Global Opportunities & Study Abroad
Students can participate in summer courses abroad or international exchange programs within their departments. They can also explore opportunities such as internships, practicums, fellowships, or immersive research projects with the Office of Global Health.
Summer Study Abroad
IHSD 6790 Food Security and Resilience
This Italy-based course provides an in-depth examination of the impacts of rapidly globalizing food systems on food and nutrition security at various levels, highlighting the increased attention and resources directed at enhancing food security, nutrition, and sustainability. The course addresses global economic and political dynamics affecting food systems and habits, including climate change, transboundary pests, price volatility, and resource competition. Comparisons between industrialized and diverse global food systems will be made to assess resilience and fragility, with a focus on the role of gender in shaping food policies and nutritional outcomes. Hosted in Italy, near Rome-based UN food agencies, the course includes visits to agencies like the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Slow Food Academy, supplemented by lectures from experts at the University of Turin and various international organizations at the Bolsena Campus.
Contact Program Manager, Sarah Truxillo for more information: sharelso@tulane.edu
IHSD 6480-01: Rwanda: Anatomy of Sustainable Health Systems
July 21 - August 1, 2025
3 Credits
This course provides an immersive learning opportunity focused on one of the most successful LMIC health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: the Rwandan health system. Rwanda serves as a learning laboratory where students can explore the organization and functioning of its healthcare system. Students will apply analytical methods to Rwandan de-identified health data and visit key components of the health system, including:
- Community health workers
- Primary healthcare
- District, referral, and teaching hospitals
Through field visits, guest lectures, and workshops, students will assess interventions and interpret findings relevant to public health policy. Finally, students will write a case study on health system aspects focusing on maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health (MNCAH).
The course will take place primarily in Kigali, with exploration of nearby rural areas.
Students will further enhance epidemiologic and biostatistics methods through applications to community-based healthcare models from current and ongoing interventions.
Interested? Contact: sharelso@tulane.edu
SBPS 6150 Taiwan Strategies to Community Health Practices
This course provides a field study opportunity in Taiwan to explore global public health practices, cross-cultural communication and interaction, and alternative community health strategies. Ten to 12 students from partner Universities in Taiwan (Asia University and China Medical University) are paired with 10-12 students from Tulane University to form cross-cultural teams to research and develop a plan to address community health concerns at the national, provincial, city, provincial and/or community levels. Lectures and discussions will be provided by experienced faculty from university partners, government officials, and field-based practitioners in Taiwan. The cross-cultural student teams must create a PowerPoint presentation on their identified community health concerns and submit a written field report.
Global Health Programs
The National Taiwan University (NTU) Exchange Program provides SPHTM master's and doctoral students with the opportunity to study at NTU's College of Public Health, accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, during either the spring or fall semester. Participants will enroll in 9 to 12 credits, choosing from a diverse array of English-taught courses that cover a wide spectrum of public health topics. This program enriches students' academic knowledge and offers profound cultural immersion, thus broadening their perspectives on global health. Additionally, accepted applicants receive a $2,000 travel award to support their journey.
The Tulane Program to Advance Representation in Minority Health Research (Tulane ARMHR) provides mentored research training experiences to graduate students from groups that are underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, and social science research, including minority groups based on race/ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, and socio-economic disparities. Each year, ARMHR provides 12-week summer research training experiences to doctoral and master's degree students, as well as a 12-month research training program for PhD candidates. ARMHR scholars work with experienced faculty mentors on projects related to minority health and health disparities in the New Orleans area, other domestic sites, or in an international site affiliated with collaborative research projects led by program faculty in Peru, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Sierra Leone, or Kenya.
The UJMT Launching Future Leaders in Global Health (LAUNCH) Program supports mentored research training in global health for eligible doctoral and postdoctoral candidates.
Successful applicants spend 12 months abroad at one of 30 affiliated institutions in 17 countries, where they gain experience conducting research in international settings, covering a wide range of topics, including HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, child health, women’s health, environmental health, surgery, cancer, sickle cell, and others. All fellowship recipients are fully funded, covering research, stipend, travel, health insurance, and other associated costs. Additionally, fellows will conduct research under the guidance of a collaborating faculty member and participate in enriching group training activities at NIH with trainees from multiple consortia.
Summer in Wyoming
IHSD 6470: Leadership for Sustainable Development in the Age of Disruption
June 30 - July 11, 2025
3 Credits Registration open soon
Discover Leadership and Resilience in Wyoming's Wilderness
This immersive two-week course in rural Wyoming blends leadership, sustainability, and adaptive strategies to tackle global disruptions. Through readings, discussions, and hands-on experiences in Wyoming's rugged terrain, explore public health leadership, disaster management, and groundbreaking solutions like telehealth. Engage with rural healthcare providers, indigenous communities, and crisis teams, and dive into case studies on Grand Teton National Park, conservation, and fracking debates. An optional three-day wilderness adventure caps off this transformative experience in a living laboratory of leadership and environmental stewardship.
Contact Program Manager, Sarah Truxillo for more information: sharelso@tulane.edu
Tropical Medicine Labs & Practical Skills
TRMD 6760 - From Theory to Practice: Public Health Field Skills in Peru
This summer course (3 credits) will take place in two Peruvian locations: the Amazon rainforest basin city of Iquitos and the coastal capital city of Lima. This course aims to transform theoretical public health knowledge into practical skills in an international setting. Students will gain direct experience in a public health field site and practice various techniques, including GPS mapping, GIS geospatial analysis, environmental health risk assessments, mosquito collection (adult and larval), implementation science process mapping, participation in a simulated epidemiological investigation, as well as visits to public health sites and laboratories.
Interested? Contact Jford4@tulane.edu
TRMD 6340 - Diagnostic Methods in Microbiology
July 2025
3 credits
Join Our Summer Laboratory Program in Sierra Leone! This immersive two-week program offers students hands-on training in public health, laboratory methods, and community-based research within the vibrant communities of Sierra Leone. Based primarily in Bo, the course includes exploration of nearby rural areas to provide a deeper understanding of healthcare challenges in resource-limited settings. The program covers hematology, parasitology, mycology, and molecular lab procedures, equipping students with essential skills for infectious disease diagnostics. Tulane University students will be partnered with Njala University students, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and hands-on learning to better understand public health challenges in a global context. Additionally, students can collaborate with local partners for their APE, enhancing their practical knowledge and field experience in an international setting.
Interested? Contact alever@tulane.edu or rlandry10@tulane.edu
