The Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH), offered in partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Center for Global Health Education, aims to prepare the next generation of leaders for emerging global issues. The MSGH program’s expert global health faculty come not only from Feinberg Medical School, but also from McCormick School of Engineering, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and Kellogg School of Management to offer a truly interprofessional degree. Students benefit from access to a top-ranked academic medical center and dedicated center of expertise. Because the degree can be completed part time and entirely online, students anywhere can access a program of this caliber while maintaining their personal and professional commitments.
The curriculum is designed for clinicians, researchers, epidemiologists, nonprofit administrators, policy analysts, social entrepreneurs, and others who make a meaningful difference in healthcare access and outcomes in the places where it’s needed most. Through multidisciplinary courses that emphasize both theory and practical application, you'll learn how to improve healthcare outcomes and systems, work effectively in challenging healthcare settings, navigate global regulatory issues, evaluate results, and more.
Global Health addresses some of the most important and novel issues in 21st-century health. Government agencies and major foundations are investing billions to combat largely treatable chronic diseases that claim far too many lives in low- and middle-income countries. Combined with continued strong job growth in the broader healthcare industry — and dynamic changes in population growth and the global economy — there could not be a better time to consider graduate study in global health.
An interdisciplinary professional program, MSGH graduates will possess the knowledge, skills and aptitude to:
Work effectively in a health-related industry within highly resource-limited settings
Navigate the business and legal / regulatory aspects of health-related industries around the world
Contribute to the improvement of health outcomes and systems within low and middle-income countries
Evaluate and measure health outcomes
Secure grants to fund global health initiatives
Evaluate and navigate the cultural and ethical considerations inherent in global health contexts
Essential Fieldwork: The MSGH Practicum
All students in the MSGH program are required to engage in at least four weeks (excluding travel time) of non-clinical work in a health delivery setting, which may include rotations abroad, working remotely on projects abroad, or working in your own community on “local” projects. Practical fieldwork experience is considered a valuable complement to the program curriculum, earning students academic credit in the practicum course, which is overseen by MSGH faculty. The practicum is constructed so that students are not simply observers but are able to add value to our global partners work via the skills gained through the MSGH program. Northwestern partners with Child Family Health International (CFHI), offering global health education programs throughout the world, in nations such as Argentina, Bolivia, Ghana, Ecuador, India, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. Additional details about fieldwork experiences are found on the MSGH Practicum web page.
Curriculum
Students are required to complete 12 courses to earn the degree. The curriculum covers eight core courses, three elective courses, and a practicum course. Review curriculum details and elective choices while you consider applying to this program. Current student should refer to the Global Health curriculum requirements in place at time of entry into the program.
A variety of factors are considered when your application is reviewed. Background and experience vary from student to student. For a complete list of requirements, see the Admission page for SPS graduate programs.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for the Master's in Global Health program at Northwestern is comparable to similar US programs. Financial aid opportunities exist for students at Northwestern. Complete details can be found on the Global Health Tuition and Financial Aid page.
Registration Information
Already accepted into the Master's in Global Health program? Get ahead and register for your classes as soon as possible to ensure maximum efficiency in your trajectory.
Global Health is one of the 21st-century faces of medicine addressing the most important and novel issues in health. Those with appropriately rigorous education in the field will likely find significant professional opportunity. For details visit the Global Health Career Options page.
Faculty
Instructors in the Master's in Global Health program at Northwestern are leaders in the field. They bring practical real-world experiences to the online classroom and engage with students on an interpersonal level. Get to know the instructors on our Global Health Program Faculty page.
Additional Options for Global Health Study
Global Health Leadership Certificate
Build practical management and leadership skills in a larger ethical context to shape mission-driven work on global health equity and access projects. Complete this four-course certificate and apply your credit to Northwestern’s MS in Global Health program.
Looking for a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Global Health? Consider full- and part-time options from Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine that train graduate students for a variety of professional roles in public health, clinical care, and health research.