Global Health - The Essentials

How politics, economics, and society shape global health

This course frames health as inseparable from its political, economic, and social context, examining how these forces shape health outcomes for populations around the world rather than treating health purely as a medical or biological question.

Who it's for

Anyone wanting a grounded, critical-thinking-based introduction to global public health — students exploring the field, professionals adjacent to it, or curious learners who want to follow global health debates with real understanding.

Key takeaways

• How to think critically about the drivers of population-level health
• The global burden of disease and what it reveals about where resources are needed
• The dynamics of infectious disease at a global scale
• How different health systems are structured and why that structure matters

By the end, you should be able to discuss the key issues in global public health with an informed, critical perspective rather than surface-level familiarity.