ACADEMIC DEGREES
Certificate in Global Health Affairs
The Certificate in Global Health Affairs provides advanced theoretical, practical and leadership training at the intersection of health and international affairs. Unlike certificates offered by schools of medicine or public health, which generally focus on biomedical approaches to health, CGHA emphasizes in-depth training that leverages the newest innovations in global health governance, policy and planning, technology transfer, social marketing and entrepreneurship.
The seven-course CGHA curriculum focuses directly on the intersection between health and international affairs, allowing students to engage in the new debates, policies and programs that define the new world of global health. Interconnections between health, development, human rights and security lie at the heart of every CGHA course and constitute the focus of courses such as "Health and Development," "Health and Humanitarian Aid," and "Health, Homeland Security, and Terror." Courses such as "Cultures of Health and Healing," "Scientific and Medical Challenges in International Affairs" and "Population and Society" highlight the twin tendencies for health risks to become increasingly global and interconnected even as conceptions of health become more individualized. Skills courses such as "Practical Applications in Global Health," "Communications for Development and Health" and "Health Data for Decision Making" provide evidence-based frameworks for setting priorities, implementing new social and medical technologies, and evaluating their impact.
Students who graduate with the certificate in global health affairs distinguish themselves as leaders and innovators through the pursuit of the "science of service" on and off campus. While most CGHA students take advantage of traditional internship opportunities at leading international health organizations, they also have the opportunity to pursue action-oriented research and leadership projects through a thriving network of academic and professional partnerships that continue to grow through the actions of current and former students. Throughout the CGHA program, students build an evidence-based framework for evaluating project impacts on served communities, service agencies, their own career paths, and the Josef Korbel School of International Studies .
The certificate supports the study of a diverse group of students including master’s degree candidates within Josef Korbel School of International Studies (mostly from international development and human rights, but all degrees are represented), graduate students from other DU programs, and non-traditional students. We encourage mid-career professionals, recent graduates, and those looking for a new direction in their careers to consider the Certificate in Global Health Affairs as a stand-alone option or as part of a degree in International Studies.
The certificate consists of two core courses and two skills courses, complemented by three elective courses and an internship. Students are encouraged, but not required, to undertake action-oriented research projects, which may be completed for course credit. Certification can be completed within a 12-month period. Admission is guaranteed for those admitted to a University of Denver graduate degree program. Admission for the stand-alone certificate requires submission of an application, statement of interest, letters of recommendation, and university transcripts.
Please visit the Global Health Affairs Program and the Global Health Portfolio Pages for more information.