOH department, students are supported in their academic planning by the School of Public Health's Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA). 

Career Development

The University Career Center@SPH provides students guidance in preparing for life after college. Students interested in specific paths after college can also connect with the Reed-Yorke Health Professions Advising Office and the Pre-Law Professions Advising Office. 

Current UMD students may declare a major in Global Health at any time. To start the process, follow the instructions to Declare an SPH Major.

Newly-admitted freshman and transfer students enrolling at UMD in Spring 2025 who want to change their major to Global Health should email ApplyMaryland@umd.edu (with cc to futureSPH@umd.edu).

Future Terps interested in Global Health are encouraged to review the information about SPH Undergraduate Admissions.