Global Health, Healthy Communities Concentration, BA

Program Overview

The Global Health major with a Healthy Communities concentration at Hope College prepares students to address health disparities and build resilient communities. Through a combination of core global health courses, cultural competence training, and a focus on community engagement, students develop a comprehensive understanding of community-based health needs and the skills to work effectively with underserved populations. The program culminates in an experiential capstone project where students apply their knowledge and skills to real-world health challenges.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The Global Health major with a concentration in Healthy Communities at Hope College focuses on fostering community resilience and building strong systems that support the health and well-being of all individuals, particularly vulnerable, underserved, and under-resourced populations.

Objectives:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of community-based health needs.
• Engage directly with the communities and partners working to address health disparities.
• Acquire knowledge and skills in ethics, theory, and applied approaches to global health.

Program Description:

The major requires a total of 34 credits, including:

• Core Global Health: 22 credits, covering foundational concepts, ethics, theory, and applied topics.
• Cultural Competence: 3 credits, emphasizing intercultural communication or a foreign language.
• Healthy Communities Concentration: 9 credits, delving into specific areas related to health advocacy, mental health, social dynamics, and community engagement.

Outline:

Core Global Health (22 credits)

• Foundations:
• IDS 195 - Intro to Global Health
• SOC 295 - Social Epidemiology
• Biology:
• BIOL 103 - Introduction to Cell Biology or BIOL 105 - General Biology I
• BIOL 103L - Introduction to Cell Biology Laboratory or BIOL 107 - General Biology Laboratory I
• Ethics:
• PHIL 245 - Applied Ethics or REL 265 - Ethics and Christian Discipleship
• Theory:
• COMM 295 - Health Communication or HIST 295 - Global History of Medicine or PSY 325 - Health Psychology or SOC 333 - Health, Medicine, and Society
• Applied:
• ENGS 385 - Rehabilitation Engineering or NURS 320 - Pathophysiology or POL 151 - Introduction to Global Politics
• Culmination:
• IDS 495 - Advanced Global Health Experiential Capstone

Cultural Competence (3 credits)

• Any course from the following:
• COMM 371 - Intercultural Communication
• CHIN 201 - Chinese III
• FREN 201 - French III
• GERM 201 - German III
• GRK 271 - New Testament Greek III
• JAPN 201 - Japanese III
• LATN 271 - Latin III
• SPAN 250 - The Spanish-Speaking World: Northern Hemisphere
• SPAN 251 - The Spanish-Speaking World: Southern Hemisphere

Healthy Communities Concentration (9 credits)

• Required:
• COMM 295 - Health Communication
• Electives (choose two):
• COMM 371 - Intercultural Communication
• HIST 295 - Global History of Medicine
• KIN 212 - Health Advocacy and Care Coordination
• KIN 214 - Health Advocacy Practicum
• PSY 325 - Health Psychology
• PSY 330 - Social Psychology
• PSY 375 - Mental Health Policies and Practices
• SOC 320 - Environment, Ecology, and Social Dynamics
• SOC 333 - Health, Medicine, and Society
• SPAN 421 - Spanish for Medical Professions
• SPAN 472 - Spanish for the Community
• SWK 375 - Mental Health Policies and Practices

Assessment:

Assessment Methods:

• Exams: In-class and take-home exams assess knowledge and comprehension of course material.
• Projects: Research projects and case studies allow students to apply their learning to real-world scenarios.
• Presentations: Oral and written presentations demonstrate students' ability to synthesize and communicate their understanding.
• Experiential Capstone: The culmination of the program, the experiential capstone project involves students working directly with community organizations to address health needs.

Assessment Criteria:

• Mastery: Students demonstrate a thorough understanding of the concepts, theories, and practices covered in the course.
• Application: Students effectively apply their knowledge and skills to solve problems and make informed decisions.
• Communication: Students clearly and persuasively communicate their ideas and findings in both written and oral formats.
• Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information from multiple perspectives.

Teaching:

Teaching Methods:

• Interactive Lectures: Professors engage students through discussions, case studies, and simulations.
• Small Group Work: Students collaborate in small groups to solve problems, analyze cases, and complete projects.
• Experiential Learning: Field trips, guest speakers, and community engagement provide practical experience.
• Technology Integration: Online learning platforms, simulations, and virtual reality enhance the learning experience.

Faculty:

• Faculty are experts in their fields, with research and teaching interests in global health, community development, public health, and related areas.

Careers:

Potential Career Paths:

• Community Health Educator
• Public Health Nurse
• Health Policy Analyst
• Health Advocate
• Social Worker
• Global Health Consultant
• Nutritionist
• Physician Assistant
• Health Administrator