Educational Objectives

This unique 12-credit graduate certificate provides students with the opportunity to learn about global health and health care innovation in Costa Rica, a country recognized as a global leader in translating good ideas into better health outcomes – especially in the areas in health care delivery and biotechnology. Take a look at the program structure. 

The certificate is designed to be completed in one semester with all of the content delivered during a 10 week on-the-ground living and learning experience in Costa Rica. The certificate program offers courses in Intercultural Communication, Conflict Resolution, Global Health and Social Innovation, Innovations for Universal Health Care, and Urban Health and Social Innovation, combined with a hands-on practicum, taught by bilingual Costa Rican faculty from the InterAmerican Center for Global Health (CISG).

View the Course Descriptions

 

Certificate Objectives

At the completion of the program, students will be able to do the following:

1. Understand practical issues in global health and development, including concepts in the fields of innovation, complexity science, social determinants of health, health care disparities, community engagement, and product development that influence innovation in this dynamic sector.
2. Identify a health (or health care) challenge and describe the process of working with community partners and other stakeholders (e.g. private sector, government institutions, and academia) to define and design a solution to the issues related to the challenge.
3. Describe the economic, technical, political and other systemic factors that pull innovation forward, that push it from behind, and often block its successful implementation and scaling.
4. Apply and develop innovation and entrepreneurial models and processes to resolve challenges and advance global health, particularly in the translation of ideas and interventions across borders.
5. Demonstrate the capacity to engage in ethical and respectful relations and make ethical and responsible decisions that benefit individuals, communities and other stakeholders.