Programme syllabus for Master's Programme in Global Health

Magisterprogrammet i global hälsa

Outcomes

Outcomes of Second Cycle Education According to the Higher Education Act

Second level education shall essentially build on the knowledge that students acquire in first level education or corresponding knowledge.

Second level education shall involve a deepening of knowledge, skills and abilities relative to first level education and, in addition to what applies to first level education, shall

• further develop the students' ability to independently integrate and use knowledge,
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable independence or for research and development work.

Degree Outcomes According to the Higher Education Ordinance

Objectives of the degree of master (one year) according to the Higher Education Ordinance
Knowledge and understanding
For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their main field of study, including both a broad command of the field and deeper knowledge of certain parts of the field, together with insight into current research and development work; and
• demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge in their main field of study.

Skills and abilities
For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must:

• demonstrate an ability to integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even when limited information is available;
• demonstrate an ability to independently identify and formulate issues and to plan and, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within specified time limits;
• demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments behind them, in dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing; and
• demonstrate the skill required to participate in research and development work or to work in other advanced contexts.

Judgement and approach
For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must:

• demonstrate an ability to make assessments in their main field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work;
• demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and people's responsibility for how it is used; and
• demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.

Outcomes of the Study Programme at Karolinska Institutet

In addition to the national objectives for a Degree of Master, the following objectives apply for the Master Programme in Global Health at Karolinska Institutet.

On completion of the education, students must be able to:

• access and asses indicators and determinants of global health variations;
• review the relationship between socio-economic development and disease patterns in different nations;
• present experiences from international collaboration in health development and support in humanitarian emergencies;
• address quality of care, effectiveness and cost effectiveness in different health service systems;
• review health policies and interventions regarding major global health problems; and
• prioritize and address human resources policy and management issues using cases and experiences from different settings.

Content and structure

This programme comprises three parts: core courses, elective courses and a degree project.

The first part with the core courses provides a common basis for all students to get familiar with the concept of global health and to become more competent regarding relevant research methods.

The programme starts with the introductory course, which aims to review the global burden of disease and the factors that determine the variations in health status between different populations in the world using the most recent data available. During this course, the students also start developing their ideas about the degree project. The core course on research methodologies will introduce the main methods used in epidemiology and biostatistics, and in qualitative research. Topics include sample surveys in different contexts, survey design, sampling techniques, management of data, descriptive data analysis and presentation. An introduction is given to theoretical concepts in qualitative research methods and data collection focussing on interviews and focus group discussions. Similarities and differences between qualitative and quantitative approaches are discussed. After the course, the main part of the degree project will begin, and the students will be prepared for this during the course.

The second part with elective courses will provide a variety of courses addressing different specific areas of global health such as health policy and management, human resource development, health economics, child and reproductive health, health systems, global infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, injuries and emergencies and conflicts as related to global health. At this stage the students will also continue to develop their thesis project.

The third part is a research project submitted as a degree project equivalent to 30 ECTS. The research for the degree project can be carried out in a low- and middle-income country where there is already an existing collaboration. The degree project can also be based on secondary data from registers, e.g. demographic health surveys (DHS), or an extensive literature review.

Other guidelines

Grading scale

Failed/Passed/Passed with distinction.

Language of instruction

The teaching language is English.