FAQ
Frequently asked questions from applicants for the UCSF Masters Degree in Global Health Sciences
Who should apply?
The MS degree is an accredited full-time, 12 month program designed for students and practitioners in health science professions or related fields who wish to achieve mastery and leadership skills in global health. It is beneficial if you have had a formative global health experience, but it is not required. You must be prepared to engage in an experiential fieldwork project either internationally or in an underserved population in the US. In the application you will need to clearly state why you are interested 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)
Is the program fully accredited?
The MS degree program has been approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.
What are the academic requirements?
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. Foreign-born applicants from non-English speaking countries must demonstrate proficiency in English and be able to obtain a J-1 Visa.
What does the fieldwork entail?
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.
What makes this degree different from a masters degree in public health?
The MS 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, health policy 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. A recurring theme is the cross-disciplinary nature of global health that emphasizes the many perspectives of global health problems and their solutions.
Public health curricula traditionally encompass biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental science, behavioral science, and health service administration. Global health has been defined more broadly. “Global health is area for study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. Global health emphasizes: transnational health issues, determinants and solutions; involves many disciplines within and beyond the health sciences and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration; and is a synthesis of population-based prevention with individual-level clinical care.” (Lancet 2009;373:1993-5)
What are the selection factors?
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. We anticipate the class entering in 2010 to be up to 30 students.
When can I apply?
Online applications will be available September 1, 2009. Exceptionally qualified applicants may be notified of acceptance on a rolling basis, therefore, there is an advantage to applying early when the process opens.
What is the cost of the program?
The degree program is self-sustaining, and estimated fees for the course (starting in September 2010) will be $32,517. This is subject to change, depending upon increased student service fees. This does not include the cost of books, housing, personal costs, and fieldwork expenses.
Are scholarships available?
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.
Will I have an opportunity for part-time work during the course?
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.