Program Goals and Objectives
The M.S. degree in Global Health focuses on the application of technical knowledge to design and solve global challenges in equity, access, and innovation in healthcare research, discovery, and delivery. The program leverages WPI’s strengths in the social sciences, biomedical and systems engineering, computational sciences, data analysis and modeling, mobile applications, and business systems management as well as our substantial global presence in project centers in more than 34 countries. Graduates will benefit from WPI’s strengths at the intersection of science, technology, and society, and will gain leadership skills and experience in global health solutions. The M.S. in Global Health is designed to prepare students to contribute to the growing field of global health through study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in healthcare access for all people worldwide. The distinctive WPI approach to this field applies technology, data science, and innovative solutions to bringing good health to all people wherever they live.
The program balances core fundamental concepts in global health, training in methods with a technical specialization, and a graduate project or practicum within four specific concentrations that take advantage of the unique skills and global expertise that currently exist at WPI. The four concentrations include: 1) Global Health Management and Assessment; 2) Analytics and Modeling in Global Health; 3) Mobile Applications for Global Health; and 4) Engineering Solutions for Global Health. The program requires 30 credits. Core requirements for all concentrations include Perspectives on Global Health (3 credits), Research Design Methods for Development (3 credits), Collaborations for a Better World Seminar Series (0 credits) which we suggest to be taken during the first semester and encouraged to continue throughout their academic coursework, and a Graduate Qualifying Project (GQP 6 credits) that is completed as a practicum with a health-related organization or company, either in the US or at one of WPI’s Global Project Centers and university research partner sites around the world. The practicum builds on the strong and lasting partnerships that faculty have fostered with non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and medical research institutions across the world, where our graduate students can complete internships.
Degree Program Requirements
The M.S. in Global Health requires 30 credits.
Each of four available concentrations includes the overarching core degree requirements that are the scaffolding for integrating the elements of the program: one core course in Perspectives on Global Health (3 credits), and one core course in Research Design Methods for Development (3 credits), one core seminar entitled Collaboration for a Better World (0 credits) plus a Graduate Qualifying Project (6 credits) completed as a practicum at a health-related site (e.g., labs, hospitals, companies, NGO’s, etc., either locally or at an international site including one of our Global Project Centers). In addition to this core, each concentration has a tailored choice of 9 credits of other required courses relevant to that Concentration, and a slightly more open selection of 9 credits of electives. Any core elective not chosen can serve as an elective. The concentrations include:
Concentration 1: Global Health Management and Assessment (30 credits)
This concentration includes courses in areas such as Program Management, Managing Complexity, Project Dynamics, Operation Management, and electives such as Teaming and Organizing for Innovation. It also incorporates social entrepreneurship through electives such as Ethics and Social Justice in Development, and Social Innovation and Global Development. This concentration is for students interested in business or development studies as well as those interested in large scale program evaluation and assessment who want to elevate their degree with a Global Health focus and better understanding of the challenges in operations and management of global healthcare systems.
Concentration 1: Outcomes for Global Health Management and Assessment
• Understand key challenges in global health that require better management and assessment of complex systems.
• Knowledge of the basic principles and tools of management across diverse cultural domains.
• Develop a team approach to managing large projects whether in a non-profit environment, government or industry setting in global or rural environments.
• Gain skills in managing complexity, risk, and dynamic systems in relation to global health.
• Develop skills to manage people and programs in teams as well as through cooperative agreements.
Concentration 2: Analytics and Modeling in Global Health
This concentration provides an introduction to data and model analysis (including data mining, data science, applied statistics, and model analysis), along with courses in Biology and Epidemiology. It also includes electives in areas such as Bioinformatics, Data Visualization, Systems Dynamics, and Machine Learning for Applications. This concentration is for students interested in an introduction to quantitative methods and data analytics and applying these skills to challenging problems in global health.
Concentration 2: Outcomes for Analytics and Modeling in Health and Disease
• Understand key challenges in global health that would benefit from data analytics, modeling and other new techniques in machine learning and AI.
• Interpret results of data analysis for health research, policy or practice.
• Understand key global health policies surrounding data privacy, transferability, and accessibility.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics and computational methods and tools, as appropriate.
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given global health context.
Concentration 3: Mobile Applications for Global Health
This concentration builds primarily on programs in Computer Science and Interactive Media and Game Design including courses in Ubiquitous Computing, Human-Computer Interaction, Interactive Design, and Serious and Applied Games. It also includes electives in areas such as Data Visualization, Artificial Intelligence and Design, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation amongst others. This concentration is for students with backgrounds in computing, gaming, design, and AI in Design where there are exciting frontiers opening in applications for Global Health.
Concentration 3: Outcomes for Mobile Applications for Global Health
• Understand key challenges in global health that would benefit from mobile applications and from approaches to interactive and serious gaming.
• Identify the human factors involved in software app design process.
• Create solutions based on an iterative process that incorporates human factors and user-centered design processes as it relates to specific global environment.
• Develop safe and effective mobile apps for use in global health care delivery and disease prevention.
• Ability to apply human factors design principles to global health care app and game development to help in the delivery of effective technologies tailored to the end-user’s environment.
Concentration 4: Engineering Solutions for Global Health
This concentration has a focus on biomedical device design and regulation, as well as aspects of physical, chemical, and environmental engineering that are relevant to human health. It includes electives in topics such as water chemistry, physical and chemical treatment, and biomaterial for medical devices each representing a technology area which has a focus on Global Health. This concentration is for students with a background in engineering studies or other technical background, who want to elevate their degree with a Global Health focus to better understand and address the challenges for engineering solutions in diverse global contexts, including how to work in settings with institutional and cultural diversity.
Concentration 4: Outcomes for Engineering solutions for Global Health
• Understand key challenges in global health that require better engineering solutions.
• Develop tools for health care and medical device integration in diverse settings and global contexts.
• Develop new devices and equipment for improving health care in remote or developing regions of the world.
• Develop skills, knowledge, and mindset necessary to collaborate with community partners to address engineering solutions for global health challenges.
• Understand the interaction of technology, society, and environment in the innovation process.
Graduate Qualifying Project (GQP)
A student’s Plan of Study must be approved by the Global Health program director in consultation with the Faculty Advisory Committee. A GQP proposal must be submitted to and approved by the program coordinator in consultation with the students’ academic advisor and recorded by the program director. The GQP is to be carried out in cooperation with a sponsoring organization or affiliated research lab or a laboratory on or off campus which is engaged in Global Health research. The GQP coordinator in consultation with the faculty of record is responsible for supervising the project and ensuring that the project has sufficient rigor and formative content for graduate-level work.
Internships may focus on applied projects in hospital, health management agencies , health research, or nonprofit settings, or within governmental or non-governmental health organizations, although projects could also be completed in a research laboratory. Students will produce a written report at the conclusion of the project. The format for the report—which is significantly shorter and less formal than a thesis—will be determined by the student’s advisor. Students will also be encouraged to present their work to the faculty in a public presentation. A copy of the report will be kept with the program director.
Outcomes for the Required Graduate Qualifying Project (Practicum)
• Develop a Global Health project related to the selected concentration from design through implementation phases.
• Develop the awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of health policies or programs in diverse settings and intercultural contexts.
• Practice professional communication and ethical conduct.
• Demonstrate awareness of issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in global health management, policy, and data analytics