Global Health and Disasters, 7.5 credits

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree of at least 180 credits in Health, Management and Administration or Social or Technical sciences. Applicants must have a good command in English. Applicants must prove a C1 English level Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), IELTS minimum score of 6.0 with at least 5.0 point in each section; TOEFL (paper based) at least 575 points with 4.0 in the writing section; TOEFL (IBT) 79 points with at least 17 points in every section).

The course aims to give an understanding of the concept global health and how disasters affect health globally.

On completion of the course, the student should:

• have knowledge of factors that influence health globally,
• be able to give an account of ethics, basic values and human rights related to global health,
• be able to describe the burden of disease globally and in countries with different socio-economic development and evaluate how global burden of disease is affected by climate-related, social, environmental and political factors,
• have knowledge of health indicators and be able to use these for analysis and evaluation of the health situation in countries with different economic levels, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries,
• be able to make basic analysis of health systems and health financing in countries with different socio-economic levels
• explain how different health determinants influence vulnerability and a society's ability to cope with disasters,
• describe the effects of various disasters on health and health system,
• on a general level formulate and evaluate central policies, strategies and interventions of importance to improve global health,
• explain the different roles governments, international organisations and non-governmental organisations have to handle global health crises and the disaster preparedness at country level,
• in a multistage process explain and plan how data and information about health risks and health needs can be sought, analysed and assessed in disasters.

The course deepens knowledge about disasters and global health from the previous course in the program, located at the University of Oviedo, Spain.

• Global health and the global burden of disease
• Ethics, basic values and human rights related to global health
• Health determinants and its variation globally, regionally, nationally and locally, with specific focus on:
  *Gender and health
  *Poverty and health
• Health systems and health funding
• The direct and indirect effects of disasters on health and health system
• Analysis and assessment of health need at disasters
• The global aims for sustainable development
• Global health policy and governance
• Directed health strategies intended to improve global health:
  *Mothers and children's health
  *Communicable diseases
  *Injuries, trauma, surgery and rehabilitation
  *Non-communicable diseases (NCD), including mental health

Interactive lectures. Web-based assignments in groups and individual, simulation exercises and discussion seminars. The students will practice and demonstrate ability to collect in and analyse information related to global health and to disasters. In the discussion seminars, the student gives an account of health systems and essential health needs at disasters.

The course is examined in a written examination. The course also includes compulsory parts, where active participation is required.

The compulsory parts include a group project with written submissions, presentations and discussions in seminars. The students must fulfil all the established criteria for the compulsory elements, in order to pass the course.

The student receives a final grade A-F.
To pass the course, the student must obtain at least grade E on examination and have fulfilled established criteria for compulsory parts.

Compulsory participation
The examiner assesses if, and in that case how, absence can be compensated. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts or compensated absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the student's results for respective part will not be registered. Absence from a compulsory activity may result in that the student cannot compensate the absence until the next time the course is given.

Limitation of number of occasions to write the exam
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 will be given in English.

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