Field Work Experience

As part of the Global Health minor, students must complete a supervised fieldwork experience, either internationally or domestically, for a period of approximately five weeks during the first summer session, May through June. Throughout their field work experience, students will engage in a range of inter-cultural encounters and gain broad knowledge of global health issues in the resource-poor context. More specifically, they will work in pairs or small groups, under the guidance of an on-site supervisor/preceptor, to observe and where appropriate contribute to locally relevant projects that serve to understand and address global health inequities.

Prior to their entry to the field, students must complete a semester-long preparation course (i.e. BB H 390A), which aims to ensure their logistic and academic readiness to travel. Following their return to campus, they are encouraged to engage in an interactive workshop during which they will be asked to reflect upon and share their field experiences, as well as consider how their greater appreciation and knowledge of global health issues may be integrated into their personal and professional goals and plans.

Students’ direct experience and interactions with local communities is anticipated to greatly deepen their understanding of the complexity of global health issues and interventions, as well as develop the core competencies needed to work cooperatively and respectfully with diverse groups in a global health setting. The fieldwork experience also encourages students to become independent and active global citizens who engage in meaningful two-way exchanges of knowledge and ideas for the purpose of contributing to the development of society.

Presently students have the option of completing their fieldwork experience in one of several African countries: South Africa, Tanzania, or Ecuador, and new domestic sites with Native American, refugee and other communities are under development.