SGLK25003U Global Health Foundations

Volume 2025/2026
Education

MSc Programme in Global Health - compulsory

Content

In this course, the global distribution and burden of disease and health will be addressed, particularly in relation to vulnerable population groups. 

The history of global health, projections for future health challenges, and the concept of decolonization of global health will be addressed. Furthermore, the course will address central gender challenges in global health to understand how gender influence exposure, prevention, diagnosis and access to treatment. 

With an interdisciplinary approach, themes, conditions, and diseases addressed include: Communicable and cardiometabolic diseases and how they may interact; child and maternal health; global mental health and how it interacts with physical health; environmental health, including living conditions, such as healthy housing, water and sanitation, and how it impacts on health; as well as vector-borne diseases. Furthermore, major health determinants, and risk factors (including social, financial, environmental and climate-related) will be linked to health. Examples from local settings will be put into the global perspective. 

Based on selected literature, the course will include an introduction to models of health care systems, financing mechanisms and central functions and challenges of health care systems.

Principles of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation will be studied for some major health challenges, and as an introduction to the course 'Strategies for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention'. Similarly, principles of hygiene, sanitation, and living conditions will be studied - in general, for specific health problems, and as an introduction to following modules.

The advantage of having access to Danish, global health institutions, as well as international headquarters and institutions in the Copenhagen area, will be drawn upon.

Learning Outcome

On completion of the course, the students should be able to:

Knowledge 
Describe and list current patterns of health locally and globally. This includes:

  • Basic knowledge on the history of global health, current and future global health challenges, and the concept of decolonization of global health
  • Basic knowledge on communicable as well as cardiometabolic diseases, child and maternal health, global mental health, environmental health and vector-borne diseases
  • Describe and discuss central features of different models, processes and challenges of health care systems at district, national and transnational level
  • Understand and analyse peer-reviewed literature concerning gender and health-related challenges in global health

 

Skills

  • List principles and models of health care systems, health promotion, prevention, management and rehabilitation with respect to major global health-related challenges
  • List major risk factors and determinants for health, such as living conditions, socio-economic determinants as well as environmental changes, including climate change.
  • Apply gender and the gendered versus biological body as analytical categories and discuss these concepts both methodologically and theoretically in relation to global health policy and interventions.

 

Competencies

  • Discuss, analyze and critically examine global health challenges, and discuss previous and current priorities in global and local health policies and approaches to health interventions.
  • Analyse and propose solution for global health challenges
  • Argue for a prediction of patterns of health and major diseases globally, based on emerging and actual changes in environment, demography and wealth, and envisage how health may be impacted.
  • Work trans-disciplinary with complex issues concerning global health.

 

 

Primarily research papers and chapters from selected text book, as well as presentations from lecturers

Cross-disciplinary and research-based teaching as well as problem-oriented learning will enable the students to work professionally to improve global health. Teaching and learning will be research-based, and highlight areas, which the academic staff and their collaborators are actively researching in various parts of the world. Teaching methods will include a combination of formal lectures, problem-related teaching and learning, seminars and case studies. Visits to institutions and organizations will expose the students to ‘real-world’ situations, albeit mostly in Denmark.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 139
  • Exercises
  • 10
  • Practical Training
  • 12
  • Exam Preparation
  • 2
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Total
  • 206
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester

 

 

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 30 minutes
Type of assessment details
Preparation time: 30 minutes.
Aid
All aids allowed

All aids allowed for preparation including access to internet and the use of Generativ AI.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the text, including ensuring that the text is not factually incorrect, plagiarized, or contains copyrighted material. AI/LLM’s may not be used as an actual author or a scientific source cf. Vancouver Guidelines.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period

See the exam schedule

Re-exam

See the exam schedule

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student must be able to:

Knowledge
Describe and list current patterns of health and disease globally and locally.

This includes:

  • Basic knowledge on the history of global health, current and future global health challenges, and the concept of decolonization of global health
  • Basic knowledge on communicable as well as cardiometabolic diseases, child and maternal health, global mental health, environmental health and vector-borne diseases
  • Understand and analyse peer-reviewed literature concerning gender and health-related challenges in global health

 

Skills

  • List principles and models of health care systems, health promotion, prevention, management and rehabilitation with respect to major global health-related challenges
  • List major risk factors and determinants for health, such as living conditions, socio-economic determinants as well as environmental changes, including climate change.
  • Apply gender and the gendered versus biological body as analytical categories and discuss these concepts both methodologically and theoretically in relation to global health policy and interventions.

 

Competencies

  • Discuss, analyze and critically examine global health challenges, and discuss previous and current priorities in global and local health policies and approaches to health interventions.
  • Analyse and propose solution for global health challenges
  • Argue for a prediction of patterns of health and major diseases globally, based on emerging and actual changes in environment, demography and wealth, and envisage how health may be impacted.
  • Work trans-disciplinary with complex issues concerning global health.