Program director
Monita Baba Djara
The M.P.H. degree earned in the Global Health Program prepares graduates to practice public health with a transformational development worldview—seeking positive change in the whole of human life materially, physically, socially, psychologically, and spiritually. The M.P.H. degree in global health prepares graduates with technical competence and cross-cultural skills to create and manage sustainable, equitable health system services and community development programs in diverse settings and populations worldwide.
Graduates of the global health program work in nongovernmental, civil-society, faith-based, and community-based organizations; county and state health departments; private foundations; public health enterprises; and public health practice organizations. Graduates also find positions in the United Nations, international, and multilateral organizations, such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the World Bank, as well as U.S. government organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Those with prior field experience and additional language/proficiency (e.g., French or Spanish) are generally more competitive for these positions.
The curriculum is organized around principles of:
The program is designed to build capacity in global health through:
The 4+1 is a dual-degree program with Pacific Union College (PUC). During the senior year of the B.S. degree in global health at PUC, students will complete the 15-unit public health core course sequence required for the M.P.H. in global health. These courses will be taught online by LLU faculty. In addition to earning 15 units of graduate credit at LLU, students will also receive 15 units of undergraduate credit awarded by PUC.
Interested students with a 3.0 G.P.A. or higher will be eligible to apply during winter quarter of their junior year at PUC by following Loma Linda University's admission process. Applicants must be accepted into the SPH prior to enrolling in the public health core courses taught by LLU. Students must maintain a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 and complete the B.S. degree at PUC before continuing the M.P.H. program beyond the 15 units of core courses.
Program learning outcomes
By the end of the program, the graduate should be able to:
Program learner outcomes are evidenced by:
| Public health core | ||
| PCOR 501 | Public Health for Community Resilience | 5 |
| PCOR 502 | Public Health for a Healthy Lifestyle 2 | 5 |
| PCOR 503 | Public Health and Health Systems | 5 |
| Major | ||
| GLBH 517 | Cultural Issues in Health Care | 3 |
| GLBH 545 | Integrated Community Development 1,3 | 4 |
| or GLBH 578 | Integrated Health Systems and Services | |
| GLBH 564 | Fundamentals of Global Health and Development I | 2 |
| GLBH 565 | Interventions in Community Health and Development I 1 | 3 |
| or GLBH 575 | Administration and Leadership of Health Systems and Services in Low Resource Settings I | |
| GLBH 566 | Fundamentals of Global Health and Development II | 2 |
| GLBH 567 | Interventions in Community Health and Development II 1 | 3 |
| or GLBH 576 | Administration and Leadership of Health Systems and Services in Low Resource Settings II | |
| GLBH 568 | Fundamentals of Global Health and Development III | 2 |
| GLBH 569 | Interventions in Community Health and Development III 1 | 3 |
| or GLBH 577 | Administration and Leadership of Health Systems and Services in Low Resource Settings III | |
| GLBH 605 | Seminar in Global Health | 1 |
| STAT 515 | Grant- and Contract-Proposal Writing | 3 |
| Religion | ||
| RELE 534 | Ethical Issues in Public Health (or REL_) | 3 |
| Cognates/Electives 4 | 12 | |
| Total Units | 56 | |
| Applied practice experience | ||
| Practicum units are in addition to the minimum graduate units required for the degree | ||
| PHCJ 798A | Public Health Practicum (Minimum of 4 units/200 clock hours) | 4 |
| or PHCJ 798B | Public Health Practicum | |
Must register for GLBH 545, GLBH 565, GLBH 567, GLBH 569 or GLBH 578, GLBH 575, GLBH 576, GLBH 577, in consultation with advisor.
Fulfills service learning requirement
This field-based course involves international travel and fulfillment of required prerequisites. A separate laboratory fee must be paid at the time of registration for this course (subject to change, if needed).
Choose from defined cognates or select from electives, in consultation with advisor.
See standard integrative learning experience requirements.
Two (2) years (seven [7] academic quarters) — based on full-time enrollment; part time permitted
Students in the 4+1 program with PUC can complete the M.P.H. in 1.3 years (four [4] academic quarters — based on full-time enrollment; part time permitted.
GLBH 516. HIV/AIDS: Implications for Public Health. 3 Units.
Historical, epidemiological, and public health aspects of HIV/AIDS. Viral, immunologic, laboratory, and clinical manifestations associated with HIV/AIDS. Includes: approaches to preventing/controlling the epidemic; socioeconomic, political, and health impact of HIV/AIDS; and, related implications such as legal, ethical, and health-care management issues.
GLBH 517. Cultural Issues in Health Care. 3 Units.
Critical analysis of broad sociocultural and political forces that impact domestic and international health, and health-care access and delivery. Addresses how culture informs the understanding and experience of health and illness. Introduction to assessment of race relations and ethnocentric beliefs and attitudes that contribute to the gap between marginal populations and health-care providers. Presents sociocultural change strategies within the context of power and privilege.
GLBH 524. Cultural Competence and Health Disparities. 2 Units.
Introduces diversity and cultural responsiveness in public health and health care. Examines population diversity, health professions diversity, and cultural responsiveness in addressing and eliminating disparities in national and global health. Discusses biological inheritance, race and ethnicity identifiers, socioeconomics, socioenvironment, and health-care beliefs and behavior. Introduces cultural competency in public health and tenets for developing and applying cultural awareness.
GLBH 545. Integrated Community Development. 4 Units.
Analyzes issues, challenges, resources, and strategies in implementing and managing integrated community development and health projects. Focuses on basic development needs of rural and urban communities. Taught from the perspectives of anthropology, sociology, agriculture, economic development, and public health. The final course in the GLBH core curriculum. Restricted to students in the major.
Prerequisite: GLBH 564, GLBH 565, GLBH 566, GLBH 567, GLBH 568, GLBH 569.
GLBH 550. Women in Development. 3 Units.
Global epidemiological profile of women in terms of educational patterns, economic productivity, social status, and mortality and morbidity patterns. Risks to physical and psychosocial health. National and international legal and regulatory issues and programs to promote access to health care, economic productivity, and the health of women.
GLBH 564. Fundamentals of Global Health and Development I. 2 Units.
Addresses the context and realities of global health as well as transformational development. Reviews the history of global health; analyzes the burden of disease at global, national, and local levels; examines cultural, social, economic, political, and environmental determinants of health; assesses vulnerable populations; reviews prevention strategies; and studies global pharmaceutical supplies. A low- or middle-income country is researched throughout the year.
GLBH 565. Interventions in Community Health and Development I. 3 Units.
First of three courses addressing methodological techniques and skills applicable to planning, implementation, and evaluation of primary health-care programs. Focuses on improvement of health, safety, and well-being of all people in local and global settings by promoting wellness, preventing avoidable disease, disabilities, and deaths, and eliminating social and health disparities.
GLBH 566. Fundamentals of Global Health and Development II. 2 Units.
Addresses the context and realities of global health as well as transformational development. Analyzes roles of specific disease processes that have a major role in global health, such as non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, disasters, violence, conflict and war, and mental health. Prioritizes problems of a country of interest and explores possible interventions.
GLBH 567. Interventions in Community Health and Development II. 3 Units.
Second of three courses addressing methodological techniques and skills applicable to planning, implementation, and evaluation of primary health-care programs. Focuses on improvement of health, safety, and well-being of all people in local and global settings by promoting wellness, preventing avoidable disease, disabilities, and deaths, and eliminating social and health disparities.
Prerequisite: GLBH 565.
GLBH 568. Fundamentals of Global Health and Development III. 2 Units.
Addresses context and realities of global health as well as transformational development. Analyzes public health systems at global, national, and subnational levels. Includes assessing health workforce, health financing, policies, and programs through non-governmental, United Nations, bilateral, and multi-lateral global health organizations as well as methods for monitoring and evaluating impact. Describes local health governance and diplomacy, and engagement in professional career development.
GLBH 569. Interventions in Community Health and Development III. 3 Units.
Third of three courses addressing methodological techniques and skills applicable to planning, implementation, and evaluation of primary health-care programs. Focuses on improvement of health, safety, and well-being of all people in local and global settings by promoting wellness, preventing avoidable disease, disabilities, and deaths, and eliminating social and health disparities.
Prerequisite: GLBH 565, GLBH 567.
GLBH 575. Administration and Leadership of Health Systems and Services in Low Resource Settings I. 3 Units.
First of three courses, introduces basic principles and practice of health systems and services in low-resource settings. Reviews health systems as well as administrative practices for health services. Presents theory and builds practice skills in the following subjects: governance and management; financial management and reporting; strategic marketing; and human resource management. During the quarter, students work with a hospital in a low-resource setting on a case study.
GLBH 576. Administration and Leadership of Health Systems and Services in Low Resource Settings II. 3 Units.
Second of three courses, introduces basic principles and practice of health systems and services in low-resource settings. Reviews principles of culturally competent and ethical health systems and services. Presents theory and builds practice skills in the following subjects: organizational culture, change management, ethical practices, and culturally competent leadership. During the quarter, students work with a hospital in a low-resource setting to apply concepts to a case study.
GLBH 577. Administration and Leadership of Health Systems and Services in Low Resource Settings III. 3 Units.
Third of three courses, introduces basic principles and practice of health systems and services in low-resource settings. Reviews community health and development as well as patient safety and quality management. Teaches theory and builds practice skills in the following subjects: hospitals as centers of health, social determinants, data use, patient safety, and performance/quality of care. During the quarter, students work with a hospital in a low-resource setting on a case study.
GLBH 578. Integrated Health Systems and Services. 4 Units.
Analyzes issues, challenges, resources, and strategies in leading and managing health systems and services in low-resource settings. Focuses on basic leadership and management needs of rural and urban health services. Taught from the perspectives of leadership, management, and governance principles as well as organizational change, cultural humility, self-reflection, and public health.
Prerequisite: GLBH 564, GLBH 566, GLBH 568, GLBH 575, GLBH 576, GLBH 577; acceptance into global health major.
GLBH 584. Special Topics in Global Health. 1-3 Units.
Lectures and discussions on a current topic in global health. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 units applicable to degree program.
GLBH 605. Seminar in Global Health. 1 Unit.
Issues, trends, organizational structure, and practice of international public health. Issues impacting global health, the structure and functions of government and NGOs in the delivery of public health services, and preparation to practice international health. Selected guest lecturers and student participation.
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