While addressing global health problems has traditionally focused at the level of health care practitioners, the reality is that advances in global health require a community of workers brought together from a wide range of academic fields and possessing many types of expertise. As such, workers from a variety of disciplines are integral to the global health field, including clinical medicine, anthropology, economics, epidemiology, biology, history, sociology and political science. Together, these stakeholders can formulate strategies to address health challenges across the world.

The growing emphasis on solving global health issues will require an increase in workers with the necessary educational background and training. Indeed, the Committee on the U.S. Commitment to Global Health predicts that the number of participants in global health work will continue to grow, both in governmental and non-governmental organizations.

In recognition of this demand, global health education is expanding beyond the domain of graduate programs in public health and other master's and PhD programs, and is now beginning to enter the undergraduate curriculum.

Why Study Global Health at Luther? 

Luther College is uniquely positioned to train this next generation of leaders given our strengths in preparing students for careers in different areas of human health, including clinical practice (Biology, Nursing, Neuroscience) and community-level practice (Allied Health Sciences, Health Promotion, Exercise Science, and Applied Leadership Studies). Global Health adds to this strength by focusing on political, cultural, and social systems that shape populations’ health status and health care delivery models, and extending beyond the “boots on the ground” emphasis of clinical and community health promotion.

The Global Health major is ideal for students with a variety of interests in understanding human health. In addition, Luther's vigorous study away program has established host sites around the world to provide opportunities for immersion experiences for global health majors.