Global health is about improving health for everyone, while considering the connections among people, animals, plants, and the planet. Students explore how human health intersects with economic development, healthcare access, food systems, environmental health, and climate change in order to address the root causes of disease around the world. The program helps students develop a broad, planetary-scale perspective that can be applied to community, state, national, and international health challenges.

The College of Agricultural & Life Sciences at UW-Madison offers two undergraduate programs in this dynamic field, a Global Health Major and a Certificate in Global Health.  Students in these programs study human health and well-being with an emphasis on empathy, cultural awareness, and collaborative approaches.  They build valuable skills and knowledge, selecting from a diverse pool of courses in disease biology and epidemiology, food systems, environmental health, and public health and policy.  Both programs offer flexibility, and students are encouraged to pursue their own areas of interest through coursework and by participating in field experiences, laboratory research, internships, and volunteer work.

The major and certificate programs prepare students for a wide variety of careers. Students can become healthcare professionals well-informed about the systems that impact patient health. They can become epidemiologists or research scientists in academia or with government agencies, or community health professionals working on policy, education, or communication for governmental agencies or non-governmental organizations anywhere in the world. The program supports students who intend to go directly into the workforce after graduation, as well as those who plan to further their education through graduate or professional programs.