BS, Global Health

Upon completing a Bachelor of Science in Global Health, students should be able to:

1. Understand the underlying science of human health and disease including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the lifespan.
2. Analyze historical foundations of global health practices and approaches, including contexts & interactions with colonialism, economic development, biological sciences, social determinants of health, power dynamics, technology innovations, and One Health.
3. Apply research and epidemiology to analyze global health challenges, and develop comprehensive evidence-based interventions and strategies.
4. Employ data collection, statistical analysis, technology, and interpretation of health indicators across diverse contexts to map and understand global health disparities.
5. Assess intersectional factors and diverse health needs of populations across different cultural, social, biological, economic, political, environmental, digital, and geographical contexts influencing global health outcomes.
6. Develop culturally and context-appropriate, community-based global health intervention strategies and policies.
7. Demonstrate skills in scientific writing, oral presentation, cross-cultural communication, narratives and media resources that promote health awareness and behavioral change.
8. Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration to create, design, implement, and disseminate diverse cultural and linguistic health information and communication strategies.

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

Global Health Core (40 credits)

Core courses introduce students to public and global health foundations and career paths, anthropology, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental and community health. All Global Health majors enroll in a Capstone seminar in their final semester before graduation.

Global Health Supporting (19-26 credits)

Courses in biology, nutrition, government and politics, and two semesters of a world language round out the required courses for the Global Health major.  

Global Health Experiential Learning (6-9 credits)

Students in the Global Health major complete two Global Health Experiential Learning courses, pre-approved by their advisor. Opportunities include research, internships, project-based virtual global classroom courses, and field work locally or abroad.

Global Health Options (12 credits)

Students choose 4 additional courses that further explore concepts from their core courses or complement previous learning. At least 2 Options courses must be 300-400 level.

• See all BS, Global Health major requirements 
• See sample four year plans for the Global Health major
  • See all SPH major benchmarks and sample plans 

A Bachelor’s degree at UMD requires a minimum of 120 credits, generally consisting of:

• major requirements
• General Education requirements
• non-major electives

Some General Education courses can fulfill multiple GenEd categories and/or major requirements.

Total credits will depend on individual students' coursework at UMD and incoming transfer credit, including AP/IB credit. 

• See undergraduate degree policies in the UMD Undergraduate Catalog
• See SPH and UMD academic policies and exceptions procedures

Students in the global health major take courses taught by more than 12 departments across 6 UMD colleges. 

Global health major course offerings by major category

• Global Health core and supporting courses
  • World Language taught at UMD
• Approved Global Health Options
• Examples of Global Health Experiential Learning

Global health major course offerings by term

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

See days, times, and open seats in the UMD Schedule of Classes. 

Experiential learning is an integral part of the Bachelor of Science in Global Health at the University of Maryland. Students in the major apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world projects involving interaction with local and global communities, in preparation for a wide variety of careers.

Global Health majors are required to complete 6-9 credits of experiential learning before graduating. These may include internships, research independent study, global classrooms, field work, or study abroad.

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 and Student Success

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

All students in the Global Health major take a 1-credit Careers in Global Health course within their first 3 semesters in the major.

The University Career Center@SPH provides students guidance in applying to internships or jobs, and preparing for life after college.

Students interested in specific career paths after college are encouraged to connect with the Reed-Yorke Health Professions Advising Office and the Pre-Law Professions Advising Office as soon as possible.

Global Health majors may be eligible for UMD's Accelerated BS+MPH Program, or for other accelerated graduate programs. 

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 for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 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.