Global Infectious Disease Courses

3 Credits – Fall Semester

This course provides a multidisciplinary foundation to understanding infectious diseases of
global significance, their impacts, and multi-sectoral approaches to prevention, response, and
control. Each semester, the course is delivered in three modules, each of which will highlight
science, policy, data, and other interdisciplinary elements needed to address a focal infectious
disease problem.

Module topics may center on a disease entity such as H5N1, Monkey Pox,
Tuberculosis, HIV, Malaria, neglected tropical diseases, or cross cutting topics that impact
infectious disease such as antimicrobial resistance, vaccination/vaccine hesitancy, One Health,
global health security. Additionally, special stand-alone topics may be interspersed between
modules.

The content in each module is customized to align with temporal changes in the field
e.g. emerging infectious diseases, outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics, other significant global
health challenges or developments at national and international levels. Modules will be taught by
faculty with expertise in the various topics, and guest lecturers from the United States and abroad
may participate and provide additional perspectives.

The course will use a series of assignments and exercises to foster understanding of how inter- and multi-disciplinary components and approaches intersect to prevent and control disease, and will emphasize the importance of scientific evidence/data as well as diverse stakeholder perspectives, for effective health policy formulation and implementation. The course also emphasizes development of critical analysis, strong written and verbal skills, and collaboration in teams or groups.

2 Credits – Fall Semester

This introductory graduate course presents the basic concepts and applications of epidemiology in multiple domains of global health, including epidemic investigations, population health measurements, screening and prevention strategies, and common study designs for causal inferences.  We will practice using epidemiology to better understand, characterize, and evaluate global health challenges and strategies.  The class will engage students in active and collaborative learning through lectures, readings, team activities, case studies, and group projects.  Students without prior coursework in epidemiology will acquire the core competencies in epidemiology research expected of all Master-level Global Health graduates.

2 Credits – Fall Semester

This course will provide students with a foundational understanding in methods and application,
as well as ethical considerations, pertaining to scientific research in Infectious Disease.

The course will cover; Basic, Clinical, Epidemiological, Implementational Science/Health Services
research; Quantitative and Qualitative research; Policy analysis; Research methods and methodologies; Study types; with refreshers on descriptive and inferential biostatistics. Students
will learn how to identify, retrieve, review, interpret, and critique peer reviewed scientific
literature; write up study proposals, findings, and articles; and perform literature reviews.

The course will also provide students with fundamentals in ethical principles and practical
considerations involved in conducting scientific research. Students will learn to identify and
analyze ethical dilemmas, understand relevant regulations and guidelines, apply critical thinking
and ethical decision-making, and develop strategies for responsible conduct of research.

3 Credits – Fall Semester

This course will build students’ ability to identify and evaluate evidence related to infectious disease, and to learn to translate evidence into recommendations for policy. Both qualitative and quantitative evidence will be covered. The course will in particular explore how quantitative evidence can drive decision making for infectious disease problems.

Students will learn how to evaluate model-based or other quantitative findings for public health policy. Special attention will be paid to representation of uncertainty, comparing evidence across studies and the importance of qualitative conclusions from quantitative studies.

The course will build on students’ prior experience reading scientific papers and reports. Students taking the course should have background in biology, statistics, and epidemiology, as well as some coursework or other relevant exposure to policy and policy analysis. The course’s lead instructor will invite experts in data modeling, infectious disease policy, and other fields to guest lecture and draw on their publications and real-world experiences.

3 Credits – Spring Semester

This course provides a multidisciplinary foundation to understanding infectious diseases of global significance, their impacts, and multi-sectoral approaches to prevention, response, and control. Each semester, the course is delivered in three modules, each of which will highlight science, policy, data, and other interdisciplinary elements needed to address a focal infectious disease problem. Module topics may center on a disease entity such as H5N1, Monkey Pox, Tuberculosis, HIV, Malaria, neglected tropical diseases, or cross cutting topics that impact infectious disease such as antimicrobial resistance, vaccination/vaccine hesitancy, One Health, global health security.

Additionally, special stand-alone topics may be interspersed between modules. The content in each module is customized to align with temporal changes in the field e.g. emerging infectious diseases, outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics, other significant global health challenges or developments at national and international levels.

Modules will be taught by faculty with expertise in the various topics, and guest lecturers from the United States and abroad may participate and provide additional perspectives.

The course will use a series of assignments and exercises to foster understanding of how inter- and multi-disciplinary components and approaches intersect to prevent and control disease, and will emphasize the importance of scientific evidence/data as well as diverse stakeholder perspectives, for effective health policy formulation and implementation. The course also emphasizes development of critical analysis, strong written and verbal skills, and collaboration in teams or groups.

All options are 3 Credit Hours

MICB 6920 – Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis (Spring Only)

This course explores the varied ways pathogenic bacteria overcome natural host defense, describes host responses to infection, and discusses the network of interactions between pathogen and man at the molecular and cellular level.

MICB 6120: Immunology (Fall Only)

This course covers the organs, cells, and molecules of the innate and adaptive immune system and how they contribute to discrimination of self from non-self. The paradigm is the host response to infectious agents. Hypersensitivity and autoimmunity are also considered as variations in the basic protective function of the immune system.

BHTA 6515 – Microbiology of Biological Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases (Fall Only)

This course will examine threats to the US homeland, how they might evolve over the next ten years, and the consequent implications for technology and homeland security. The course will examine the motivations of non-state actors to threaten the US homeland, how those actors might use technology and exploit vulnerabilities to attack the US, and the role of technology in countering these threats and securing the homeland.

CBTA 6515: Microbiology of Biological Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases (Fall Only – *Online)

This introductory course on NIH (National Institutes of Health)-designated bioterrorism agents and emerging infectious pathogens is a core requirement for students in the Biohazardous Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases certificate and MS programs. It is taught by top biodefense and bioweapons policy experts, including guest speakers, and covers both the biological and policy dimensions of biothreats. The biology component explores the structure, pathology, and virulence factors of key viral agents like Variola, Ebola, and Lassa, bacterial agents including B. anthracis (Anthrax), Yersinia pestis (Plague), or Francisella tularensis (Tularemia), as well as emerging pathogens such as Nipah, Hantavirus, and SARS. It also examines the immune responses and host-pathogen interactions associated with these agents. The policy component addresses biodefense regulations, management strategies, and oversight by organizations such as the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity. Students will learn about biodefense tactics used against biological threat agents and will analyze historical biothreat events to understand regulatory and policy developments. Throughout the course, the curriculum is split between biological science and policy studies, culminating in a final discussion that merges these perspectives. This closing discussion emphasizes the dual-use challenges of synthetic biology and the ethical and regulatory frameworks needed to control these materials responsibly. By integrating scientific and regulatory approaches, the course equips students with a comprehensive understanding of bioterrorism threats and the measures necessary for their management and containment. The class has lectures and tabletop exercises (group assignments). Students are expected to read all assigned materials and be prepared to participate in class discussions actively.

*International students please consult the F-1 & J-1 Online Course Restriction Policy before enrollment

2 Credits – Fall or Spring Semester

GLID master’s students are required to complete a capstone research project in their final semester. The nature of the project will be mutually agreed upon among the student, course director, and at least one faculty mentor during the summer prior to enrollment. The project will be used to demonstrate mastery in the core competencies from the student’s concentration (data modeling or science policy).

3 Credits – Fall Semester

Global Health Security and Diplomacy will explore the interconnection between international affairs and the science and technology of critical global health issues such as pandemic preparedness and response (eg, Zilka, Ebola, influenza); infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria, and TB; the rising spread of noncommunicable diseases such as tobacco and diabetes; regulation of medicines, health products and food; and the securitization of health. This seminar will examine the role of diplomacy and policymaking processes in addressing these issues including the development of national foreign policies for global health; the establishment of treaties and international agreements; negotiations with public, private and philanthropic players; and governance of international organizations and public-private partnerships. In this course, the student will seek to understand the role that diplomatic and political processes play in shaping global health programs, policies and operations through readings, discussion and lecture and present a paper on a specific topic chosen in conjunction with the professor of her/his choosing.

3 Credits – Spring Semester

This course introduces students to the fundamental skills of policy analysis and policy advocacy along with the political complexities involved in identifying, addressing and resolving policy problems in global health. Starting from the understanding of policymaking as a process involving actors, ideas, interests, and power we will use the tools of political science and policy studies to unpack how policy is made in global health contexts. We will explore the role of governments at multiple levels, international organizations like the WHO, civil society and social movements, international financing agencies, and others to seek a broader understanding of policymaking. Case studies in global health will analyze the various stages of the policy process to explore the aims of public policy, how problems get framed and alternative solutions are crafted. By the end of the course participants will have increased their analytical capacity to evaluate evidence, identify policy options, assess political prospects, and build coalitions toward health-enhancing policies in global health.

3 Credits – Fall Semester

The Health Economics and Finance course aims at equipping students with tools to assess health system performance, mostly in terms of cost effectiveness and equity. After a brief review of the main concepts used in both macro and micro economics, the course will focus on assessing the allocative and technical efficiency at all levels of the health system. This will entail analyzing the major issues facing health care systems that impact their performance. The course will stress the importance of financing scheme in the performance of a health system: the main risk pooling schemes will be presented in connection with their results in health status, patient satisfaction, efficiency, equity and capacity to contain costs. The course will explore strategies for public and private financing, providers payment and delivery options, and will conclude on a few best-practices, both in developed and developing countries.

3 Credits – Spring Semester

This intermediate epidemiological course for researchers is offered by GLID but not specifically focused on infectious disease. It goes into greater depth on the measurement of disease and associations between exposure and disease, covering traditional epidemiological designs, impact evaluation/health services, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis. We will discuss interaction, effect modification, and mediation, as well as strategies for the adjustment of confounding factors (e.g., matching, regression, and Mendelian randomization). The listed pre-requisites are not exclusive; if a student has taken a different epidemiology or biostatistics course at Georgetown or another university, this will be accepted. Please contact the instructor before enrolling if you are unsure if your background is sufficient.

3 Credits – Fall Semester

The goal of this course is to provide students with programming background sufficient for graduate level study in mathematics and statistics. The course gives an introduction to R, SAS, Python and cloud computing. R and SAS are the statistical packages most widely used by practicing statisticians. 

This portion of the course will be structured around statistical methods and examples will be worked out using both computing environments. Statistical topics to be covered include data management, simulation, descriptive statistics, graphical displays, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression models, and simple multivariate analysis methods. 

The introduction to Python will cover the basic structure of the language, commands, scripts and graphing. The big data and cloud computing portion will focus on data sets that are too large to be analyzed on a conventional personal computer, obtaining and managing an account in a cloud server and learning basic elements of Apache Hadoop software for distributed storage and computing.

3 Credits – Fall Semester

Population biology is a quantitative science dealing with changes in the size and composition of populations, and population biologists often use mathematical models to infer population dynamics. These models use information about the properties of individuals and basic assumptions about their interactions to predict population size, gene frequency, and optimal behavioral strategies of individuals, forming an important conceptual framework. Junior and Seniors only. This course shows what kinds of insight mathematical techniques can give to about biological populations of individuals, communities, and cells. My expectation is that all of you have had a good foundation in biology and some mathematics, but you won’t be expected to remember every detail. You will see a good deal of mathematics and biology in this course, and we won’t be assuming a great deal of prior knowledge. However, you will be expected to grasp new knowledge conceptually and demonstrate knowledge through in-class computer lab exercises, homework assignments and projects.