Skip to main contentSkip to Xpert Chatbot

HarvardX: Readings in Global Health (2017)

Learn about the most pressing issues in global health through a series of reviews and interviews with leading experts.
10 weeks
3–6 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
This course is archived

About this course

Skip About this course

How do health professionals predict global patterns of disease? In the case of an epidemic, disaster, or armed conflict, how do experts determine what health care interventions to use? Is it possible to eradicate diseases like guinea worm and polio? How can health systems address their challenges?

In this course, learners will hear from leading experts as they engage with current issues and challenges in global health. The course will examine the global response to diseases, such as the developing Zika outbreak. The backbone of this learning experience is a set of 18 reviews, co-edited by David Hunter and Harvey Fineberg, published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The combined reviews constitute an up-to-date survey of global health topics from authoritative leaders in the field, covering disease patterns and predictions, infectious and non-communicable diseases, and health systems and institutional responses.

Participants will read the reviews, hear from the authors through a series of interviews, and engage with the content and one another through assessments and discussion questions.


HarvardX requires individuals who enroll in its courses on edX to abide by the terms of the edX honor code. HarvardX will take appropriate corrective action in response to violations of the edX honor code, which may include dismissal from the HarvardX course; revocation of any certificates received for the HarvardX course; or other remedies as circumstances warrant. No refunds will be issued in the case of corrective action for such violations. Enrollees who are taking HarvardX courses as part of another program will also be governed by the academic policies of those programs harvardx@harvard.edu.

HarvardX pursues the science of learning. By registering as an online learner in an HX course, you will also participate in research about learning. Read our research statement to learn more.

Harvard University and HarvardX are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the community is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination or harassment in our program. All members of the HarvardX community are expected to abide by Harvard policies on nondiscrimination, including sexual harassment, and the edX Terms of Service. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact harvardx@harvard.edu and/or report your experience through the edX contact form.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated skills:Forecasting, Communicable Diseases, Research, Health Systems

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • The state of knowledge in key areas of global health
  • An understanding of expert opinions on current controversies and challenges in global health
  • How evidence is used for decision-making or priority-setting in global health

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.