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School of Global Health Faculty of Health

Specialized Honours

The Specialized Honours degree options combine core, foundational courses that all students take covering the sciences, social sciences, and humanities approach to global health, including courses on human biology (e.g., anatomy and physiology), disease processes (communicable and chronic diseases), public health (e.g., epidemiology, health promotion), research and implementation (e.g., global health research, program evaluation, healthcare planning), health systems and policy (social determinants of health, politics of health, global health governance), and ethics and law (e.g., global health ethics, human rights law).

In addition to core courses, students in the Specialized Honours program take a minimum of 21 credits in electives from one of four areas of stream concentration shaped to their individual career interests: Global Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Global Health Policy, Management and Systems, Global Health and the Environment, and Global E-Health. In their final term, students take a 250-hour Integrated Global Health Practicum course, working in the field with academic institutions, government, and non-governmental organizations in Canada or internationally. This is followed by a 2-week intensive research capstone course.

The BSc degree option also includes further courses in the physical and life sciences, while the BA degree option further includes courses in the social sciences and humanities.

QUICK LINKS

Specialized Honours – Streams Presentation

For current students looking to know more about Specialized Honours, please use your York University Zoom account to access this presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Students must have Honours standing, meaning they must have a minimum GPA of 5.0. In order to remain in the Specialized Honours, you must maintain a 5.0 GPA.

Students select a stream based on which stream electives are of interest to them and career goals.

Read the stream descriptions to understand what the stream focus is and look at the stream electives.

  • Global Health Policy, Management & Systems: Explores the political, administrative, sociocultural and economic factors influencing global health policy, management, and systems.
  • Global e-Health: Explores global health informatics, health information systems, virtual communities, and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the health care service sector.
  • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: Explores interdisciplinary perspectives and approaches to health promotion and disease prevention with individuals, groups, communities and populations, including human biology, health psychology, health education, and epidemiological, critical and structural approaches.              
  • Global Health and the Environment: Explore complex environmental dimensions in relation to health, including cultural, artistic and communicative aspects; development and globalization; urban infrastructure and sustainability; and environmental and eco-health.

Go to the website below.

  1. Go to: https://myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/program-change
  2. Sign into your York account and follow the steps.

Note 1: This is considered a “Change of Degree”.

Note 2: Don’t forget to select a concentration from the drop-down menu, otherwise the request will 

be rejected by the Registrar’s Office.

Note 3: When selecting the term from the drop down, choose “next available session”.

Note 4: Degree Change Request Timelines:

Submitted between February 1 – March 15, are usually processed by April 30. 

Submitted between March 16 – April 30, are usually processed by June 29.

Submitted between May 1 – June 29, are usually processed by August 31.

The Specialized Honours program requires 21 credits in stream electives. For more information on degree requires, please see: https://calendars.students.yorku.ca/2021-2022/programs/HH/global-health

Review your Degree Progress Report at https://myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/degree-progress-report. Note: You should be monitoring your progress and reviewing your report for accuracy.

Email sgh@yorku.ca with your name, student number and the possible errors (i.e., HLST 3040 isn’t being counted as a stream elective, PSYC 3140 is being counted as a course from within the major instead of as a science credit etc.).

Spaces in stream elective courses are extremely limited, particularly in the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention concentration. Seats are given to our students on a first come-first serve basis. You can contact the individual Departments responsible for the courses and request to be placed on a wait list however it would be in your best interest to also enrol in a alternative stream elective from the list.

The majority of our students are Specialized Honours and will be unable to take their 4thyear core courses, while also in the Practicum and Capstone. Note: It is highly suggested that you take a 4th year core course in your 3rdyear or in the summer between 3rd and 4th in order to reduce your course load.

Prior to starting their practicum, students attend pre-practicum seminars covering a variety of relevant topics such as global health competencies; practicum learning plan; diversity and inclusion in the workplace; rights and responsibilities; health and safety; mental wellbeing and self-care; professionalism, communication and conflict resolution. This prepares students for their Integrated Global Health Practicum (GH 4601), which takes place the following term.

Designed to bridge theory and practice in a variety of health-related settings, the practicum is an 11-week (250 hour) research and practice-based experience that is planned, supervised, and evaluated. Students are mentored and supported by qualified supervisors in the practicum site as well as the course professor. The practicum course is a unique opportunity for students to learn how to apply global health concepts, methods, and theory in health-related settings in Canada and globally. In addition, the practicum enables students to develop attributes needed for career development. The course also includes an online component with reflective and applied assignments.

Upon completion of the practicum placement, students participate in a two-week intensive research capstone course (GH 4602) in order to share their research/practice findings through presentations and other learning exchange activities.

These are the final two courses in the Specialized Honours Degree. You must complete ALL your core courses and ALL 21 stream elective credits by the end of the fall term, to be eligible for the winter term Practicum and Capstone.

No, you must be registered in the Specialized Honours, have selected a concentration, and completed all your core and stream electives.

Yes, current Global Health students can find out more by viewing this presentation via their university account.

Specialized Honours Streams

A student teaches kids washing hands

Global Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Global Health Policy, Management and Systems

Global Health and the Environment

E-health image

Global E-Health