What are the world’s major health challenges? What contributes to them? What can we do to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities? Whether you are new to Global Health, want to take a refresher course, or want to sample Global Health before undertaking undergraduate or graduate study in the field, The Challenge of Global Health is designed to provide a comprehensive but concise foundation for understanding Global Health problems and solutions. Taught by Dr. David Boyd, an award-winning professor at Duke University’s Global Health Institute (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB4xBBzNxVQ), the course combines lectures with videos shot around the world and interviews with some of the world’s foremost Global Health experts.
Offered By
Duke University
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
11 hour to complete
Getting Started
Start here!
2 videos (Total 6 min), 4 readings
4 readings
About the Course10m
About the Instructor10m
Online Resources10m
Important Note on Data and Metrics10m
Week
26 hours to complete
Basic Concepts in Global Health
This module covers some of the most important basic concept that you need to know to understand global health. In particular we will focus on key terminology and the determinants underlying health and disease.
15 videos (Total 255 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz
15 videos
Welcome to My Office!2m
Why is Global Health Important?13m
A Biopsychosocial Approach to Global Health Solutions, Part 120m
A Biopsychosocial Approach to Global Health Solutions, Part 217m
What is the Current Global Burden of Disease? Part I8m
What is the Current Global Burden of Disease? Part II26m
What Causes Global Health Disease Burden?17m
Cultural Competence and Determinants of Health21m
What are the Roles of Environment and Nutrition? Part I12m
What are the Roles of Environment and Nutrition? Part II14m
Direct and Indirect Effects of Food on World Health35m
Environment and Health, Part 126m
Environment and Health, Part 222m
What is the Goal of Global Health?11m
5 readings
Week 2 Resources10m
Dr. Michael Merson10m
Dr. Bethzaida Fernandez10m
Dr. Kelly Brownell10m
Dr. William Pan10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz: Basic Concepts in Global Health30m
Week
38 hours to complete
Understanding the Key Global Health Challenges
This module focuses on examining the causes and distribution of infectious disease, noncommunicable disease, injury/violence/disaster, and MCH (maternal and child health).
20 videos (Total 328 min), 10 readings, 1 quiz
20 videos
What is the Global Health "Unholy Trinity" of Infectious Disease20m
What are the Plebeians and Stealth Bombs of Infectious Disease? Part 16m
What are the Plebeians and Stealth Bombs of Infectious Disease? Part 212m
Understanding Why Zika Is So Important8m
Malaria: Why Would I Want to Work on Anything Else?22m
Taking a One Health Approach, Part 126m
Taking a One Health Approach, Part 221m
What are Non-Communicable Diseases and Why are They on the Rise?9m
What are the Chief NCD Challenges of Global Health?14m
Public Enemy: Metabolic Syndrome27m
The Growing Challenge of NCDs15m
Cancer as a Global Health Issue12m
Mental Health in a Cultural Context, Part 114m
Mental Health in a Cultural Context, Part 220m
Why Does Global Health Pay Particular Attention to Women and Children?13m
Demystifying Women's Health12m
Using Research and Technology to Tackle Maternal Health Challenges20m
Are Injury, Violence and Disaster Significant Global Health Issues?14m
Road Traffic Injury: The Perfect Storm26m
10 readings
Week 3 Resources10m
Dr. Christopher Plowe10m
Dr. Christopher Woods10m
Dr. Gary Bennett10m
Dr. Gerald Bloomfield10m
Dr. Nelson Chao10m
Dr. Brandon Kohrt10m
Dr. Nimmi Ramunajam10m
Dr. Eric Green10m
Dr. Catherine Staton10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz: Understanding the Key Global Health Challenges30m
Week
44 hours to complete
Actors & Action: Finding Global Health Solutions
This module explores the main global health actors, how they work, and what strategies they use to improve global health outcomes and to solve global health problems.
10 videos (Total 153 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz
10 videos
Who are the Key Actors in Global Health, Part 113m
Who are the Key Actors in Global Health, Part 211m
Malaria Surveillance: Research=Hope26m
How Do We Implement Best Practices in Global Health?21m
How do Actors Implement Global Health Best Practices? Part 112m
How do Actors Implement Global Health Best Practices? Part 29m
Cost, Quality, and Access to Care16m
What are Some "Best Practices" for Improving Global Health?11m
Policy is Key to Progress in Global Health21m
5 readings
Week 4 Resources10m
Dr. Myaing Nyunt10m
Dr. Shenglan Tang10m
Dr. Krishna Udayakumar10m
Dr. Gavin Yamey10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz: Actors & Action: Finding Global Health Solutions30m
4.7
84 Reviews57%
started a new career after completing these courses
62%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top reviews from The Challenges of Global Health
WONDERFUL COURSE!!!!! Dr. Boyd is phenomenal. This course was well worth my time and money. It is a great primer for anyone interested in global health. What a brilliant instructor and layout!
This has been a wonderfully motivating course into the field of Global Health. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to get some appreciation of health on the global scale
Instructor
Dr. David Boyd
Hymowitz Family Professor of the Practice of Global HealthDuke Global Health Institute
About Duke University
Duke University has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. The university has a strong commitment to applying knowledge in service to society, both near its North Carolina campus and around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
Will I receive a transcript from Duke University for completing this course?
No. Completion of a Coursera course does not earn you academic credit from Duke; therefore, Duke is not able to provide you with a university transcript. However, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.