Global Health Certificate Enrollment & FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is global health?

  Global health refers to “an area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. Global health emphasizes transnational health issues, determinants, and solutions; involves many disciplines within and beyond the health sciences and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration; and is a synthesis of population-based prevention and individual-level clinical care” (Jogerst et al., 2015). Successful global health practitioners have in-depth knowledge of geographical locations, languages, cultures, and the life situations of unique populations and understand that sharing knowledge and resources is a two-way street. They collaborate closely with local leaders and communities to assist with the development of solutions for local health challenges.

   

• Why is it important for global health to be interdisciplinary?

  The World Health Organization stresses that multiple disciplines must work together with local stakeholders to form alliances and partnerships to address health problems. Interdisciplinary collaboration requires respectful partnerships between various global health practitioners and local communities. Observation and participation in these partnerships provide undergraduate students from multiple disciplines an opportunity to explore the diverse and complex aspects of global health.

• Why earn a Certificate in Global Health?

  The certificate will help prepare you for living and working in a global society. The certificate program is based on the Interprofessional Global Health Competencies established by the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (https://www.cugh.org/resources/1561). The curriculum will prepare you to function at the global citizen level while providing foundational knowledge for the program-oriented basic operational level, depending on your individual discipline.

• What kinds of careers might I pursue in global health?

  Global health involves people from many different fields using their expertise to improve population-based health and well-being for men, women, and children in communities. Common entry level career positions may include working with non-government organizations serving underserved populations in low resource settings in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), public health departments, and/or immigrant health agencies. Furthermore, this foundational preparation may lead to entry into a master’s degree in public health or global health.

• Am I eligible for any scholarships or financial aid?

  Information pertaining to scholarships or financial aid for study abroad experiences can be found at the Clemson University Clemson Abroad Scholarships website.

• What does the certificate involve?

  It is a 12-credit program consisting of 3 courses and a final capstone, study abroad course in Guatemala. The courses are:

  • NURS 3600
  • NURS 3610
  • One supporting requirement: (See Study Abroad Additional Requirements)
  • NURS 3620 (Study abroad in Guatemala)
  When are the courses offered?
  • NURS 3600 – Fall
  • NURS 3610 – Spring
  • Supporting requirement – check with the departments that offer the specific course
  • NURS 3620 – First or second summer session
• NURS 3600 and 3610 are blended (sometimes called hybrid) courses that are based at the Clemson University Nursing Building in Greenville. What does that mean?

  Blended courses use a combination of face-to-face meetings along with online delivery. NURS 3600 meets once a month at the Clemson University Nursing Building in Greenville and the remaining class meetings are online. NURS 3610 is completely online with a combination of synchronous and asynchronous meetings.

  Using this type of format allows you to build relationships and promotes teamwork with peers who you will be traveling abroad with during the capstone course.

• Can I take NURS 3600 as an elective for my specific major if I do not want to pursue the certificate?

  Yes, NURS 3600 can be taken even if you do not intend to pursue the certificate program, but you must be enrolled in a health-related discipline. Should the maximum enrollment be reached, priority will be given to students who intend to complete the certificate program in its entirety.

• Can I go on the trip to Guatemala without taking NURS 3600 and 3610?

  No, you must complete these courses successfully in order to be eligible to enroll in the study abroad capstone course.

• Must the supporting requirement for the global health certificate program be taken before I take part in the capstone course in Guatemala?

  Yes

• What does the study abroad course in Guatemala involve?

  You will live with a host family, work with a local non-governmental organization in Antigua, Guatemala, and attend Spanish language school. This is not a medical mission trip and we will not be providing medical treatments. Our focus is improvement of language skills and engagement through service-learning in underserved/underrepresented communities with a local non-government organization (NGO) in a Latin American country. Follow this link to learn about the organization we will be working with: https://nursingheart.org/.

  Host family homes are modest. The homes are clean with running water and electricity. The family will provide you with 3 meals per day during the month-long stay. Meals are not provided on Sundays. Do not expect the modern conveniences that you enjoy in your current homes here in the US. Remember this is a lower resource area and homes are basic. If you are a picky eater, then maybe this is not the trip for you. You must be flexible and willing to try new foods and experiences.

  We will travel to rural areas to observe and interact with local communities. As appropriate based on training and discipline-specific competencies, we will assist our host partner with health activities. In some situations, it will require walking and hiking to these areas. It is quite common to walk 1-3 miles per day. If you have serious health problems or conditions that limit your physical endurance, again this probably is not the trip for you.

• How do I apply for the program?
  • Talk to an advisor to determine if the courses will fit in your schedule.
  • Enroll in the first course (NURS 3600) if you are in an approved health-related discipline. During this first course, we will discuss the expectations of the certificate program. At this time, you will be provided with the information to submit the paperwork to complete the certificate program.
  • The approved health-related disciplines include:
    • Prepharmacy Emphasis Area
    • BA Biological Sciences – Prerehabilitation Emphasis Area
    • BS Food Science – Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration
    • Preprofessional Health Studies – Prepharmacy
    • Preprofessional Health Studies – Prerehabilitation Sciences
    • BS Health Science – ALL concentrations (Health Promotion and Education Concentration; Health Services Administration Concentration; Cardiovascular Imaging Leadership Concentration; and Preprofessional Health Studies Concentration)
    • BS Nursing
    • Registered Nurse BS Completion Program
    • BS Language and International Health
    • Other disciplines should talk with an advisor for the global health certificate program to determine if their discipline is appropriate.
• Do I need to take any Spanish courses before I go to Guatemala?

  While Spanish courses are not required, it is highly recommended to have taken 1-2 courses of Spanish either in high school or college. Your host family may only speak Spanish, so it will be difficult to function in Guatemala without at least some minimal Spanish skills.

• What are the anticipated costs of the study abroad program?

  Click here

• Who Do I Contact For More Information?

  Faculty Advisors

  Roxanne Amerson, PhD
  Associate Professor
  Director of Global Health Certificate Program
  (864) 720-2082
  roxanna@clemson.edu

  Tracy Fasolino, PhD
  Associate Professor
  (864) 888-7158
  tfasoli@clemson.edu

  Lisa Miller, PhD
  Senior Lecturer
  (864) 656-3268 
  millelb@clemson.edu

  Academic Advisors

  Savannah Jacobs
  309 Edwards Hall
  (864) 656-2651
  smjacob@clemson.edu

  Allysa Sutton
  309 Edwards Hall
  (864) 656-1503
  allysas@clemson.edu