PhD – Global Health

Overview

Global health relates to health issues and concerns that transcend national borders, class, race, ethnicity and culture.  Studies in global health stress the commonality of health issues for the United States and international partners, and involve collective, science-based interventions to resolve these issues.  Thus, knowledge about how national governments, multi-national organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector must work together is essential to the success of global health programs. Accordingly, emphasis is on preparing graduates with the fundamental scientific knowledge, ethical understanding, and specific skills necessary to become public health researchers and professional leaders in multiple settings.

Proximity to the U.S./Mexico border and the expertise of many current faculty members at both SDSU and UCSD support and encourage a focus on transborder problems including infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, TB, STDs), non-communicable diseases (diabetes, CVD), and migrant health.  Students may develop other areas of specialization such as environmental health, health policy, geographic information systems, and maternal/child health.

Required and elective courses include global health practice and theory, program planning and evaluation, emerging infectious diseases, advanced epidemiology and biostatistics, research methods, environmental health, and global maternal/child health. In addition to didactic classes at both partner institutions, students will be expected to complete an international field practicum involving research, policy work, or cultural training. Graduates of the program are competitive for a variety of research, teaching and service positions in academic institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and businesses with global health interests both within and outside of the United States.

Joint Program with University of California – San Diego

The PhD in Public Health, Global Health, is offered through the Joint Doctoral Program (JDP).  This is a collaborative effort between two academic institutions, San Diego State University (SDSU) and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).  The doctoral program is research-intensive, where students work closely with faculty members from both SDSU and UCSD in developing research skills necessary to be future leaders in research and teaching of epidemiology.

The JDP is jointly administered by the School of Public Health (SPH) at SDSU and the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego, via the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs at UCSD. As a student in this program, you will complete course work and conduct research at both institutions. Faculty from each institution will serve on your advisory and dissertation committees, providing you with extensive exposure to experts with varied interests and proficiencies. This program is co-directed by Dr. Elizabeth Reed at SDSU and Dr. Angela Bazzi at UCSD.

Admissions and Full Program Information

• See the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health site.