Issue date: 2/9/07 Section: Campus

By Julie French
The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern's global health minor has seen a surge in popularity since its introduction three years ago, making course registration increasingly competitive. Administrators say more faculty are needed to meet the demand.

"It's such an insanely popular minor that it's hard to get into the classes," said Weinberg sophomore Rachel Berkowitz.

Berkowitz declared a global health minor a year ago but has not been able to take any core classes.

There are now 197 global health minors, according to Greg Buchanan, a program coordinator in the office of International Program Development. When the program began in spring 2004, there were 14 global health minors. The number jumped to 88 by spring 2005.

Classes on mental health, disabilities and local engagement have been added this year to meet demand, Global Health Co-director Devora Grynspan said. All program minors must complete four core classes and three electives. The new offerings count toward core requirements.

"We know that students complain about not being able to get into our classes," Grynspan said. "We really need more courses and more faculty."

Weinberg Dean Daniel Linzer has been "incredibly supportive" of the minor, providing funding for classes, she said. There are now seven options available for core requirements.

Global health professors come from a wide range of departments, such as philosophy, anthropology and political science. This can make it harder to attract faculty, Grynspan said.

"Northwestern is small, so faculty have a lot of work," she said. "Global health takes them away from their own department. We have to be careful not to overburden faculty."

Lecturer Mark Sheldon, who teaches a course in global bioethics, said teaching a global health course complemented his bioethics work in the philosophy department.

"The people who run the program thought it would be of interest to students, and it's of interest to me," he said. "There are a number of real issues, and these are students who want to do something about those issues."

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools