Master of Science in Global Health

Global Health is an area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. Recognizing that many global health problems stem from economic, social, environmental, political, and health care inequalities, the global health program brings together interdisciplinary teams to solve complex health problems and to train the next generation of global health leaders.

The Duke Kunshan University Master of Science in Global Health (MSc-GH) students come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds including medicine, public health, biology, engineering, law, economics, policy, business and more. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, a research experience, and mentorship from expert faculty, the program prepares graduates to make an impact in their world. Students successfully completing the requirements of the program receive a Master of Science degree from Duke University in Durham, NC USA.

The Duke Kunshan MSc-GH program is modeled after the highly successful program pioneered at Duke University. Now in its sixth year, the MSc-GH at Duke has trained over 100 global health leaders who now hold rewarding positions with academic, non-governmental and corporate organizations. Many graduates are also pursuing medical or Ph.D.-level training at the top universities in the world.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Students are automatically considered for scholarships based on their Graduate School application – no additional application is required.

Program Requirements

The MSc-GH program requires that students complete a minimum of 33 credits of coursework, and a minimum of 5 credits of research (i.e., thesis preparation), for a total of 38 credits. The courses required by the program are further broken down into two categories – core courses and elective courses.

Core Courses (Six courses)

The following courses are required of all students. It is strongly recommended that students complete all core coursework in the first academic year of the program. These courses are:

• GLHLTH 701K – Global Health Challenges
• GLHLTH 702K – Global Health Research: Design and Practice
• GLHLTH 705K – Global Health Research: Quantitative Methods I
• GLHLTH 707K – Global Health Research: Quantitative Methods II
• GLHLTH 740K – Ethics for Global Health Research
• GLHLTH 750K – Health Systems in Developing Countries

Elective Courses (Five courses)

Students are required to take 5 elective courses, which can be spaced across the program’s duration to match the needs of the student and availability of courses. Elective courses allow students to focus on a specific area, such as environmental health or health policy.

Field Study and Thesis

A closely-mentored and supported field research project, culminating in a thesis, is also a credit-bearing requirement. The field-based research experience typically occurs between the first and second years of the program, with students spending at least 10 weeks in the field. The Duke Global Health Institute at Duke University (DGHI) and the Duke Kunshan Global Health Research Center both work with leading researchers worldwide, offering students a rich set of opportunities in North and South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia to choose from for their field research. The master’s thesis is the culminating product of the MSc-GH, typically completed in the student’s final semester of the program. The thesis must be formatted consistently with the requirements of Duke Kunshan University and the Duke Graduate School and represents a significant work of scholarship by the student.

Your Future Career Starts at Duke Kunshan University

Students today need international experience to compete in global labor markets. Employers want to hire students who are comfortable in global settings. Global health will continue to be a big component of international development work, and the need for global health professionals is strong and growing.

In this program, students develop an understanding of the most important global health concepts and challenges, build valuable research skills, and acquire hands-on international experience. Duke Kunshan faculty and professional development staff help students build connections with future employers.

A Duke Kunshan education provides students with more than just knowledge; it helps them build confidence, elicits their creativity, enhances their communication skills, and teaches them to think in innovative ways. Successful graduates of this program will pursue academic careers in global health and research, global medicine, and in non-governmental organizations such as the World Health Organization, World Bank, World Food Programme, and in other corporate sectors and governmental agencies around the world.