Global health is improving health for everyone
Global health is about improving health for everyone, while considering the connections among people, animals, plants, and the planet.
As a Global Health major you will:
- Analyze the root cause of diseases around the world through an understanding of how human health interacts with economic development, healthcare access, food systems, epidemiology, environmental health, and climate change
- Integrate empathy, cultural awareness, and collaborative approaches to the study of human health
- Develop a global perspective for tackling health challenges with foundations in both biosciences and social sciences
Career Paths
Global health graduates are prepared for local and international careers in medicine, research, public health, education, the nonprofit sector, and more.
Here are just a few examples of what our global health graduates are doing with their careers:
Your CALS Experience
Learn outside the lecture hall
Step outside of the classroom with global health field experience courses, where you’ll have the chance to learn from community partners and experts in the field. You could explore how the way cities are designed impact public health, teach elementary students the importance of nutrition and food equity, and so much more.
Study abroad and gain global perspective
See the world and complement what you’re learning in the classroom while on your way to becoming an informed global citizen. Choose from one of UW–Madison’s many semester, summer, and short-term study abroad programs and map your study abroad experience as a global health major!
Learn about indigenous knowledge and environmental health in Ecuador, community health and health disparity in Nepal, sustainable food system in Italy, and so much more.
Get involved. Find your people.
Explore some of the many global health-related student organizations at UW–Madison:
Get involved in mentored research
Build your resume, explore career paths, and help solve real world problems with faculty across campus. You can build valuable bench or field research skills in a bioscience lab or research social science on public health challenges.
CALS researchers at UW–Madison explore infectious diseases, environmental health, sustainable agriculture, community engagement, and so much more.
50%
Students who participate in research
260+
Alumni since 2020
40%
Students who study abroad
Advisor & Contact Information
Advisors can answer your questions, help you create a degree plan that meets your personal and professional goals, and connect you to resources across the UW–Madison campus.
Incoming students should reach out to CALS Academic Affairs to direct your questions. Current UW–Madison students should schedule with their assigned advisor using Starfish.
CALS Academic Affairs
116 Agricultural Hall
1450 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706
academicaffairs@cals.wisc.edu
(608) 262-3003
345 Russell Labs
1630 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706
globalhealthadvising@wisc.edu
(608) 262-3492
Want to learn more about global health?