ABOUT THE PROGRAM

New admissions into the Global Health Graduate Certificate Program (GHGCP) are on hold for the academic year (AY) 2023-2024.  This pause in enrollment applies to all new students, including U.S. students. Students currently enrolled, including all partner nations students, will be able to continue to progress through the program. This pause in enrollment only affects new applicants.  Please consider joining the waitlist to receive notification when enrollment opens.

USU is pleased to offer a GHGCP via distance learning. Graduate certificates are an increasingly recognized and valued credential in global health and are often earned by mid-career professionals interested in obtaining formal education in this diverse and rapidly changing field. Prospective students who are interested in expanding their knowledge and skill set by taking only one or two courses are also welcome and encouraged to apply.

Students earn an accredited graduate certificate upon successful completion of 14.25 credit hours of coursework. The courses are offered in a hybrid format to offer the most flexibility for students. You can take the course asynchronously (watching recorded lectures and participating in activities such as discussion boards) or you can take the course synchronously (via video conference or in-person). All courses will include readings, videos, and various activities such as group discussions, presentations and final papers or exams. 

Most courses run for approximately 11 weeks each, and a grade of W (Withdraw) will be assigned to those that drop after the first 12 business days of the term.  Additionally, While enrolled in the GHGCP at USU, a student may disenroll (drop) from one course, for any reason, and not be penalized. If a student disenrolled from two courses for any reason, they will be ineligible to register for a course in the subsequent term. Since there are no summer GHGCP courses, those who disenroll in the spring would be ineligible to enroll in a course during the following fall term. If a student disenrolls for a third time (for any reason), they will be moved to inactive status.  In very rare instances, the GHGCP Director has the discretion to grant waivers to these requirements.

 

PREREQUISITES

This is a graduate program and therefore all students must already have at least a baccalaureate degree before applying to the program. No exceptions can be made to this policy for several reasons, including the fact that this is a requirement of the program’s accreditation.

Otherwise, the program has wide latitude to admit students from disparate backgrounds and levels of experience. Students in USU’s graduate programs have typically included physicians, nurses, dentists, medical planners, veterinarians, medical technicians and health administrators; but a background in the health professions is not a requirement for matriculation into this program. Particularly for our distance-learning courses, faculty are actively seeking students from a wide variety of non-health backgrounds to enhance the understanding of global health engagement across the Department of Defense and beyond, and to help our students from health backgrounds appreciate alternate perspectives.

In addition to students who take this coursework early or midway through their careers, students also enroll in our program who already possess significant academic credentials and an impressive amount of field experience in global health. We welcome these students into our program, too, as they add expertise, diversity, and valuable insight to class discussions, among many other benefits. Often these are highly motivated, fast-tracked individuals who smartly choose to “brush up” on global health material prior to assuming leadership positions at some of the highest levels of the DoD and other departments of the U.S. government.

While this program primarily serves U.S. active duty and reserve military personnel and members of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, the program now also welcomes applicants from the USAID, the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of State, and other U.S. government employees whose work involves global health.

How to Apply 

New admissions into the Global Health Certificate program are on hold for the academic year 2023 - 2024. This pause in enrollment applies to only affect new applicants. Students currently enrolled, including partner nations students, will be able to continue to progress through the program under the new guidlines.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does it take to complete the program and earn the certificate?

A typical student who progresses straight through, taking one course per term, will earn the certificate in about two years.  This program is also designed to be maximally flexible to students who would like to go through at a slower pace, too. Taking even one course per year is perfectly acceptable. Students must complete all requirements within five years, however, to earn the certificate.

May I take coursework via distance learning at USU and then transfer the credit elsewhere?

Yes. Students will have a formal transcript maintained by the University Registrar. Upon successful completion of each distance learning course, there will be a letter grade recorded on the student’s transcript along with the credit value of each course. Any student may, at any time, request a transcript be sent and credits transferred to any other university or program that accepts transfer credits.

I am not a member of the U.S. military; may I apply to take global health courses at Uniformed Services University?

This program primarily enrolls members of the U.S. armed services who are on active duty or reserve status, as well as members of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. We also now welcome select U.S. government employees from the USAID, the Department of Health and Human Services (to include the CDC), and the Department of State. Select members of partner-nation militaries (in coordination with the relevant combatant command) and country point-of-contact are enrolled on a case-by-case basis.

May I take only one or two courses?

Yes.  Students who have elected to take just this one or two courses, have found it beneficial to their education and careers. There is no expectation, implied or otherwise, that students need to complete the entire certificate. The global health leadership from the Services (the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Public Health Service) look very favorably upon the completion of any coursework by students within this program. While the full graduate certificate is a nice achievement, successful completion of individual courses also has a lot of value in terms of both personal growth and professional advancement.

What if I have a question that is not answered by one of these FAQs?

If this website  does not answer all your questions, please email our GHGCP org box at: GHGCP-ggg@usuhs.edu.  Thank you.