MS: Global Health

Format: Online, In-person

The Master of Science in Global Health: an innovative, multi-institutional degree that equips learners for impactful professional global health careers

Offered jointly by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine opens a new website and the UAB School of Public Health opens a new website, the UAB Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) prepares students for global health careers through research, collaboration, policy, and evidence-based solutions.

Why Study Global Health at UAB?

The UAB MSGH program prepares students to drive meaningful change in an increasingly interconnected world. Through a unique blend of research, collaboration, and real-world application, students gain the expertise to address global health challenges, advance health equity, and improve lives across diverse populations. With access to internationally recognized faculty, global partnerships, and innovative learning experiences, UAB provides the foundation for a successful career in global health.

What Sets Us Apart?

• A Truly Global Classroom: Collaborate with students from around the world through the Foundations of Global Health I and II courses. As part of the Global Health Consortium opens a new website, you'll learn alongside peers from international partner universities, gaining firsthand experience working across cultures, disciplines, and time zones.
• A Unique Interdisciplinary Degree: The MSGH is the first degree of its kind in Alabama and one of only a few programs in the United States jointly offered by a school of medicine and a school of public health. This unique structure provides students with a comprehensive perspective on global health challenges and solutions.
• Access to Global Health Networks: Students benefit from extensive collaborations with the Sparkman Center for Global Health opens a new website, the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health opens a new website, the Global Health Consortium opens a new website, and a network of international partners. These connections create opportunities for mentorship, research, professional development, and global engagement.
• Mentorship from Experienced Global Health Leaders: Our faculty mentors are actively engaged in interdisciplinary global health research, practice, policy, and implementation around the world. Students gain insights from experts working to improve health outcomes across diverse settings and populations. All MSGH students work directly with a faculty mentor on their research project.
• International Learning Opportunities: Expand your global perspective through optional international experiences, including the annual Global Health Learning Symposium hosted in partnership with universities around the world. These experiences allow students to engage with global health challenges in real-world settings. Participating students receive a travel stipend.
• A Commitment to Health Equity: Health equity is at the core of the UAB MSGH experience. Drawing from Alabama's unique history in the Civil Rights Movement, students explore the social, structural, and policy factors that influence health outcomes locally and globally, developing the skills to create more equitable health systems.

What Can You Do with a Master's in Global Health?

Graduates are prepared for leadership and professional roles across healthcare, public health, research, government, and international development, including:

• Global Health Program Manager
• NGO or International Development Specialist
• Health Policy or Public Health Analyst
• Research or Clinical Trials Coordinator
• Health Equity Consultant
• Community Health or Health Education Specialist
• Medical and Health Services Manager
• Academic or Postsecondary Health Educator

The program also serves as a strong foundation for those pursuing advanced professional degrees, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, and other health professions.

At UAB, you'll gain more than a degree. You'll join a global community dedicated to advancing health equity and creating meaningful change around the world.

Apply Now Opens an external link.

Request More Information

Admissions

Curriculum

Students may choose between two program formats: the 36-credit-hour Scholarly Project Track or the 38-credit-hour Thesis Track. Both options require students to complete a rigorous, hypothesis-driven research project. The Scholarly Project Track integrates research activities directly into the curriculum, while the Thesis Track provides additional dedicated research time and individualized mentorship with an established faculty researcher.

Curriculum Flow

The MS in Global Health offers career-building, tailored mentorship, and professional networking. Fieldwork is optional. For information regarding approved electives, please see the Graduate Catalog opens a new website.

Student Experiences

Foundations I and II were two of the most transformational courses I have taken in terms of learning tangible concepts of global health work. These courses not only taught me more about global health, but they also taught me how to work effectively on a team spread across countries and time zones.

- Camryn, Foundations I and II

Photo by Jon Steen

Participating in the peer-centered courses of Foundations I and II has been an enriching experience. Foundations I provided a theoretical framework through global health policy analysis, while Foundations II built upon this foundation to equip students with the skills necessary for developing global health project proposals. The structure of both courses mirrors real-world global health work, preparing students for dynamic, international team-based environments. Through these two courses, I have learned the importance of teamwork based on mutual trust, the value of cultivating relationships with team members beyond work requirements, the necessity of using an intersectional lens for analysis, and the ability to critically evaluate the perspectives and biases of all stakeholders. The learning environment of Foundations I and II is particularly beneficial for students like myself who are just starting in the global health field. After completing both courses, I feel confident in my ability to navigate my future within global health.

- Audrey, Foundations I and II

The two-week Manipal Global Health Learning Symposium provided a valuable opportunity to gain new insights into global health while allowing me to develop both personally and professionally. It featured an exploration of the Indian healthcare system, collaborative group work and extensive networking with a mix of participants from eight different global universities. I was able to work on a system mapping activity in the mental health student cluster and had the chance to visit 4 different facilities in Uddupi to map out the local mental health landscape. It was also great to meet some of my Global Health Foundations 1 and 2 group mates from McMaster University in person, after only interacting with them virtually the past two semesters.

- Divya, Symposium

Hear more about Divya's experience opens a new website

Photo by Cordelia Capodiferro

Attending the global symposium at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my global health master’s journey so far. Our group worked on social medicine, and we chose to compare healthcare systems in prisons, specifically between the U.S. and Norway. One of the most impactful parts of the symposium was hearing from people doing real work on the ground – something we often only study in theory. The symposium was more than a learning experience; it was a reminder of the power of collaboration, community, and shared purpose. The people we met, the stories we heard, and the lessons we learned will stay with us throughout our careers in global health.

- Zuha Fatima, Symposium

Read more about Zuha’s experience opens a new website

Academic Leadership

Co-Directors of the Master of Science in Global Health

Bhekumusa Lukhele, PhD

Assistant Professor, Health Policy and Organization, UAB School of Public Health
blukhele@uab.edu

Scholar's Profile

---

Matt Heimann, MD

Associate Director for Educational Programs, Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health
mheimann@uabmc.edu

Scholar's Profile

FAQ

Contact

If you have additional questions, please contact the program’s academic leadership, Dr. Bhekie Lukhele at blukhele@uab.edu or Dr. Matt Heimann at mheimann@uabmc.edu, or program manager Jimika Colvin at jlcolvin@uab.edu.