Study abroad Public health provides students with an opportunity to connect coursework to a broader global context and develop skills in cross-cultural communication and analysis. These skills are essential for public health practitioners who work globally to prevent and treat disease, promote health and wellness, and respond to environmental challenges.
For many students, studying abroad is a key part of their degree plan and the college strives to offer a variety of options, including study abroad programs with a health focus that align with the public health major requirements. However, students may also choose to participate in a program that does not have a public health focus.
The majority of the undergraduate study abroad opportunities in the public health major are short-term, with travel time ranging from
Using a streamlined approach for all undergraduate study abroad courses has helped ease student registration, curriculum design and administrative burdens. Courses are assigned a consistent course number to simplify curriculum development and alignment, as well as the process for transfer credit (see discussion below).
A wide range of public health-focused study abroad experiences are available in Africa. Some programs are centered around the public health track, while others involve field studies and internships in local community organizations.
South Africa: The City of Cape Town offers a diverse selection of health-focused programs. Explore the booming city of Cape Town and the surrounding region to learn about the social and economic factors that impact health outcomes in Africa, while exploring health issues from a global perspective.
Kenya: The University of Nairobi School of Public Health offers a specialized semester abroad program for AU students in Nairobi, Kenya. This program focuses on the complexities of public health in developing countries, providing opportunities to observe and work directly with public health professionals.
Botswana: AU’s Botswana Program in Global & Public Health Issues immerses students in the cultural and social environment of Botswana, providing an opportunity to interact with the local population, engage with healthcare workers, and analyze community health challenges.
Buenos Aires: CIEE’s Community Public Health Program in Buenos Aires offers a unique opportunity to examine the challenges and solutions to public health in Latin America through classes taught in Spanish. Students spend the semester living with a host family in a local community and participating in a range of activities designed to foster intercultural understanding.
Colombia: In this course, a collaboration with the School of Public Health at the Universidad de Valle de Cauca in Cali, students gain first-hand experience with public health issues in Colombia by collaborating with their colleagues and local faculty members.
The course utilizes the Integrated Public Health Framework and addresses foundational domains of global public health concepts, analysis of diverse health systems, and cultural diversity and cross-cultural competency in an interdisciplinary setting. It is a rigorous and engaging course that combines traditional classroom lectures, lab-based courses, and hands-on project work to help you understand the global public health landscape and prepare for your professional future.