Minor in Global Public Health

Minor

Because health impacts every industry and community, a minor in Global Public Health at WPI will complement any major. Understanding how global health affects people in every part of the world prepares you for a career in engineering, government, business, education, communications, science, medicine, psychology, or health.

This interdisciplinary minor explores the complex relationship between the biological, social, political, environmental, and economic influences on the health of varied populations. Understanding these relationships leads to discoveries and interventions to protect and enhance the well-being of people worldwide.

Employers are looking for professionals knowledgeable about global public health for positions in these fields:

  • Community health education
  • Environmental health
  • Federal emergency management
  • Health policy and administration
  • Health and informatics epidemiology
  • Mental health professions

Curriculum

The curriculum for a minor in Global Public Health gives you the flexibility to choose courses based on your academic and career goals. You will choose three core and three elective courses to focus your minor. You can take courses for the minor in any order.

Core courses required:

  • STS1200 Fundamentals of Global Health
  • ID2100 Disease Detectives: An Introduction to Epidemiology OR PSY3408 Health Psychology
  • STS4000 Senior Seminar in Global Public Health OR Independent Study approved by the Global Public Health Steering Committee

Electives 

Any course that engages directly with health issues can count towards the electives required for the minor. However, 2/3 of these electives must be at the 2000 or higher level. The include such diverse courses, such as, Global Environmental Politics, Topics in International Politics, Development Economics, Psychology of Gender, Bioethics, and Immunology. Find the electives course list here. 

Project Experience

All Global Public Health minors require an ‘experience’ in global public health that is educational in nature and equivalent in length to at least one WPI term. This is a zero-credit “course”. Example experiences include global public health related IQPs and MQPs, or activities such as internships, service learning or significant volunteer work. You will be required to submit a brief reflection essay (750-1000 words) detailing your project experience, what it entailed (i.e., key tasks and activities) and a reflection on how this experience enhanced your understanding of global public health. The Global Public Health Steering Committee Chair must approve this experience, prior to the student undertaking it. 

 

Courses Notes

 

 

 

Core Courses

2/3 Unit

 STS1200 Fundamentals of Global Health Typically offered in A-term; we recommend taking this course early as it is foundational to your understanding of the field. 

ID2100 Disease Detectives: An Introduction to Epidemiology 

OR PSY3408 Health Psychology

 This is a methods course that helps you understand how global public health data are collected and analyzed.

STS4000 Senior Seminar in Global Public Health 

OR Independent Study (needs approval from the Global Public Health Steering Committee)

 This course offers a deeper dive on a specific issue in global public health and is a great way to consolidate your minor.

 

Electives

3/3 Unit

 Any health-related course; 2/3 of these should be at the 2000 or higher level See list of possible courses; We recommend that you choose courses from diverse disciplines, as global public health is an interdisciplinary field.
Project Experience This can be an internship, significant volunteer work, research experience, IQP or MQP that focuses on global public health  Any significant hands-on experience you have with the health field can count towards this experience.

WPI policy requires that no more than one unit of course work can be double counted toward other degree requirements. Thus, students may count three courses for the minor to fulfill other degree requirements as long as one unit of the minor does not double count. In other words, students must take STS 4000 and two other courses for this minor that do not count for another degree requirement.

 

Learn More About the Global Public Health Minor
Required Courses
Explore Minor Curriculum

Application Process

If you’re interested in a minor in Global Public Health, take the following steps:

You may also reach out to other members of the Global Public Health Steering Committee:

Biology & Biotechnology Department
Social Science & Policy Department