Master of Global Affairs program expands with new focus on global health

The Keough School of Global Affairs and the Eck Institute for Global Health at the University of Notre Dame have partnered to launch a new global health specialization for students pursuing a master of global affairs degree.

Master of global affairs students enrolled in the Keough School’s two-year professional degree program can now acquire broad training in global affairs plus focused training in global health. Students will be able to blend coursework from the Master of Global Affairs program with the Eck Institute’s Master of Science in Global Health program. This customized approach, grounded in the social sciences, will prepare students for careers that address global health from a policy perspective.

“There are few issues more central to global affairs and sustainable development than global health,” said Ted Beatty, associate dean for academic affairs at the Keough School. “Master’s students will now be able to take advantage of courses and faculty in both the Keough School and the Eck Institute, and can build a customized program of study connecting the science of health with the politics of global policy and practice.”

Through its Master of Global Affairs program, the Keough School prepares its students for effective and ethical leadership in government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector.

The Eck Institute, an integral part of Notre Dame Research, holistically addresses health disparities around the world through interdisciplinary research, collaborating with global partners in academia, the corporate sector, nongovernmental organizations, and government agencies. The Institute offers a Master of Science in Global Health through the College of Science as well as opportunities at the undergraduate, doctoral, and postdoctoral levels. Its programs build on Notre Dame’s historical strengths in infectious disease research.

“A key component of the Eck Institute’s mission is to train the next generation of global health practitioners through the Master of Science in Global Health program,” said Bernard Nahlen, director of the Eck Institute. “This new collaboration with the Keough School will provide another great opportunity for more students to gain knowledge and skills to contribute to improving health for all people, especially in low-income settings.”

Advancing health standards for all people is central to the Keough School’s mission of integral human development. Through its research, policy, and practice, the Keough School addresses some of the world’s greatest challenges such as poverty, war, disease, political oppression, environmental degradation, and other threats to human flourishing.

The Eck Institute for Global Health promotes research, training, and service for the advancement of health standards for all people. The Institute recognizes health as a fundamental human right and aims to support those in developing countries who are disproportionately impacted by preventable diseases.

The Keough School and the Eck Institute are also collaborating on a new undergraduate course, Foundations in Global Health, which will be offered during the spring 2019 semester.

— Renée LaReau


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