Masters in Global Health Sciences < Education | Global Health Sciences

As a centerpiece of its efforts in global health, UCSF offers a one-year, four-quarter Master of Science degree in Global Health Sciences. We are pleased to invite applications for the entering class of 2009. This graduate program will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for leadership roles in global health. By emphasizing a multi-disciplinary approach and applied global health practice through a fieldwork experience (spring quarter), we envision this MS degree to uniquely prepare graduates for careers in international health policy, health care, research, or development.

Please see below for eligibility, selection criteria, key dates, instructions on how to apply online, and frequently asked questions (FAQs). The online admission materials will be available from September 24, 2008 to May 1, 2009 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Applicants will typically be students or practitioners in a health science profession or related fields who wish to achieve mastery and leadership skills in the emerging field of global health. The curriculum will integrate content and procedural material with representative case-based problems that cross traditional disciplines. Courses will be co-directed by experienced UCSF faculty members who will cover a wide range of global health topics in a series of core offerings. In addition, we will invite visiting experts in global health to lecture and lead seminars with MS students. Emphasis will be placed on low and middle-income countries, drawing parallels between global and regional poverty and health. We will examine relevance of global migration patterns to healthcare access and quality in California. We will cover health systems, policies, and global agencies dedicated to improving health. The course will emphasize quantitative skills through practical experience with epidemiological studies, statistical inference, and health metrics. A off-site project during the spring quarter will bring the student into direct contact with applied global health problems and research in the field. The program will also encourage the acquisition of leadership skills such as oral and written communication, strategic planning, risk assessment, program management, and teamwork. Finally, the curriculum will emphasize case-based learning, the application of critical thinking to global health debates, and the application of multiple disciplines to global health policy and development.

The program will also encourage the acquisition of leadership skills such as oral and written communication, strategic planning, risk assessment, program management, and teamwork.

Applicants with advanced professional degrees or enrolled in advanced degree programs do not need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). All others will need the GREs (MCATs are accepted in lieu of the GREs)

Foreign applicants will be eligible under the same conditions but they must demonstrate proficiency in English by one of the following criteria: 1) completion of one year of full time study in a U.S. University with a minimum GPA of 3.2; 2) take the Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) with a minimum acceptable score of 550 (paper version) or 213 (computer version); or 3) take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination with a minimum score of 7. In addition to language proficiency, foreign applicants must obtain a J-1 Visa.

UCSF offers admission to applicants who appear to have the highest potential for graduate study and who, with the benefit of a graduate education, are the most likely to contribute substantially to their academic or professional fields through leadership in teaching, research, service, or professional practice.

The Admissions Committee will assess a candidate’s academic preparedness by a combination of professional qualifications, letters of reference (three requested), an estimate of the student’s ability to undertake fieldwork, and the relevance and feasibility of the proposed fieldwork. Commitment to global health will be evaluated by the personal statement, prior global health experience, and by letters of reference. Personal and professional qualities will be assessed by interview and by evidence of maturity, motivation and resourcefulness in varied cultural contexts. The Admissions Committee will also consider the potential contribution of the student’s background and life experience to a diverse and interactive learning environment.

Upon completion of an application, we will notify candidates about their eligibility, the selection process, and their status as a candidate. Highly qualified candidates may receive an offer of early acceptance on a rolling basis. We will ask for a face-to-face or telephone interview. UCSF faculty or their representatives may interview foreign applicants. All candidates will receive notification of admission or denial no later than June 1, 2009.

The Master's Program in Global Health Sciences requires that students apply using our online application. To be considered for review, a complete application must be submitted by the appropriate deadlines indicated and include:

Expectation of Students: The learning goals of each course are aimed at graduate level competency. Much of the learning occurs through interactive seminars that demand preparation, reading, and oral or PowerPoint presentations. The faculty values the diverse background and skills in the class and encourages cross-disciplinary debate. We anticipate active, democratic participation, and students will be asked to lead some seminars, develop teaching materials, and contribute actively to the learning process. One of the outcomes of the course is the achievement of clear, articulate, and concise communication skills that faculty will evaluate in periodic reports and assignments.

The one-year training program will emphasize a problem-based, interdisciplinary curriculum. The format will enhance learning through debate, role-playing, negotiating and analysis of case studies. Faculty mentors with considerable international experience will guide, challenge and stimulate student interest in global health using seminar and tutorial approaches. The aim is to introduce content and context through real-world scenarios. For example, malaria control can be examined from many perspectives: poverty; vector control; bed net use; drug treatment and resistance; environmental degradation; workforce enhancement; vaccination; agricultural land use; and infrastructure development.

The curriculum is divided into thematic blocks, organized over four traditional academic quarters of 10 weeks each. Refer to Course Information for detailed descriptions.

Electives: There are currently no electives in the Masters Degree course offerings, and successful completion of all courses is required for graduation. To the extent possible, courses will conform to the needs and goals of the matriculating class while covering a broad array of representative subject matter and skill sets relating to global health. Course directors and guest lecturers will select the critical topic areas and case studies that in their opinion constitute essential knowledge for mastery in global health sciences. Readings and assignments will be posted online at the “moodle” site, the collaborative learning environment used by UCSF that requires a Galen ID, which can be applied for when you are an enrolled student.

MS in GHS
Proposed Course Schedule for Fall 2009 and Winter 2010

GHS Student Orientation Day:
Thursday, September 17, 2009, 50 Beale St, 8:30-4:00 PM

New UCSF Graduate Division Orientation and Dean’s Reception:
September 23, 2009, 4PM at Mission Bay-Genentech Hall Auditorium

Class schedule (Fall 9/21/09 - 12/4/09)
Holidays: 11/11/09, 11/26-27/09
Revised June 21, 2009

Mon.	Tues.	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.
8:15-9:30 GHS 201A lecture	9:15-10:15 Research methods I GHS 201C lecture	Free	9:15-10:15 Research methods I GHS 201C lecture	8:15-9:30 GHS 201B lecture
10-12 GHS 201A seminar	10:30-12:30 GHS 201C lab		10:30-12:30 GHS 201C lab	10-12 GHS 201B seminar
	2-5 GHS practice seminar GHS 203A

Class schedule (Winter 1/4/10 - 3/19/10)
Holidays: 1/18/10, 2/15/10
[Tentative - Revised June 21, 2009]

Mon.	Tues.	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.
8:15-9:30 GHS 202A lecture	8:15-9:30 GHS 202C Research Methods II lecture	Free	Free	8:15-9:30 GHS 202B lecture
10-12 GHS 202A seminar	10-12 GHS 202C seminar			10-12 GHS 202B seminar
	1-2 EPI 213 lecture 2:30-4:15 seminar			2-5 GHS practice seminar GHS 203B

The degree program will comprise required courses, a field experience, and a capstone project as described below. To some extent, course content and seminars will be tailored to the interests and skills of the students, but no electives will be offered.

The degree course will begin in the fall quarter with an overview of international health, examining regional disease metrics and burden, health systems, and a selection of global health priorities. Further emphasis will be placed on the social, cultural and economic determinants of illness. Three courses in epidemiology, biostatistics, and health economics will enable students to analyze and interpret health research data. The winter quarter will address specific communicable and non-communicable diseases of global importance, reinforcing the skills of evidence-based learning.

Throughout the year, a global health practice seminar will address the preparation and analysis of the field experience, emphasizing study design, practicalities of field research, cultural sensitivity, and project management. In the final weeks of the winter quarter students will submit a formal, written proposal for the field project to stand as a qualifying examination for student assessment.

The spring quarter will be fully occupied with a field experience in education, clinical care, policy, or research, in conjunction with one of the many ongoing programs at UCSF and its international partner institutions. The field experience will involve work in a developing country or with a local underserved population. The summer quarter will be a period to consolidate the learned material from the prior three quarters with an emphasis on applied global health. In the summer practice seminar, students will be guided through an analysis and comprehensive examination that comprises a capstone project, a written report and oral presentation of their field experience. Additional seminars will be devoted to career building, the scientific basis of health policy, consolidation of leadership skills, and a review of the main elements of the course.

The Graduate Group in Global Health Sciences comprises 77 faculty members from all four UCSF schools and the Graduate Program plus faculty members from UC Berkeley who are committed to teach and mentor the MS students. Each student will be assigned a faculty advisor and primary mentor. The advisor will help the student assess current skills, review learning objectives, and monitor competencies as the course progresses. Mentors will guide students through field experience preparation, assist with drafts and plans of the field proposal, and provide guidance for the final written report and oral presentation. On-site mentors will guide field experience progress and assess performance.

Course directors will publish a grading assessment process that will be announced at the beginning of each course. Faculty will define standards for competencies that all graduates are expected to achieve. The curriculum is designed to encourage self-directed learning and mastery of concepts and procedural knowledge rather than factual recall.

In addition to individual course evaluations, students will submit their fieldwork proposal as a "qualifying examination" and their capstone project will serve as a final evaluation.

Grading: A = excellent; B = good; C = fair; D = barely passing; F = failure; I = incomplete. An A or B constitutes a passing grade. A grade of C or below indicates unsatisfactory work. Unless otherwise specified by course directors, the grades will be apportioned as follows: class/seminar participation 50%; short papers 30%; final paper 20%. A GPA of 3.0 (weighted by the number of course units) is required for advancement to candidacy and any incomplete grades must be completed by the final quarter by petition to the Registrar. While considerable free time is offered during the weekly schedule (e.g. all Wednesdays, most afternoons) students are cautioned that extracurricular work that interferes with academic progress poses a peril to graduation.

Examinations: In addition to satisfactory progress in individual coursework, assignments, and related exams, students undertaking the MS degree in GHS will advance to candidacy at the end of the winter quarter upon successful completion of the Qualifying Examination (QE). The QE will be based on a final, written protocol that describes all aspects of the fieldwork to be undertaken in spring quarter. At the beginning of the winter quarter, the Program Director appoints a Review Committee to critique and evaluate the student’s protocol. The Committee membership will comprise the following: student’s mentors (non-voting); the Program Director; a member of the Global Health Sciences Graduate Group selected by the Program Director from a list of 5 submitted by the student; and a faculty member from the MS course leader roster. Following the examination, successful students with no incompletes and a GPA of 3.0 or better will formally advance to MS candidacy. At the completion of the summer quarter, the same review committee will evaluate the Capstone Project, a formal written and oral presentation of the completed fieldwork project.

The fee for this self-sustaining program for 2009-2010 is $31,570, exclusive of housing, books, personal costs, and some fieldwork expenses, etc.

Frequently asked questions from applicants for the UCSF Masters Degree in Global Health Sciences

Students currently enrolled in or recently graduated from professional schools of health sciences or those who meet the requirements to be accepted into a health sciences graduate program are eligile to apply. Candidates with masters or doctoral degrees from related professions (e.g. economics, sociology, anthropology, agriculture) may also apply. The course of study is intense and rigorous at graduate level standards. Several of the courses emphasize quantitative research skills that require some background in epidemiology and biostatistics. Health sciences students most likely to benefit from this degree will be those who have completed their clinical core, have had a formative experience in global health, have a clear project in mind for experiential fieldwork, and present a convincing case for a career in global health. Candidates from the non-health sciences should demonstrate relatedness of their career goals to relevant topics in global health (e.g. policy, climate change, land use, behavioral studies)

Applicants should give evidence of interest in a career path in global health in one of a number of categories such as: policy, health systems, education, clinical care, medical anthropology, health promotion, or development studies. We seek exceptional candidates who have global health leadership potential, demonstrated capacity to excel in the coursework and a high likelihood of contributing to the quality of the program.

The MS degree program has been approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.

We encourage applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and disciplines and a commitment to career advancement in the field of global health. Candidates with prior experience in underserved populations or international health, particularly in low-resource countries, are especially encouraged to apply.

Academic criteria for admission will include evidence of academic performance (e.g., GPA, honors and awards), transcripts, a résumé, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement that reflects individual potential and specific career goals. A concrete plan for a field project is highly desirable, but is not absolutely necessary. An interview, either in person or by phone, with senior faculty members in Global Health Sciences will be requested for short-listed candidates. Academic transcripts are required. The GREs are not required for admission for candidates with advanced degrees or those currently enrolled in advanced degree programs, but it is for all others. The MCATs may be substituted for the GREs. Foreign-born applicants from non-English speaking countries must demonstrate proficiency in English and be able to obtain a J-1 Visa.

Under the guidance of a UCSF mentor, the spring quarter will be dedicated to a 10-week fieldwork experience, either in an underserved population in the U.S. or abroad. Ideally, because of the short time available, a field project will be nested in a larger project already underway. This might be a continuation of a prior project by the applicant, or negotiated with one of the many ongoing research partnerships at UCSF Global Health Sciences.

The curriculum is designed to emphasize the distinct aspects of global health as compared with public health. Thus, for example, the lecture content and seminars will address health disparities and the roles of poverty, social class, and human needs in the causal pathway to illness. Throughout the didactic courses the ethics of cross-cultural research and development aid will be debated. The emerging role of health diplomacy exemplifies the uniqueness of global health as a political force. The courses will address the disparate health aspects of different world regions and the importance of history and geography in human illness. Throughout the courses and the accompanying seminars, faculty will emphasize the cross-disciplinary nature of global health so that students comprehend the many perspectives of global health problems and their solutions.

The Admissions Committee of the Global Health Sciences Graduate Group will review and shortlist applicants for admission. Selection will be based on a scoring methodology that evaluates the interview, academic record, interest and potential in global health, letters of recommendation, personal statement, potential for leadership, work experience, honors and awards, extra-curricular skills, and interests. Proficiency in a language in addition to English is desirable. Students not initially selected may be placed on a waiting list, and possibly offered a position in a secondary selection process if vacancies occur. The size of the class entering in September 2009 will be no more than 20.

Online applications are generally available in mid-September. Please check back on the website at that time. Exceptionally qualified applicants may be notified of acceptance on a rolling basis, therefore, there is an advantage to applying early when the process opens.

The degree program is self-sustaining, and fees for the entire course (starting in September 2009, ending in August 2010) will be $31,570. This does not include the cost of books, housing, personal costs, etc.

Because the masters degree is a self-supporting program, UCSF Graduate Division scholarship support is not available. Students may apply for federal financial aid (such as Stafford loans), from the UCSF Financial Aid Office. Students are encouraged to seek scholarship money on their own. A helpful resource for this is the Directory of Grants and Fellowships in the Global Health Sciences through NIH/FIC. If GHS scholarship money becomes available, the information on how to apply will be posted on this website.

Every effort will be made to provide blocks of free time during the fall, winter, and summer quarters. The academic workload, however, is rigorous and we expect students to apply considerable independent study to each course.