Global Health, 7.5 credits

Bachelor’s degree or vocational degree worth at least 180 higher education credits. Proficiency in the English language documented by an internationally recognized test such as TOEFL with a total score of at least 6.0 (no band less than 5.0), or other documentation that certifies English language skills equivalent to English B at Swedish upper secondary school.

After the course, the student should:
- understand and have knowledge about factors that influence global health,
- have knowledge about health indicators and be able to use them for analysis and assessment of the health situation in countries with different economic conditions,
- be able to describe and assess the importance of health systems and policy in countries with different demographic and health related situations,
- be able to describe the burden of disease at a global level and in countries with different economic conditions, and assess how these are influenced by social and political circumstances,
- be able to formulate, in general, and assess those strategies and interventions that are of highest importance for improving global health,
- have knowledge about the importance of how the health care systems have been developed to achieve adequate quality, including the staff’s competence and development, and be able to assess how priorities should be done in resource-poor conditions,
- have basic knowledge about the activities of international organisations, and be able to assess their importance for global health,
- apprehend and assess the basic principles underlying different study designs, their use, strengths and limitations,
- define the role of statistical methods in public health research,
- explain key concepts and assess the relevance of ethics in global health research,
- have knowledge about how to critically read research articles,
- have knowledge about philosophy of science.

The course is an introduction to the concept of Global Health and should give the basis for the further studies within the Master's programme. The following themes and fields will be highlighted:

- Global health and public health - promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation
- Health and development – the world seen from a perspective of change
- Disease, health and demographic transitions
- The importance of poverty for global health
- Burden of disease
- Communicable diseases of importance for global health
- Non-communicable diseases
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Injuries
- Health systems and policy
- Governance, financing and management
- Drugs and health
- Change mechanisms in health care services
- Equity, democracy and health
- Emergencies and conflicts
- Climate changes
- Epidemiology
- Study design
- Research methods
- Ethics
- Principles of critical reading of a scientific paper. Literature Search using the Internet and library.

Interactive lectures, group work and practical exercises.

Individually and in groups. The individual examination is a written examination.

To obtain the grade Pass with distinction on the course the student need to obtain the grade Pass on the group examination and Pass with distinction on the written examination.

Limitation of number of occasions to write the exam
The student has the right to write the exam six times. If the student has not passed the exam after four participations he/she is encouraged to visit the study advisor.

The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in will not be counted as an examination.

After each course occasion there will be at least six occasions for the examination within a 2-year period from the end of the course.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Higher Education.

The course language is English.