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PHP 1070: The Burden of Disease in Developing Countries

The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the magnitude and complexity of the burdens of disease in developing countries. The course is interdisciplinary and defines and critically discusses environmental, epidemiologic, demographic, biomedical and anthropological perspectives on health and disease in developing countries. Although the pathobiology and prevalence of specific diseases are presented, emphasis is placed on changes in the underlying causes of morbidity and mortality during economic development. Special attention is placed on the biosocial ecology or context of diseases, and topically on: 1) interactions of childhood malnutrition and infections; 2) HIV/AIDS; and 3) the health transition from infectious to non-communicable diseases.

The course is designed to be taken by students of widely varying biomedical and social science backgrounds including biology, community health, sociology, anthropology, economics, international relations and development studies. This course serves as an initial course for students who may be interested in pursuing further study and/or careers in international health.

PHP 1070 is offerred through the Department of Community Health. The course is designed and coordinated by Prof. McGarvey of the International Health Institute (IHI) in Brown's Program in Public Health. Prof McGarvey gives lectures and guest lectures are given by other faculty in their areas of expertise.

Lecture readings are assigned by Prof McGarvey and the guest lecturers. Discussion section readings are also required for each discussion meeting. All required readings and lecture slides are provided on WebCT which is a Brown University internet based course management tool (www.webct.brown.edu). Unlike prior years there will not a bound compendium of readings at a local photocopy shop or the Brown bookstore.

Student participation is required through weekly discussion sections which are lead by undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants.

The preparation of a major term paper (20 pages double spaced) synthesizes scholarly writings on a specific global health topic. The term paper is coordinated with the Writing Fellows Program and it is mandatory that students participate in the Writing Fellows activities. The term paper should be viewed as a capstone experience whose educational goal is the critical evaluation and synthesis of scholarship in a specific area of international health. There are deadlines for submission of the term paper idea, review of several important articles and the final paper. PHP 1047 works with the Writing Fellows Program and they are assigned to PHP 1047 to review writing assignments and assist students in preparation of the term paper.

There are four undergraduate teaching assistants (TAs) and one graduate TA. Grading of the exams is done by the graduate TA and the and term papers are graded by Prof. McGarvey. There are two exams each worth 20% of the final course grade, and a term paper worth 50% of the final course grade. Discussion section performance is worth 10% of the final grade.

Please note that the letter grade cut-offs for the class are:

  • A= 93-100;
  • B=85-92;
  • C=70-84;
  • F=<70.