Master of Science in Global Health

Prepare to Be a STEM-Focused Global Health Leader

From biomedical devices to mobile health apps to telemedicine, technology is reshaping every aspect of global health. At WPI, we approach everything—including our global health program—with a STEM focus, making it the ideal place to study. As an institution that believes in turning knowledge into action, our program also provides opportunities to further health equity and social justice.

And with 50+ project centers around the world, you can have a global health education that’s truly global. Collaborate with diverse peers, learn from world-class faculty, and customize your degree to fit your passions as you prepare to address the urgent challenges in today’s global health landscape.

New! This program is now eligible for WPI's BS/MS program allowing you to maximize your educational investment.

Program Highlights

Leverage the latest technology—including AI-assisted medical treatments, cloud computing, data analytics, and
mobile health apps to more effectively address global health challenges.

Build knowledge and skills across disciplines, ranging from AI and data science to social and natural science to
engineering solutions—and support global health in the ways you’re most passionate about.

Travel to conduct field research at one of WPI’s Global Project Centers where you can build cross-cultural literacy
and complete your practicum as far away as South Africa, Armenia, Ghana, or Puerto Rico (and as close as the
Northeastern U.S.). Also, have the opportunity to work with some of the nation’s most impactful agencies and
foundations in the world.

Develop fundamental knowledge of global health methodologies, global policy studies, and mixed-method
social science approaches.

The MS in Global Health program is offered on campus only. This is a program offered in collaboration with The Global School.

Career Outcomes

WPI Professor Haichong (Kai) Zhang works with an MRI device in his lab in the Life Sciences and Biotechnology Center (LSBC).

AI at WPI: New Applications for Global Health

Artificial intelligence (AI) is applied across disciplines at WPI, and it’s increasingly relevant to many health fields. In WPI’s MS in Global Health, you’ll learn about the global health applications of breakthrough technologies being enabled by the rapid development of AI, including AI-assisted surgical treatments. In our Mobile Applications for Global Health concentration, you also have the option to take courses that include “Artificial Intelligence” (CS534) and “Artificial Intelligence in Design” (CS540). And because we are committed to AI for all, you can work with the technology at a range of skill levels.

Curriculum for Master of Science in Global Health

Through WPI’s MS in Global Health, you’ll gain interdisciplinary expertise in the specific areas global health management and practice increasingly rely on, including biology and biotechnology, biomedical engineering, data analytics, computation, mobile data, and AI. Learn more about why WPI launched the program.

With four possible concentrations, the Master of Science in Global Health has a common core curriculum integrating fundamental concepts that all global health professionals need to master, regardless of specialty.

IGS502 Perspectives on Global Health (3 credits) 
DEV540 Research Design Methods for Development (3 credits) 
IGS555 Collaboration for a Better World Seminar Series (0 credits) 
IGS595 Graduate Qualifying Project (6 credits)

In addition to the core curriculum, each concentration requires 9 core credits from concentration-specific courses, plus 9 elective credits.
Any core course not chosen can serve as an elective.

Your GQP will be related to your concentration and completed as a practicum at a health-related organization or company, either in the US or at one of WPI’s Global Project Centers and university research partner sites around the world.
You will build awareness of cultural values and practices and learn how to apply them to the design and implementation of health policies or programs in diverse, cross-cultural contexts. 
You will have hands-on practice in professional communication and ethical conduct. 
You will gain awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in global health management, policy, and data analytics.

Understand key challenges in global health that require better management and assessment of complex systems.
Apply the basic principles and tools of management across diverse cultural domains.
Develop a team-oriented approach to managing large projects, whether in a nonprofit, government, or industry setting in urban or rural environments.
Gain skills in managing complexity, risk, and dynamic systems in relation to global health.
Be able to manage people and programs in teams as well as through cooperative agreements.

MIS576 Program Management (3 credits)
SD553 Model Analysis and Evaluation Techniques (3 credits)
SD562 Project Dynamics (3 credits)
SD550 System Dynamics Foundation: Managing Complexity (3 credits)
BUS500 Business Law, Ethics, and Social Responsibility

BUS500 Business Law, Ethics, and Social Responsibility
IGS510 Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
MIS573 System Design and Development
MIS584 Business Intelligence
OBC505 Teaming and Organizing for Innovation
OIE549 Sustainable Supply Chain and Operations Management
OIE501 Operations Management
OIE542 Operations Risk
OIE558 Designing and Managing Lean Six Sigma Processes
SS510 Principles of Epidemiology

Understand key challenges in global health that would benefit from data analytics, modeling, and other new techniques in machine learning and AI. 
Interpret results of data analysis for health research, policy, or practice. 
Understand key global health policies surrounding data privacy, transferability, and accessibility. 
Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics and computational methods and tools, as appropriate. 
Identify the quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given global health context.

DS517 Mathematical Fundamentals for Data Science 
SD553 Modeling Analytics and Evaluation Techniques 
DS501 Introduction to Data Science 
SS510 Principles of Epidemiology 
IGS505 Qualitative Methods for Community Engaged Research

MA511 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists 
SD550 System Dynamics Foundation: Managing Complexity 
CS5007 Introduction to Programing Concepts.   
CS582 or BCB502 or CS573 Data Visualization   
CS542 Database Management 
IGS510 Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change 
MIS573 System Design and Development 
ETR500 Entrepreneurship and Innovation 
SD500 Introduction to System Dynamic 
BCB501 Bioinformatics 
BCB504 Statistical Methods in Genetics and Bioinformatics 
DS595 Machine Learning for Engineering and Science Applications 
SD553 Model Analyses and Evaluation 
BUS500 Business Law, Ethics, and Social Responsibility 
MA547 Design and Analysis of Observational and Sampling Studies 
MA542 Regression Analysis 
MA559 Time Series Analysis

Mobile Applications for Global Health

Do you have a background in computing, gaming, design, or AI in Design? Exciting frontiers in applications for global health are open to you. This MS in Global Health concentration builds primarily on programs in computer science and interactive media and game design. It includes courses like Ubiquitous Computing, Human-Computer Interaction, Interactive Design, and Serious and Applied Games.

Understand key challenges in global health that would benefit from mobile applications and from innovative approaches to interactive and serious gaming. 
Identify the human factors involved in the process of software app design. 
Create solutions based on an iterative process that incorporates human factors and user-centered design related to specific global environments.  
Develop safe and effective mobile apps for use in global health care delivery and disease prevention.  
Be able to develop and deliver global healthcare apps and games that are effectively tailored to the end-user’s environment.

CS5007 Introduction to Applications of Computer Science  
IMGD5300 Design Interactive Experience  
CS 528 Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing 
CS546 Human-Computer Interaction 
CS582 or BCB502 or CS573 Data Visualization 
IMGD5500 Serious and Applied Games

BCB581 Bioinformatics 
CS582 or BCB502 or CS573 Data Visualization  
IMGD5010 IMGD Fundamentals 
IMGD5100 Tangible and Embodied Interaction 
CS540 Artificial Intelligence in Design 
CS534 Artificial Intelligence 
CS542 Database Management 
CS5003 Foundations of Computer Science 
MIS502 or MIS587 Business Applications for Machine Learning 
OBC505 Teaming and Organizing for Innovation  
ETR500 Entrepreneurship and Innovation 
BUS500 Business Law, Ethics, and Social Responsibility

Understand key challenges in global health that require better engineering solutions.   
Develop tools for healthcare and medical device integration in diverse settings and global contexts. 
Develop new devices and equipment for improving healthcare in remote or developing regions of the world. 
Develop skills, knowledge, and mindset necessary to collaborate with community partners in addressing engineering solutions for global health challenges.  
Understand the interaction of technology, society, and environment in the innovation process.

BME531 Medical Device Design  
BME532 Medical Device Regulation 
ETR500 Entrepreneurship & Innovation 
BME592 Healthcare Systems and Clinical Practice (1 credit)   
BME533 Medical Device Innovation and Development (1 credit) 
DEV530 Ethics and Social Justice in Development

BME532 Biomedical Instrumentation   
CE560 Advanced Water Treatment 
CE561Advanced Principles of Wastewater Treatment 
CE563 Industrial Waste Treatment 
CE590 Environmental Health and Engineering  
CE572 Physical and Chemical Treatment Process 
BME560 Physiology for Engineers 
IGS510 Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change 
MIS576 Program Management 
OIE505 Teaming and Organizing for Innovation 
BME520 Biomechanics 
ETR593 Technology Commercialization  
SS510 Principles of Epidemiology 
BUS500 Business Law, Ethics, and Social Responsibility

Meet Our World-Class Faculty

Charlotte Fowler

Assistant Professor, Mathematical Sciences

My research seeks to apply causal inference and data science methods to intensive longitudinal data while addressing issues of missingness, non-stationarity, and latent variables. This work is motivated by mobile studies that employ wearable devices or smartphones to collect data and applications to improve understanding of mental health and health disparities. I am passionate about increasing accessibility and diversity in the field of statistics. Please visit my website to learn more about my research and teaching.

Karen Oates

Professor, Biology & Biotechnology

Before joining WPI as the Peterson Family Dean of Arts and Sciences, I was the deputy director for undergraduate education at the National Science Foundation. I was also the founding provost at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, associate dean and director at George Mason University, and the co-P.I. on a large, national dissemination grant entitled Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities (SENCER). I received my BS in biology from Rochester Institute of Technology and my PhD in biochemistry from George Washington University.

Tsitsi Masvawure

Assistant Professor, The Global School

I am a medical anthropologist, global health researcher and feminist scholar, whose research focuses on issues of gender, sexuality and health. I am primarily interested in the HIV pandemic and have conducted research on HIV prevention and treatment in various countries in Africa.

Angela Incollingo Rodriguez

Assistant Professor, Social Science & Policy Studies

Angela Incollingo Rodriguez is an Associate Professor of Psychological & Cognitive Sciences and Neuroscience. She directs the Stigma Eating & Endocrinology Dynamics (SEED) Lab and collaborates on interdisciplinary research initiatives throughout WPI and around the globe.

Charlotte Fowler

Assistant Professor, Mathematical Sciences

Karen Oates

Professor, Biology & Biotechnology

Tsitsi Masvawure

Assistant Professor, The Global School

Angela Incollingo Rodriguez

Assistant Professor, Social Science & Policy Studies

Charlotte Fowler

Assistant Professor, Mathematical Sciences

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Q&A with Professor Karen Oates

The professor of biology and biotechnology answers questions about the Master of Science in Global Health

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Master of Science in Global Health

Prepare to Be a STEM-Focused Global Health Leader

Program Highlights

Career Outcomes

$105K to $181K

29%

27.8%

10.4%

AI at WPI: New Applications for Global Health

Curriculum for Master of Science in Global Health

A World of Career Options

Make Our Degree Yours: Choose from 4 Concentrations

Global Health Management and Assessment

Analytics and Modeling in Global Health

Mobile Applications for Global Health

Engineering Solutions for Global Health

Important Dates

Similar Majors

Meet Our World-Class Faculty

Have questions?

Graduate Studies Series

Q&A with Professor Karen Oates

Take the First Step Today

Refer a Friend