The Graduate Certificate in Global Health and Security at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government provides an introduction to the intersection of global public health and security, covering topics such as emerging infectious diseases, biosurveillance, the development of vaccines, and emergency response to public health disasters.
Program At-a-Glance
- Completion Requirements: 5 courses (15 credits) listed below
- Duration: 1 to 1.5 years on average
- Semester of Entry: fall and spring
Certificate Program Requirements
REQUIRED COURSES (2 courses | 6 credits)
Students are required to take the following two courses:
BIOD 620 – Health and Security
Explores issues emerging from the interaction of health and security that represent novel challenges to policy makers confronting a rapidly changing international landscape. Examines the origin and evolution of the concept of health security. Analyzes strategic impact of infectious disease outbreaks, global health security case studies, global health governance, and formulation and implementation of U.S. global health security policy.
GCH 543 – Global Health
Examines the major infectious, nutritional, noncommunicable, neuropsychiatric, and other causes of morbidity, mortality, and disability in each world region. Explores sociocultural, economic, political, biological, and environmental factors that contribute to global and community health.
ELECTIVE COURSES (3 courses | 9 credits)
Select three elective courses of your choosing. Courses vary semester to semester, but past elective courses available to students have included:
- COMM 620 – Health Communication
- GCH 640 –Global Infectious Diseases
- GCH 645 – U.S. and Global Public Health Systems
- GCH 712 – Introduction to Epidemiology
- GCH 726 – Advanced Methods in Epidemiology
- GCH 772 – Social Epidemiology
- PUAD 630 – Emergency Planning and Preparedness
- PUAD 631 – Disaster Response Operations and Recovery
Students may also take other Schar School courses with prior written approval of program director.
Apply This Certificate Towards Your Master's
Earn your master's degree faster by starting with a certificate program. Students can apply up to 12 credits from a certificate program toward a Schar School master's degree upon acceptance into a master's program. Upon completion of this certificate, many students go on to pursue the Schar School's Master's in Biodefense and Master's in International Security degree programs, among others.
Questions?
Have questions about this certificate program? Contact the graduate admissions team.