The Global Health major is a bioscience and public health major where students study human health and well-being through population-level and planetary health perspectives. Students in the major will learn how human health intersects with multiple interconnected systems, including climate change, food systems, disease ecology, environmental and ecosystem health, economic development, and healthcare access. The major allows students to focus within their area of interest, be it disease biology and epidemiology, environmental health, or public health disparities and development. The major fits well with a range of career interests and will benefit students interested in healthcare professions as well as those interested in research or policy careers related to the biological or social science facets of public health.
PRIMARY MAJOR IN GLOBAL HEALTH
To declare this as the primary major, students must be admitted to UW–Madison and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS).
Students who attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have the option to declare this major at SOAR. Students may otherwise declare after beginning their undergraduate studies at UW-Madison (see Entering the College). For more information, contact the advisor listed on the Advising and Careers tab.
ADDITIONAL MAJOR IN GLOBAL HEALTH
Current UW-Madison students in other schools and colleges interested in completing an additional (“double”) major in Global Health should consult with a global health advisor. Advisor contact information is found on the Advising and Careers tab.
Students cannot earn both the Global Health certificate and the Global Health major. Additionally, students declared in the Global Health major cannot earn the Health and the Humanities certificate.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements
In addition to the University General Education Requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements (General Education and Breadth) or within college requirements (First-Year Seminar, International Studies, Science, and Capstone), but courses counted toward university requirements may also be used to satisfy a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, courses counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.
College Requirements for all CALS B.S. Degree Programs
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Work: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation. | ||
| Residency: Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UW–Madison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree. | ||
| First Year Seminar | 1 | |
| International Studies | 3 | |
| Physical Science Fundamentals | 4-5 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
or CHEM 108 | Chemistry in Our World | |
or CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | |
| Biological Science | 5 | |
| Additional Science (Biological, Physical, or Natural) | 3 | |
| Science Breadth (Biological, Physical, Natural, or Social) | 3 | |
| CALS Capstone Learning Experience: included in the requirements for each CALS major (see "Major Requirements") | ||
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements Overview | ||
| Fundamental Courses | 29 | |
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| Depth Courses | 15 | |
| Capstone | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 62 | |
Fundamental Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental Course Requirements | ||
| Mathematics: complete one sequence (or satisfy through placement exam) | 5-6 | |
| Algebra and Trigonometry | ||
| Algebra and Trigonometry | ||
| Statistics: complete one course | 3 | |
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences (recommended) | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| General Chemistry: complete one sequence | 5-10 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II | ||
| Introductory Biology: complete one sequence | 10 | |
| Introductory Biology and Introductory Biology | ||
| Animal Biology and Animal Biology Laboratory and General Botany | ||
| Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics and Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory and Cellular Biology and Cellular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Global Health Introductory Social Sciences | 6-8 | |
Group A: complete one course (see list below) | ||
Group B: complete one course (see list below) | ||
| Total Credits | 29-37 | |
Social Science Group A
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to American Indian Studies | ||
| Introduction to Culture and Health | ||
| Gender, Women, and Society in Global Perspective | ||
| Gender, Women, Bodies, and Health | ||
| Sociology of Race & Ethnicity in the United States | ||
| Population Problems |
Social Science Group B
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Agricultural and Applied Economics | ||
| The Environment and the Global Economy | ||
| Agroecology: An Introduction to the Ecology of Food and Agriculture | ||
| Introduction to Community and Environmental Sociology | ||
| Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | ||
| Introduction to Human Geography | ||
| Global Environmental Issues | ||
| Introduction to International Studies | ||
| Introduction to Scientific Communication | ||
| Science, Media and Society | ||
| Introduction to Social Medicine | ||
| Introductory Ethics | ||
| Introduction to Public Policy | ||
| Exploring Religion in Sickness and Health |
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Global Health Core Course Requirements | ||
| Gateway Core Requirement: complete one course | 3 | |
| Our Planet, Our Health | ||
| Public Health Core Requirement: complete one course | 3 | |
| Introduction to Global Health | ||
| Introduction to Public Health: Local to Global Perspectives | ||
| Food Systems and Health Core Requirement: complete one course | 3 | |
| Global Food Security | ||
| Cropping Systems of the Tropics | ||
| Environmental Health Core Requirement: complete one course | 3-4 | |
| Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy | ||
| Global Environmental Health: An Interdisciplinary Introduction | ||
| Global Disease Biology and Epidemiology Core Requirement: complete one course | 3 | |
| Introduction to Epidemiology | ||
| Host-Parasite Interactions | ||
| Total Credits | 15-16 | |
Depth Courses
Complete a minimum of 15 credits of depth courses, with at least 9 credits from one category and at least 6 credits from the other categories. NUTR SCI/INTER-AG 421 Global Health Field Experience can count for a maximum of 3 credits in the additional 6 credits from this requirement. Note: Courses used as Depth courses cannot double count as either Core or Capstone courses.
Public Health, Policy, and Development Depth Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities | ||
| The Economics of Health Care | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Reproduction: Public Health Perspectives | ||
| Women's Global Health and Human Rights | ||
| International Migration, Health, and Human Rights | ||
| Justice and Health Care | ||
| The Development of Public Health in America | ||
| Public Health Ethics | ||
| Race, American Medicine and Public Health | ||
| Ethical Issues in Health Care | ||
| Disease, Medicine and Public Health in the History of Latin America and the Caribbean | ||
| Introduction to Epidemiology | ||
| Introduction to Public Health: Local to Global Perspectives | ||
| Public Health and Human Rights: The Care of Vulnerable Children in Africa | ||
| Health Care Quality Improvement in Low Resource Settings | ||
| International Health and Global Society | ||
| Foundations in Global Health Practice | ||
| Poverty and Place |
Food Systems and Nutrition Depth Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The International Agricultural Economy | ||
| Agricultural and Economic Development in Africa | ||
| Plant Breeding and Biotechnology | ||
| Livestock Production and Health in Agricultural Development | ||
| Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism | ||
| Ethnobotany | ||
| Issues in Food Systems | ||
| Labor in Global Food Systems | ||
| Food Production Systems and Sustainability | ||
| Animal Agriculture and Global Sustainable Development | ||
| International Field Study in Animal Agriculture and Sustainable Development | ||
| People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems | ||
| Plants and Human Wellbeing | ||
| Genetically Modified Crops: Science, Regulation & Controversy | ||
| Tropical Horticultural Systems | ||
| The Ethics of Modern Biotechnology | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Human Nutritional Needs | ||
| World Hunger and Malnutrition | ||
| Nutrition in the Life Span | ||
| Introduction to Nutritional Epidemiology | ||
| Global Food Security | ||
| General Soil Science |
Ecosystem Sustainability and Planetary Health Depth Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy | ||
| Grassland Ecology | ||
| General Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Environmental Sustainability Engineering | ||
| Air Pollution Effects, Measurement and Control | ||
| Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | ||
| Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | ||
| Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Global Environmental History | ||
| Extinction of Species | ||
| Global Warming: Science and Impacts | ||
| Nature, Power and Society | ||
| Environmental Conservation | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing | ||
| An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Human Transformations of Earth Surface Processes | ||
| Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects | ||
| Ecotoxicology: The Chemical Players | ||
| Ecotoxicology: Impacts on Individuals | ||
| Ecotoxicology: Impacts on Populations, Communities and Ecosystems | ||
| Environmental Microbiology | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Health | ||
| Air Pollution and Human Health | ||
| Health Impact Assessment of Global Environmental Change | ||
| Soil Biology | ||
| Soils and Environmental Quality |
Disease Biology Depth Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Physiology | ||
| Fundamentals of Human Physiology | ||
| Animal Health and Disease Management | ||
| Survey of Biochemistry | ||
| Introduction to Biochemistry | ||
| Principles of Physiology | ||
| Principles of Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Biological Interactions | ||
| Medical Entomology | ||
| Principles of Genetics | ||
| The Genomic Revolution | ||
| Human Genetics | ||
| Pathogenic Bacteriology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Emerging Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism | ||
| Vaccines: Practical Issues for a Global Society | ||
| Biology of Viruses | ||
| Biology of Microorganisms | ||
| Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory | ||
| Host-Parasite Interactions | ||
| The Microbiome of Plants, Animals, and Humans | ||
| Toxicology I | ||
| Toxicology II | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Pathophysiologic Principles of Human Diseases | ||
| Clinical and Public Health Microbiology |
Capstone
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Global Health Capstone Requirement (complete one option) | 3 | |
| Biological Interactions | ||
| Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities | ||
| Food Production Systems and Sustainability | ||
| Women's Global Health and Human Rights | ||
| Health Impact Assessment of Global Environmental Change | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
- Describe the current status of health, well-being and sustainability for humans and all life, the environment, and the planet.
- Compare and contrast health and environmental conditions in the context of local settings and our state with national, international and global settings.
- Quantify health challenges in terms of the global burden of disease, the human development index, and the metrics associated with the sustainable development goals and the planetary health boundaries.
- Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of contemporary initiatives and programs to improve global public health and sustainable systems.
- Use socioeconomic and political frameworks to characterize health challenges and demonstrate social awareness.
- Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills necessary for teamwork and leadership, ethical conduct, cross-cultural collaboration and civic engagement.
- Use a systems approach to analyze complex relationships related to creating conditions for healthy life, sustainability and survival and describe the challenges and opportunities related to sustainable systems and survival.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Global Health Core Course | 3 | Global Health Core Course | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | 4 | CHEM 104 | 5 |
| Math | 5 | LSC 100 | 3 |
| CALS First-Year Seminar | 1 | Social Science Category A or B | 3-4 |
| Electives | 2 | Electives | 1 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Global Health Core Course | 3 | Global Health Core Course | 3 |
| BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 | 5 | BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152 | 5 |
| STAT 371 | 3 | Social Science Category A or B | 3-4 |
| Ethnic Studies | 3 | Electives | 4 |
| 14 | 15-16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Global Health Core Course | 3 | Global Health Depth Course | 3 |
| Global Health Depth Course | 3 | Global Health Depth Course | 3 |
| Electives | 10 | Humanities | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Global Health Depth Course | 3 | Global Health Depth Course | 3 |
| Global Health Capstone | 2-3 | Humanities | 3 |
| Electives | 10 | Electives | 9 |
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120-123 | |||
Advising
Advising is an essential resource for students in the Global Health Major, and helps students shape their unique Wisconsin Experience and career path by making the most of their time at UW-Madison. Advisors can help students make well-informed decisions about coursework and academics, share strategies for success, support them as they encounter challenges, connect them to resources, and provide information about campus policies and procedures. Students are encouraged to regularly meet with their assigned advisor in the major, which helps ensure that they are aware of opportunities and progressing in their academic and career goals.
Advising is typically done through individual in-person appointments, but advisors in the major are also able to meet with students over the phone or through video conferencing if needed. Quick questions can be answered via email, but an appointment should be scheduled if a conversation is needed. Both declared and undeclared UW students can schedule appointments through the Starfish application in their MyUW page.
Global Health Major Advisor:
Todd Courtenay
todd.courtenay@wisc.edu
Link to schedule an appointment through Starfish
Careers
The knowledge and skills developed through the Global Health Major equips students for success in a range of career paths. Some graduates may use this background to go into healthcare professions, while others may choose research or policy careers related to public health, epidemiology, environmental health, or international development. The major supports students who intend go directly into the workforce after graduation as well as those who intend to further their education through graduate or professional programs.
Because an interest in global health can lead to many different careers, students are encouraged to begin the career exploration process early in their UW-Madison journey by working with advisors, faculty, and career resources on campus. These resources can help students reflect on their values and goals, identify career paths, and outline strategies for pursuing their goals. UW-Madison has a number of dedicated career resources for undergraduate students, including CALS Career Services, the Career Exploration Center, L&S SuccessWorks, and the Center for Pre-Health Advising.
Professors
Susan Paskewitz (Faculty Director), Ph.D.
Jonathan Patz, M.D., MPH
Joshua Garoon, Ph.D.
Sherry Tanumihardjo, Ph.D.
Valentin Picasso Risso, Ph.D.
Daniel Phaneuf, Ph.D.
Jeri Barak, Ph.D.
Patrick Remington, M.D., MPH
Richard Keller, Ph.D.
Faculty Associates
Devika Suri, MPH
Students majoring in Global Health are involved in an array of opportunities across campus. Students are highly encouraged to complement their coursework with out-of-classroom experiences such as research, volunteering and study abroad.
The following opportunities can help students connect with other students interested in global health, build relationships with faculty and staff, and contribute to out-of-classroom learning:
- CALS Study Abroad (https://cals.wisc.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/studyabroad/)
- Badger Volunteers (https://morgridge.wisc.edu/students/badger-volunteers/)
- CALS Health and Research Society (https://win.wisc.edu/organization/CHARS)
- WISELI, Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute—a research center aiming to increase the representation, advancement, and satisfaction of women faculty and members of groups currently underrepresented on the faculty and in leadership at UW–Madison.
Research/Lab experience: Students are encouraged to get involved in research. Research can be performed for either course credit or pay, depending on the opportunity. Research opportunities can primarily be found by inquiring with advisors, instructors, and faculty members.