An integrated learning environment
The Global Child Health program maximizes student potential through guided learning with mentorship by world-renowned faculty. Students find the program integrates academic training and experiential learning, with online classes for academic credit blended with on-campus programming. Students build an understanding of current and future developments in global child health.
During the program, students learn to:
- collect, analyze and synthesize relevant data to generate evidence using scientific analytical frameworks
- demonstrate knowledge of child health issues, socioeconomic and political determinants and approaches to management and control of diseases
- conduct analyses of disease burdens, and evaluate intervention strategies and approaches that address major child health issues, characterizing them within the context of health systems
- demonstrate an understanding of the concepts, structures and implementation principles of global health systems, and application of lessons learned in different countries
- develop evidence-based programs and policies from conception through innovative thinking and solutions that will strengthen health systems and address catastrophic childhood illnesses
- apply leadership and management tools to effectively and efficiently implement programs and policies
- enable positive change to strengthen health systems, improve health of children globally and reduce health inequities
The program provides students learning opportunities to identify and implement the necessary systems level changes that improve the treatment and care of childhood cancers and catastrophic illnesses. These competencies empower the students to apply their education at the local, regional and global level, across multiple settings, and to accomplish identified goals in complex settings.
Core Competencies
The competency-based curriculum focuses on basic and applied research skills, global health systems and innovation and population science, tailored to the context of child health. The program equips students with a distinctive blend of:
- knowledge, tools and skills to assemble and assimilate scientific evidence
- applied analytical tools and integrative thinking to develop evidence-based policies and programs
- leadership and management skills to bring about positive change
Students are trained in three core competency domains: foundational knowledge, translational tools and implementation skills.
Foundational knowledge includes training in the fundamentals of biostatistics and epidemiology, social sciences and child health issues in the context of global health and health systems. Students learn to translate their foundational knowledge into applied research, and evidence-based policies and programs. Implementation skills ultimately guide students towards becoming agents of change by strengthening their communication, leadership and management abilities.
| Foundational Knowledge (Concept and Theories) |
Translational Tools (Methods, Analysis and Synthesis) |
Implementation Skills (Execution) |
|---|---|---|
| Identify and Analyze Data | Develop Evidence Based Policies and Programs | Get Things Done in Complex Health Systems |
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Courses and Schedule
| Year 1 | |
|---|---|
| On-Campus Orientation (4 weeks; July-August 2020) |
Introduction to Online Learning and Math Preparation |
| Ethical issues in Global Child Health and Research | |
| Leadership and Communication Workshops | |
| Fall Semester (September-December 2020) |
Principles of Biostatistics |
| Introduction to Epidemiology | |
| Foundations of Global Health | |
| On-Campus Winter Intercession (2 weeks; January 2021) |
Leadership and Management Workshops |
| Spring Semester (January-May 2021) |
|
| Research Methods in Global Health | |
| Global Health Economics | |
| Introduction to Health Systems | |
| Year 2 | |
| On-Campus Summer Intercession (4 weeks; July-August 2021) |
Global Child Health Practice and Leadership Workshops |
| Thesis Seminar | |
| Fall Semester (September-December 2021) |
Child Health and Burden of Disease |
| Political Economy of Global Health | |
| On-Campus Winter Intercession (2 weeks; January 2022) |
Workshops and Mid-term Thesis Report |
| Spring Semester (January-May 2022) |
Strategic Management of Child Health Programs |
| Innovation and Global Health Systems | |
| May-June 2022 | Examinations |
| June 2022 | Graduation |
| August 2022-Beyond | Postgraduate Capstone |
Coursework
Credit-bearing courses
Each course is delivered online through two weekly sessions of direct instruction, a maximum of three hours per week and an estimated six hours per week of out-of-class preparation over 15 to 16 weeks. Assignments are posted online, and students complete and upload them to the course website within a stipulated time. Some courses may include group activities and team projects to foster a sense of community and collaboration.
Instructors are available during office hours and by appointment. Multiple ways of communicating are available, although the primary mode is through emails with occasional video chats.
Non-credit courses, on-site programming
Students have mandatory non-credit workshops and seminars during their on-campus visits to the St. Jude Graduate School. Orientation and visits during subsequent winter and summer intersessions focus on:
- Learning Online: includes components of online learning, analysis of different types of learning environments and assisting the students plan for a personal learning environment. It also helps identify areas of personal adjustment and time management required for success in online learning.
- Leadership and Management: includes addressing issues related to self-mastery, team building, organizational and systems-level leadership and conflict management.
- Communication: focuses on public speaking, persuasive presentations and effective writing, including basic principles of effective prose and argument in advocacy and opinion pieces and policy writing.
- Ethics in Global Health: includes presentations on ethical principles of scientific research, clinical care and global health.
The thesis seminar supports students in producing a thesis of high academic standard, guiding them through structured and collaborative approaches to develop a project idea. Students are introduced to the challenges of writing and presenting a thesis. Resources are provided to support students through the process. The thesis seminar also helps students learn to review scientific literature, collaborate with diverse stakeholders, design action plans, develop proposals and write a final thesis.
Each student is assigned a thesis adviser to provide supportive supervision.
Master's Thesis
The thesis is the culmination of studies and the primary locus for translation of knowledge and skills that students acquired through the program. A selection of theses is considered for funding by the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, after successful degree completion.
Theses have two main components:
- A project proposal addressing a global child health issue, including background, justification, process and measurable results expected to make positive change. Impact may be achieved through direct action to improve outcomes in populations and organizations or the creation of significant translational action that has potential to influence the change. This includes creating, implementing or evaluating a child health initiative; managing and enhancing existing initiatives; developing an organization’s strategy or policy initiatives; or conducting relevant applied research in select locations.
- A personal journey statement designed to be an opportunity for the student to reflect on personal growth and development that has occurred throughout the program.