PDF reflects print Master of Science in Global Medicine
1975 Zonal Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Tel: (323) 442-3141
FAX: (323) 442-1766
www.usc.edu/msgm
Program Directors: Elahe Nezami, Ph.D., Allan Abbott, M.D.
The Master of Science in Global Medicine is offered by the Department of Educational Affairs of the Keck School of Medicine. The program aims to train medical, dental and pharmacy students; current physicians and allied health professionals; and those planning to pursue degrees in the allied health professions to analyze and address critical issues in global medicine. The program provides a solid foundation in basic science while also exposing students to a broad scope of pertinent issues in global medicine. Physicians and current medical students may use previous equivalent course work for 8 units of credit toward GM 503L Core Principles System I and GM 504L Core Principles System II course requirements.
By providing the knowledge and training necessary to address current and future global medical challenges, the M.S. in Global Medicine program responds to the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation that the education of health professionals include course work that promotes literacy in global medicine. In addition to gaining a strong medical science foundation, students are immersed in course work that examines methods used to create innovative programming, solutions and responses to global health challenges, thereby furnishing them with the problem-solving skills and analytical frameworks essential to their future career paths. Through partnerships with the Marshall School of Business and the Viterbi School of Engineering, the M.S. in Global Medicine also includes a management track for students who intend to pursue international health management.
Upon completion of the M.S. in Global Medicine, students will be equipped to serve as leaders within the allied health field, including, but not limited to: medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and nursing. In addition, graduates will be prepared to collaborate with or seek employment from a variety of international aid, nonprofit, and global health organizations such as: the United Nations, the International Red Cross, United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, World Bank and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Admission
Applicants for admission to the program must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution and have earned a GPA of 3.0 (A = 4.0) in undergraduate work. Prerequisite undergraduate course work must include one year of general biology, one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry and one semester of calculus.All applicants are required to have taken either the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). A minimum score of 1000 on the GRE or 28 on the MCAT is required. Students must also supply three letters of recommendation from evaluators qualified to assess their potential for graduate work.
Applicants must supply a completed application for graduate studies including: transcripts from all institutions previously attended, standardized test scores and three letters of recommendation. Applications are considered for enrollment in both fall and spring semesters. For further information contact: Dr. Elahe Nezami, Master of Science in Global Medicine Program, 1975 Zonal Ave., KAM 307, Los Angeles, CA 90033, Tel: (323) 442-3141, Fax: (323) 442-1766.
Advisement
The program recommends that students meet with the academic advisor of the program each semester prior to registration.Satisfactory Academic Progress
A graduate GPA of at least 3.0 is required at all times. Any student whose graduate GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation who do not raise their GPA to 3.0 after two semesters of written notification of academic probation will be academically disqualified. A minimum of 32 units of graduate level course work is required for graduation.Degree Requirements
| CORE COURSES (MINIMUM 14 UNITS) | UNITS | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Core | ||
| GM 500 | Basic Concepts in Global Health | 4 |
| GM 502 | Global Epidemiology of Diseases and Risk Factors | 4 |
| GM Core | ||
| GM 503L | Core Principles System I | 4 |
| GM 504L | Core Principles System II | 4 |
| GM Management Core | ||
| GSBA 520 | Business Fundamentals for Non-Business Professionals | 3 |
| IOM 582 | Service Management: Economics and Operations | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES (MINIMUM 16 UNITS; GM MANAGEMENT TRACK STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE AT LEAST 12 GM ELECTIVES)* | UNITS | |
|---|---|---|
| GM Electives | ||
| GM 501 | Critical Issues in Global Health | 4 |
| GM 510 | Global Health Modules, Malaria | 2 |
| GM 511 | Global Health Modules, Tuberculosis | 2 |
| GM 512 | Global Health Modules, Maternal and Child Health I | 2 |
| GM 513 | Global Health Modules, Maternal and Child Health II | 2 |
| GM 514 | Global Health Modules, Tropical Diseases | 2 |
| GM 515 | Global Health Modules, HIV/AIDS | 2 |
| GM 516 | Cultural Competence in Health and Medicine | 2 |
| GM 517 | Health and Human Rights | 2 |
| GM 521 | Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases | 2 |
| GM 522 | Human Hepatitis Viruses | 2 |
| GM 523 | Global Toxicity and Carcinogenesis | 2 |
| GM 524 | Grantwriting for Non-Government Organizations | 2 |
| GM 526 | Alternative and Eastern Medicine: A Biomedical Approach | 2 |
| GM 535 | Culture, Lifestyle, and Health | 2 |
| GM 550 | Clinical Medicine and Healthcare Reform in Taiwan | 2 |
| GM 551 | Clinical Medicine and Socioeconomic Factors in Uganda | 2 |
| GM 590 | Directed Research | 2, 4 |
| GM Management Track Electives | ||
| MOR 569 | Negotiation and Deal-making | 3 |
| MOR 470 | Global Leadership | 4 |
| MKT 565 | Global Marketing | 3 |
| ISE 507 | Six-Sigma Quality Resources for Health Care | 3 |
| ISE 508 | Health Care Operations Improvement | 3 |
Graduate Certificate in Global Medicine
The certificate program in global medicine is for students who do not wish to pursue an M.S. degree in global medicine, but hope to pursue or expand careers in global health care. Students will study current topics in global health and health care, and will have a strong grounding in cultural competence, specific diseases, and creating and implementing health interventions in developing countries.Students take 16 units of graduate course work that may not be used or have been used for any other degree or certificate program. These units include two core classes and eight units of electives, as follows:
| CORE COURSES | UNITS | |
|---|---|---|
| GM 500 | Basic Concepts in Global Health | 4 |
| GM 502 | Global Epidemiology of Diseases and Risk Factors | 4 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students will take 8 units of electives, chosen in consultation with their advisor, from among all GM courses numbered 510 or above. For example, there are groups of courses relevant to women’s and family health; infectious diseases; health care in developing countries; working with diverse populations in the United States, etc. |
Courses of Instruction
Global Medicine (GM)
The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.
GM 500 Basic Concepts in Global Health (4, Fa) Exploration of global health issues facing resource-poor societies; emphasizes contributing factors including behavioral and physiological bases, economic, social, and political context.
GM 501 Critical Issues in Global Health (4, FaSpSm) Evaluation of government and non-government organizations’ new global health responses, and critical issues affecting global health including: environment, workforce conditions, obesity, nutrition, drugs, poverty.
GM 502 Global Epidemiology of Diseases and Risk Factors (4, FaSpSm) Survey of major populations’ crises and risk factors accounting for global health challenges. Evaluation of case studies of global health interventions and effective methodologies.
GM 503L Core Principles System I (4, Fa) Introduction to basic medical concepts and biological system functions; examination of core principles of science and medical treatment.
GM 504L Core Principles System II (4, Fa) Continuation of concepts from GM 503L. Basic medical concepts and biological system functions; examination of core principles of science and medical treatment. Prerequisite: GM 503L.
GM 510 Global Health Modules, Malaria (2, FaSp) Critical issues in international control and treatment of malaria. Exploration of biological and epidemiological fundamentals of human-parasite interaction, including dynamics of transmission among populations.
GM 511 Global Health Modules, Tuberculosis (2, FaSpSm) Exploration of biological and epidemiological fundamentals of tuberculosis including dynamics of transmission among populations. Overview of clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of infections.
GM 512 Global Health Modules, Maternal and Child Health I (2, FaSpSm) Biopsychosocial, cultural and economic aspects of women’s health: pregnancy, childbirth, marriage. Examination of health promotion and policy efforts to improve women’s health globally.
GM 513 Global Health Modules, Maternal and Child Health II (2, FaSpSm) In-depth examination of women’s health issues; health promotion and policy efforts to improve women’s health globally.
GM 514 Global Health Modules, Tropical Disease (2, FaSpSm) Examination of prevalent tropical diseases: epidemiology, clinical manifestations, treatment, impact on economies of tropical countries. Key issues related to these diseases; World Health Organization responses.
GM 515 Global Health Modules, HIV/AIDS (2, FaSpSm) HIV epidemiology, basic biology of transmission and pathophysiology, associated opportunistic infections, and challenges to providing care in the developing world, including government responses.
GM 516 Cultural Competence in Health and Medicine (2, FaSpSm) Practical approach to the development of professional skills for providing culturally sensitive clinical health services to ethnically and linguistically diverse patients.
GM 517 Health and Human Rights (2, FaSpSm) The relationship between health and human rights, and the study of human rights issues relevant to healthcare professionals.
GM 520 Medical Spanish for the Health Professions (2) Spanish language course for students planning to enter the health professions. Graded CR/NC.
GM 521 Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (2, FaSpSm) Exploration of the threat of major worldwide epidemics and diseases with a focus on the recent emergence of new plagues.
GM 522 Human Hepatitis Viruses (2, FaSpSm) Human hepatitis and the viruses that cause them, how they are spread, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
GM 523 Global Toxicity and Carcinogenesis (2, FaSpSm) Covers the occurrences of toxic substances and the toxicity/diseases they cause, and chemical carcinogens and the types of cancer they cause worldwide.
GM 524 Grantwriting for Non-Government Organizations (2, FaSpSm) Instruction on the process and methods of writing effective grants from identifying appropriate funders to implementing project upon receipt of funding award.
GM 526 Alternative and Eastern Medicine: A Biomedical Approach (2, FaSpSm) Exploration of issues of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and traditional Eastern medical views of health and illness from a Western biomedical perspective.
GM 530abc Foundation of Medicine: Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology (4-4-4, FaSpSm) a: Fundamentals of physiology, chemistry, anatomy, biochemistry and microbiology, as well as pharmacological issues, mathematical basis of lab instruments or techniques, and computational modeling. b: The basics of human anatomy (gross anatomy, histology, radiographic anatomy), physiology (cellular physiology, organ system areas) and pathology (general, systemic, cellular pathology). c: Continues material from GM 530a and GM 530b, covering human anatomy (gross anatomy, histology, radiographic anatomy), physiology (cellular physiology, organ systems) and pathology (general, systemic, cellular pathology).
GM 535 Culture, Lifestyle, and Health (2) Overview of national and international variations in health status indicators in regard to cultural and lifestyle differences.
GM 550 Clinical Medicine and Healthcare Reform in Taiwan (2, Sm) Two-week in-depth study abroad in Taipei, Taiwan, focused on understanding Taiwan’s health care system, health priorities, and needs.
GM 551 Clinical Medicine and Socioeconomic Factors in Uganda (2, Sm) Two-week course that provides students with hands-on experience in clinical medicine/public health and exposure to the various socioeconomic factors impacting health in the developing world.
GM 590 Directed Research (1-12) Research leading to the master’s degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.
GM 597ab Health Technology Internship (2-2, FaSpSm) Internship course on the use of new technology based on sensors and wireless communications to the health care industry. Open only to M.S., Electrical Engineering (Wireless Health Technology) students. Graded IP/CR/NC.
GM 599 Special Topics (2-4, max 8) Lecture and discussion focused on specific topics within global medicine. Course topic will vary from semester to semester.