During the first phase of the program, students take one required core course and one elective course. Students also meet with the program’s internship advisors who will make placements based on a student’s professional goals, experience, work habits, and availability of local placements. The internship onboarding process begins in week 5 of the program.
Required Course
All students take the following course during the first phase of the program.
SPH PH 506 Principles of International Health
Principles of International Health is designed for students with an interest in the theory and practice of health management in developing countries. There are no prerequisites: students with a background in international relations, politics, and economics will all find that the course touches on issues relevant to their main field of study. The course is divided into six topics, including nutrition, maternal and child health, and infectious diseases. Policy issues involving research into the causes of illness and the treatment of disease in the developing world will also be discussed. There will also be many specialized guest lectures by international experts from the World Health Organization or other health care organizations based in Geneva and field trips to some of these organizations.
Units: 4
Elective Courses
Students choose one of the following elective courses during the first phase of the program.
CAS AH 308 “From Caesar to Corbusier:” The History of Switzerland Through its Art and Architecture
This course covers the history of Switzerland through its art and architecture, from the Romans to the twentieth century, setting the country’s development in a wider European context and covering the main movements in art and architecture over that period.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Aesthetic Exploration
CAS LF 113 Intensive Beginning French
Intensive French course for beginners.
(If CAS LF 111, 112, or a more advanced college-level course has been completed, this course cannot be taken for credit.)
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Individual in Community
CAS LF 211 Third-semester French
Prerequisite: CAS LF 112 or placement test results
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Individual in Community
CAS LF 212 Fourth-semester French
Prerequisite: CAS LF 211 or placement test results
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Individual in Community
Week 7–Week 16 (Internship Phase)
During the second phase of the program, students will be placed in full-time internships. Students will be engaged in their internship for approximately 8 hours per day, four days per week. They will also take an academic course one full day each week. Interns will be placed in local IGO’s or NGO’s. Although the common language of these workplaces is English, fluency in other languages will always be an asset. Due to the competitive nature of internship placements in Geneva, students will be interviewed and will need to prepare thoroughly for the internship, which will be academically graded. Upon successful completion of the internship experience, students will receive a Hub requirement in the area Individual in Community from the co-curricular HUB SA 330.
Internship Phase Course & Placements
HUB SA 330Study Abroad Internship
This course is a Non-unit Hub Co-curricular.
Units: 0
BU Hub areas:
Individual in Community
SPH PH 507 Controversies in International Health
This course introduces students to the international organizations active in the field of public health by examining the international character of health—particularly with the emergence of HIV/AIDS, multinational droughts and famine, humanitarian crises, and the threat of infectious pandemics like coronaviruses and avian flu. This course will place an emphasis on issues involved in best coordinating the efforts of agencies involved to achieve the greatest benefit for afflicted people. Through a series of lectures with international health specialists and structured visits to international aid institutions, students will learn about the social development goals, administration of international health organizations, the international difficulties arising from third party relief work, social determinants of health, health care and gender issues, and global pharmaceutical trade.
Units: 4
CAS PS 495 Internship in Health and Human Services
Students might work in health governance, advocacy departments and health activism. Past internship placements have included International AIDS Society, ICMHD – International Center for Migrations, Health and Development, and the International Union Against Cancer. Students must submit as series of written assignments regarding their internship experience and professional development.
Units: 4
Please note these are examples of past internship placements only. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from term to term and may not always be available. Likewise, internship placements may be available in academic areas not listed.
