The School of Global Health offers a series of core and elective courses on various aspects of global health that relate to healthcare, public health, and the social determinants of health. Global Health courses emphasize the importance of multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches to health, examining global health from science, social science, and humanities perspectives – as well as the collaborative, multi-sectorial, and multi-jurisdictional factors that impact the conditions necessary for promoting health and health equity.
While these courses are primarily offered for students in the Global Health program and other Faculty of Health programs, students from other Faculties at York are welcome to enroll if they have satisfied the prerequisites. Not all courses are offered every year, but confirmation of current courses being offered can be found on the York Courses website.
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Core Courses
1000-Level Courses
Course Description:
Examines human anatomy and physiology with a focus on health and disease in the body as a whole as well as each body system. Students examine how the different body systems work together to maintain homeostasis and how the systems react when homeostasis is disrupted by disease.
Course credit exclusions: HH/IHST 1001 3.00, HH/KINE 2011 3.00, HH/KINE 2031 3.00, SC/ NATS 1650 6.00
Course Description:
Examines human anatomy and physiology with a focus on health and disease in the body as a whole as well as each body system. Students examine how the different body systems work together to maintain homeostasis and how the systems react when homeostasis is disrupted by disease.
Course credit exclusions: HH/IHST 1002 3.00, HH/KINE 2011 3.00, HH/KINE 2031 3.00, SC/ NATS 1650 6.00
Course Description:
An interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary introduction to the issues underlying Canadian and international health care systems. Examines the social, cultural, economic and political influences on concepts, values and structures of Canadian and international health care systems.
Course Credit Exclusion: HH/IHST 1010 3.00.
Course Description:
A multidisciplinary introduction to the concepts, methods, values, and structures that determine health within and across health systems locally and globally. The course also focuses on building academic and professional skills to support long-term learning strategies for solving global health problems.
Prerequisites: HH/GH 1010 3.00.
Course Credit Exclusion: HH/IHST 1010 3.00.
2000-Level Courses
Course Description:
Analyzes the process through which global health policy is developed. As national and global initiatives can intertwine, the course begins by exploring and categorizing the manner in which nation governments are structured, and the factors that influence the process of policy decision-making at the national and global levels. Explores case studies that demonstrate global health policy development.
Prerequisite: HH/GH 1010 3.00 and HH/GH 1011 3.00.
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 2000 3.00.
Course Description:
An introduction to the research cycle and the judicious use of quantitative and qualitative methodologies in the context of global health. Topics such as asking global health research questions, partnership involvement, capacity building, design, ethical conduct, data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing up, dissemination and uptake of global health research will be covered.
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/KINE 2049 3.00 and HH/KINE 2050 3.00 or HH/PSYC 2021 3.00 and HH/PSYC 2030 3.00 or HH/HLST 2300 6.00.
Course Description:
Provides an introduction to the research cycle and the generation of evidence to support policy and practice in global health. Topics include understanding the multi-disciplinary nature of global health research, equitable global health research partnership and power, positionality and intersectionality in research practice, different types of empirical data and the process of research ethics. Students will also develop skills in identifying and interpreting empirical research and critical appraisal.
Open to: Global Health students and other students by permission.
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/GH 2010 6.00, HH/IHST 2010 6.00.
Course Description:
Examines the complexity and impact of chronic diseases, also known as non-communicable diseases, within national and international health care systems. It will define and investigate the current prevalence, significance, risk factors and determinants of the major current chronic conditions and their prevention and management.
Prerequisites: HH/GH 1001 3.00 and HH/GH 1002 3.00.
Course Description:
Provides an opportunity for participants to develop or strengthen their understanding of social determinants of health from a global perspective. Participants will engage in critical analysis of social inequities and the health consequences to global populations and will also develop an understanding of the concept of global citizenship.
Course Credit Exclusion: HH/IHST 2200.
3000-Level Courses
Course Description:
An introduction to the basic principles of epidemiology. The use of epidemiologic methods for population and public health research will be emphasized.
Prerequisites: HH/IHST 2010 6.00 or HH/GH 2010 6.00 or HH/GH 2011 3.00 or HH/KINE 2049 3.00, or HH/PSYC 2030 or HH/HLST 2300 6.00 or HH/NURS 2300 3.00.
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 3000 3.00.
Open to: Students in the BA and BSc in Global Health.
Course Description:
Provides an opportunity to apply knowledge of the research cycle from the perspective of multiple disciplines essential to generating global health research evidence. Topics include partnership, asking relevant global health research questions, study design, ethical conduct, data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing up, dissemination and uptake of global health research will be covered. Students will develop skills in conducting a piece of research in one of the disciplinary methods covered.
Prerequisite: HH/GH 2011 3.00
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 2010 6.00, HH/GH 2010 6.00
Open to: Global Health students and other students by permission
Course Description:
Introduces contemporary theories and knowledge of communicable diseases, highlighting the diversity of policies and programs designed to combat their spread globally. Emphasizing prevention and control strategies, students will examine the burden of communicable diseases on populations and the responses employed to address them.
Prerequisite: HH/GH 3000 3.00.
Course Credit Exclusion: HH/IHST 3100 3.00. Previously Offered as HH/IHST 3100 3.00.
Note: Prerequisite checking will take place at the start of this course.
Course Description:
Students examine the evidence that while progress in achieving important global health outcomes has occurred, significant challenges remain to be solved. Global health issues impacted by such factors as poverty, gender inequality, international trade policy, climate-change, loss of biodiversity, food insecurity, war and displacement are explored as expressions of structural influences which perpetuate global disparities in health. Asking the question "What would it take to achieve health for all?" students identify pressing global health issues and the global health promotion strategies being used to address them.
Prerequisites: HH/IHST 2200 3.00 or HH/GH 2200 3.00.
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 3545 3.00.
Open to: Students in the BA/BSc Global Health.
Previously Offered as HH/IHST 3545 3.00.
Course Description:
This course provides a theoretical and methodological background for health problem analysis and program/service planning at the community and regional levels.
Cross-listed to: HH/NURS 3740 3.00
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 3740 3.00
Previously Offered as HH/IHST 3740 3.00
4000-Level Courses
Course Description:
Analyzes the nature and extent of some of the main ethical issues involved in global health practice, policy, and research. Explores the theoretical and practical application of global health's population-level approach to allow for reflection on the role ethical theory, concepts, and values play in advancing global health's social mission.
Course Credit Exclusion: HH/IHST 4010 3.00.
Open to: Students who have earned at least 54 credits or with permission of the course instructor.
Note: Students can enrol by permission of course instructor.
Previously Offered as HH/IHST 4010 3.00.
Course Description:
Provides an overview to the field of policy and program evaluation including topics such as challenges for evaluation practice in the global health context, working with stakeholders, traditional and critical approaches to research in evaluation, effective evaluation design including logic models and theories of change, the use of mixed methods and management and communication.
Prerequisites: HH/IHST 2010 6.00 or HH/GH 2010 6.00 or HH/GH 2011 3.00 and HH/GH 3011 3.00.
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 4100 3.00.
Previously Offered as HH/IHST 4100 3.00.
Course Description:
Introduces students to global health governance as a mechanism for resolving transnational interdependent health problems where global cooperation is needed. The course is designed to give students an understanding of issues in global health governance. The course combines theory with application to develop leadership skills needed to work with organizations that provide support for global health initiatives.
Prerequisites: HH/IHST 2000 3.00 or HH/GH 2000 3.00.
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 4200 3.00.
Previously Offered as HH/IHST 4200 3.00.
Course Description:
Provides an introduction to international law, human rights, and the right to health. Explores the relationship between health and human rights, and how human rights provides a form of social machinery to improve well-being and promote social justice. Also explores the benefits and challenges of taking a human rights-based approach in global health through investigating its application in different case studies.
Open to: Students who have earned at least 54 credits or with permission of course instructor.
Course Credit Exclusion: HH/IHST 4510 3.00.
Previously Offered as HH/IHST 4510 3.00.
Course Description:
Prepares students for their Integrated Global Health Practicum. Prior term to starting their practicum, students attend pre-practicum workshops covering a variety of relevant topics such as global health competencies; practicum learning plan; diversity and inclusion in the workplace; rights and responsibilities; health and safety; mental wellbeing and self-care; professionalism, communication and conflict resolution.
Open to: Global Health students after completing all required core and specialized stream elective courses except for HH/GH 4601 6.00 and HH/GH 4602 3.00.
Note: Students must complete this course BEFORE they enroll in the practicum courses HH/GH 4601 6.00 and GH/4602 3.00.
Course Description:
Designed to bridge theory and practice in a variety of health settings, the Practicum is a 250-hour planned, supervised and evaluated research and practice-based experience in which students are mentored and supported by qualified supervisors and faculty. The course also includes seminars and reflective and applied assignments.
Prerequisites: GH 4600 3.00.
Corequisites: HH/GH 4602 3.00.
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 4300 9.00, HH/GH 4300 9.00.
Open to: Global Health students after completing all required core and specialized stream elective courses except for GH 4602 3.00.
Course Description:
This capstone course will be in topic areas reflecting concentrations in Global Health Specialized Honours, Global e-Health; Global Health policy management and systems; Global Health promotion and disease prevention; and Global Health and the Environment. This course will support synthesis of learning from the practicum and previous courses in the program and develop seminar leadership skills.
Open to: Specialized Honours Global Health majors.
Prerequisites: All 3000- and 4000-level courses in the major.
Corequisite: HH/GH 4601 6.00
Course Credit Exclusion: HH/IHST 4400 3.00, HH/GH 4400 3.00
Previously Offered as HH/IHST 4400 3.00 and HH/GH 4400 3.00
Elective Courses
1000-Level Courses
Course Description:
In this foundational course students examine the concepts of health and global health through multiple philosophical and disciplinary lenses. Applying complexity theory, students analyze effective change processes and the attributes of those who lead them. Students reflect on the question "Can one person make a difference?" as they construct a scholarly portrait of themselves as agents of change for health.
Note 1: Students will engage in experiential learning. This course uses blended learning approaches with alternating on-line and face-to-face learning.
Note 2: This course has been approved in the Faculty of Health for general education credits.
3000-Level Courses
Course Description:
Explores the scientific study of how laws and policies influence health. Focusing on policy surveillance and legal epidemiology as research methodologies, students will gain a deeper understanding of empirical research approaches to law and its ability to defines important questions for health research, identify patterns in the nature and distribution of laws, and enrich legal analysis and policy development in the context of population health.
Open to: Students who have earned at least 54 credits or with permission of the course instructor.
Course Description:
Builds an understanding of health policy and systems research through an exploration of health system components and the role of multidisciplinary research to understand and improve system performance. Students will examine core health system building blocks - health workforce, medical supplies, health services, information systems, governance, and financing, and the role of research to address the complex challenges facing health systems.
Prerequisite: HH/GH 2011 3.00.
Open to: Third and fourth-year students.
Not open to: First and second year students.
Course Description:
Global health requires students to understand the core concepts in understanding and navigating "differences" as these are socially produced and embedded within power relations. Students critically examine theoretical approaches to cultural safety, cultural competence and anti-oppression to develop an integrative approach to intercultural awareness and safety. Working with a broad definition of culture that explicitly includes an intersectional understanding of culture/diversity students explore the impact of cultural patterns and social locations on self and others. Through reflective assignments, students gain insight into their own cultural positionality and explore how to be an affective ally and advocate to promote equity and health for all. Understanding varied definitions of health and healing and different approaches to communication are fundamental tools for developing effective health care policies, strategies, and care approaches.
Prerequisites: HH/GH 1010 3.00 or HH/HLST 1010 3.00 or HH/IHST 1010 3.00 or HH/KINE 1000 6.00, HH/PSYC 1010 6.0.
Cross-listed to: HH/NURS 3200 3.00.
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 3200 3.00.
Note: This course does not count as a science credit for BSc degree programs. Previously Offered as HH/IHST 3200 3.00.
Course Description:
Introduces environmental health from local to global, addressing fundamental topics and current debates. Covers core topics including environmental determinants, toxicology, exposure assessment, environmental epidemiology, risk assessment/risk management, air pollution, water pollution, occupational health, injuries, biodiversity change and human health, climate change, vector-borne diseases, the built environment/urban sprawl, and one health approach to global health and environmental justice more fully.
Course Description:
Critically examines global mental health, its key concepts, development, and foundations. Explores the foundations of culture in global mental health research and practice. Analyzes human rights approaches to global mental health. Provides a basic understanding of the concept of mental well-being and its relationship with culture. Considers the various career opportunities in global mental health.
Prerequisites: HH/GH 1010 3.00, or HH/GH 1011 3.00, or HH/PSYC 1010 6.00.
Previously Offered as HH/IHST 3500 3.00.
Course Description:
Provides a comprehensive overview of the current and changing architecture of global health, its evolution through the second world war, and the global forces that influence and shape its current priorities. Covers the historical antecedents of international/global health; the structure, function, and operation of WHO and other global health actors; theories of global health and health inequities; and international humanitarian responses, operational realities, and current challenges.
Prerequisites: HH/GH 1010 3.00.
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 3550 3.00.
Previously Offered as HH/IHST 3550 3.00.
4000-Level Courses
Course Description:
Students may arrange to do independent study with faculty members of the Global Health Program and the Faculty of Health. This course is intended to enable students of exceptional ability to pursue individual fields of interest not otherwise provided for by their regular curriculum. Students must be accepted by a faculty supervisor before they can register in this course and require approval from the Program Director.
Prerequisite: Students applying for Independent Study must have (1) completed 72 academic credits including related introductory courses in the topic area, and (2) achieved an overall GPA of 6.0 OR a GPA of 6.0 in the student's last 30 credits.
Open to: Students in the BA/BSc Global Health and other Health majors and/or students whose study proposal is relevant to current health issues
Exception: On occasion, a Study Abroad Global Health course offered at the Las Nubes eco-campus may be taught as GH 4000 3.0. The criteria for enrolment and prerequisites will be distinctly shared on the Las Nubes Project website.
Notes: The maximum number of Independent Study Course credits is 18 credits. Students may take a maximum of 12 credits of Independent Study Courses within their last 30 credits of their degree studies and may take a maximum of 12 credits of Independent Study Courses with the same faculty member.
Course Description:
Students may arrange to do independent study with faculty members of the Global Health Program and the Faculty of Health. This course is intended to enable students of exceptional ability to pursue individual fields of interest not otherwise provided for by their regular curriculum. Students must be accepted by a faculty supervisor before they can register in this course and require approval from the Program Director.
Prerequisite: Students applying for Independent Study must have (1) completed 72 academic credits including related introductory courses in the topic area, and (2) achieved an overall GPA of 6.0 OR a GPA of 6.0 in the student's last 30 credits.
Open to: Students in the BA/BSc Global Health and other Health majors and/or students whose study proposal is relevant to current health issues
Exception: On occasion, a Study Abroad Global Health course offered at the Las Nubes eco-campus may be taught as GH 4000 3.0. The criteria for enrolment and prerequisites will be distinctly shared on the Las Nubes Project website.
Notes: The maximum number of Independent Study Course credits is 18 credits. Students may take a maximum of 12 credits of Independent Study Courses within their last 30 credits of their degree studies and may take a maximum of 12 credits of Independent Study Courses with the same faculty member.
Course Description:
Students examine how mental health is understood and acted upon globally through multiple philosophical and cultural lenses. In Learning Circles, students develop knowledge and practical skills for working with culturally diverse people and communities. Special attention is given to the impact of colonization on Indigenous people, especially in Canada. Students are challenged to deliberate and critically reflect on an integrative approach for healing ourselves, healing others and healing our world. Finally, students develop their lifelong practice for leadership, wellbeing and resilience.
Prerequisites: HH/HLST 1010 3.00 or HH/GH 1010 3.00 or HH/PSYC 1010 6.00 or HH/KINE 1000 6.00
Open to: Students must be in an Honors program in the Faculty of Health and have least 84 earned credits
Note: It is recommended to take HH/GH 2200 3.00 or HH/GH 2200 3.00; HH/PSYC 3350 3.00; and/or HH/PSYC 3140 3.00 before enrolling in this course
Course Description:
Enhances knowledge and skills around collaborative governance approaches using simulation-based experiential learning modelled on the World Health Organization's supreme decision-making body. Incorporating multi-sectoral and multi-jurisdictional global challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), students generate innovative and feasible solutions on the simulation theme in the form of research briefs, debates, and formal resolutions, which will be sent to the WHO.
Prerequisite: HH/GH 2000 3.00.
Note: Students in related programs could attend if the upper course limit is not exceeded.
Course Description:
Examines scientific evidence attesting that physical activity interventions promote health and prevent different chronic diseases and conditions globally. A comprehensive analysis of research articles, reports and data collected locally, nationally or worldwide, and across a variety of populations and geographic settings will be presented. Students will learn how to create report cards based on data analysis.
Prerequisites: HH/GH 1001 3.00 and HH/GH 1002, HH/GH 2100 3.00.
Course Description:
Critically examines the inextricable relationship between global health and humanitarian action, and its implications for global health equity using simple, complex, and wicked problem frameworks. Covers discussions on changing trends of global health priorities and humanitarian action, development aid, armed conflict, migration and displaced persons, benefits and limitations of global health partnerships, humanitarian dilemmas, climate change and humanitarian action, and the decolonization of humanitarian action.
Prerequisite: HH/GH 1010 3.00.
Open to 2000 - 4000 level students.
Course Description:
Provides a critical introduction and examination of how laws interact with central topics in global health. Examining foundational, methodological, and contextual issues within global health law, the course scrutinizes the various ways law acts as a key determinant of health and health equity through its ability to impact the systems and structures that shape behaviour, social circumstances, and the environment.
Prerequisite: Students who have earned at least 54 credits or with permission of the course instructor.
Course Description:
Through a multidisciplinary, dynamic, hands-on, and transformative approach, students will critically examine the social determinants of mental health (focus on protective and promotive factors) and explore the interconnectedness between mental health and broader social, cultural, and economic factors. Emphasizes a holistic understanding of mental well-being, and explores innovative strategies aimed at protecting and promoting mental health outcomes and achieving equitable access to quality mental health care for all.
Prerequisite: HH/GH 3500 3.00.
Open to: Global Health (specialized honors program) and Psychology students and other students by permission who successfully completed 54 credits.
Note: Modules vary from year to year. Consult the unit supplemental calendar for more details. Permission from the Course Director is required.
Course Description:
Examines the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease from a behavioural, psychosocial and health services lens. Major emphasis is placed on cardiac rehabilitation, with regard to delivery, effects on health outcomes, and equitable access. Development of cardiac rehabilitation in low-resource settings, and global efforts in control of non-communicable diseases will also be examined.
Corequisite: HH/GH 2100 3.00 or HH/IHST 2100 3.00 or HH/KINE 2049 3.00 or HH/NURS 3515 3.00
Cross-listed to: HH/GH 4720 3.00, HH/NURS 4700 3.00
Course Credit Exclusions: HH/IHST 4720 3.00
Course Description:
Integrates disciplinary knowledge, research methodology, and practical experience in the intensive study of selected topics in global mental health. Students apply learning to a defined area of focus, individually or in a group. Various activities, such as report writing, reflection papers, literature reviews or research investigations may be conducted to enhance the student’s program of study. Topics vary from year to year. Please consult the unit supplemental calendar for more details. Permission from the Course Director is required.
Open to: Global Health and other students by permission who successfully completed 54 credits.
Note: Topics vary from year to year. Consult the unit supplemental calendar for more details.
Course description:
Integrates disciplinary knowledge, research methodology, and practical experience in the intensive study of selected topics in global health promotion. Students apply learning to a defined area of focus, individually or in a group. Various activities, such as report writing, reflection papers, literature reviews or research investigations may be conducted to enhance the student’s program of study. Topics vary from year to year. Consult the unit supplemental calendar for more details. Permission from the Course Director is required.
Open to: Global Health and other students by permission who successfully completed 54 credits.
Note: Topics vary from year to year. Consult the unit supplemental calendar for more details.
Course Description:
Integrates disciplinary knowledge, research methodology, and practical experience in the intensive study of selected topics in social determinants of global health. Students apply learning to a defined area of focus, individually or in a group. Various activities, such as report writing, reflection papers, literature reviews or research investigations may be conducted to enhance the student’s program of study. Topics vary from year to year. Consult the unit supplemental calendar for more details. Permission from the Course Director is required.
Open to: Global Health and other students by permission who successfully completed 54 credits.
Note: Topics vary from year to year. Consult the unit supplemental calendar for more details.