Introduction to Global Health, 7.5 credits

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits. And proficiency in English equivalent to English B/English 6.

After the course, the student should:

• understand and have knowledge about factors that influence global health,
• describe social and environmental determinants of health and understand their contribution to equity in 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 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,
• describe the history of global health priorities and the current development goals
• understand the role of technologies and innovations in global health
• 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, governance and security,
• apprehend and assess the basic principles underlying different study designs, their use, strengths and limitations,
• explain key concepts and assess the relevance of ethics in global health research,
• describe basic principles and apply them in critical evaluation of research articles
• have knowledge about how to critically read research articles and scientific writing,
• have knowledge about philosophy of science.

The course is an introduction to the concept and theories 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
• Measures of health and disease in populations
• The importance of poverty for global health
• Role of technologies and innovations in global health
• Gender and global health
• Global health governance and diplomacy
• Access to medicines
• Global health and media
• Mobility of people and migration
• Complex emergencies: War, conflicts, disasters and humanitarian action
• Planetary health incl. climate change
• Universal Health Coverage and national health systems: structure, governance, financing and functions
• Ethics, core values and human rights related to global health 
• Principles of critical reading of a scientific paper. Literature Search using the Internet and library.

Teaching methods include interactive key-note lectures, seminars, practical exercises and peer-learning through group work.

Compulsory participation
All compulsory activities are indicated on the syllabus. The examiner assesses if and how absence from compulsory parts can be compensated. Before the student has participated in compulsory parts or compensated absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions the student's course results will not be reported. Absence from a compulsory part may result in the student having to wait to compensate until the next time the course is given.

In order to receive a passing grade for the course Global Health course (3GB017), you will need to pass quizzes given in selected lectures, two group assignments and an individual take-home exam. The individual written examination will be graded as Pass with distinction, Pass or Fail. The quizzes and group assignments are graded with are graded with Pass or Fail. To obtain the grade Pass with distinction on the course, the student must be awarded Pass on all quizzes, group assignments and receive the required score for Pass with distinction on the final written examination.

Limitation of number of occasions for the examination
Students who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has not passed the exam after four participations, he/she is encouraged to visit the study advisor. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission is provided.
The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session.
Submission of blank exam is regarded as an examination session. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in, will not be counted as an examination.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

Examination will be provided during a time of two years after a possible cancellation of the course. Examination can take place according to an earlier literature list during a time of one year after the date when a major renewal of the literature list has been made.

The course language is English.

Course evaluation is carried out according to the guidelines that are established by the Committee for Higher Education.