The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Inteprofessional Global Health Service Learning
Program – Application
Beginning in the Spring 2013 term, UAB undergraduate and graduate students will have
an exciting opportunity to participate in a new program: Interprofessional Global Health
Service Learning (IGHSL). This program will include a series of three 1-credit courses
taken in spring 2013, and an additional 3 credit project implementation practicum course
taken in the summer or fall 2013 term. The IGHSL project has been funded by a grant
from the UAB Health Services Foundation as an initiative to improve educational
opportunities for students across campus. The courses in this program have been
developed collaboratively by faculty representing 11 schools and departments including
Nursing, Medicine, Public Health, Dentistry, Optometry, Engineering, Business, Social
Work, Sociology, Education, and the UAB General Honors program. The program will
be open to 30 students across campus during the 2012-2013 academic year and to 40
students in the 2013-2014 year.
During the spring semester, students will enroll in three 1-credit courses: (1)
Interprofessional Collaboration and Community Partnerships; (2) Social Responsibility in
Global Health; and (3) Interprofessional Global Health Service Learning I: Project
Planning. There will be several face-to-face meetings with the entire class during the
semester, but course readings and assignments will be posted online. Students will work
in teams of 5-8 students representing 2-3 different disciplines, and each team will work
with a community partner to develop a project plan to address a problem or issue
identified by that partner. During the following summer or fall term, the teams will
enroll in a 3-credit practicum course (Interprofessional Global Health Service Learning
II: Project Implementation) in which they implement their service learning projects.
Students who want to continue working with their community partners past IGHSL II
have an option to enroll in an additional 3-hour extension course, but this is not a
requirement. If students are not able to enroll in the 3-credit project implementation
courses, they may apply for only the three 1-credit spring courses. However, priority will
be given to students who plan to take both the spring courses and the subsequent
summer or fall project implementation course.
This program has been modeled after a very popular course that is offered by Professor
Bart Victor at Vanderbilt University called “Project Pyramid.” The focus of the
Vanderbilt course is development of service learning projects that address global poverty
issues. Dr. Victor is a consultant on the UAB project and advises us that a key to the
success of the project at Vanderbilt is that it has been a student-driven initiative.
1
UAB Interprofessional Global Health
Service Learning Program Application
Due to the growing interest in global health and in interprofessional collaboration and
education, we believe that this option will be of great interest to UAB students and will
provide you with excellent and innovative learning opportunities. If you are interested in
participating in this program, please complete and submit the following application to
Mary Evans via email (mevans@uab.edu) no later than December 1, 2012. Please also
send a copy of your application to Mark Leader (markl@uab.edu).
NAME
______________________________________________________
ADDRESS
______________________________________________________
PHONE
______________________________________________________
EMAIL
______________________________________________________
SCHOOL
______________________________________________________
DEGREE PROGRAM
__________________________________________
CURRENT OVERALL GPA
EXPECTED GRADUATION DATE
_______________________________
Requirements:
• Application due December 1, 2012 to Mary Evans (mevans@uab.edu) with a copy to
Mark Leader (MarkL@uab.edu).
• Accepted applicants will be notified via email by December 15, 2012.
• Priority will be given to applicants who commit to taking all four required courses (the
three 1-credit courses in the spring 2013 term and the 3-credit service learning project
implementation course in the Summer or Fall 2013 term).
2
UAB Interprofessional Global Health
Service Learning Program Application
Please answer the following questions (please be clear and concise; no extra points for 5
paragraph answers! Try to stay between 100 – 250 words):
1. Briefly describe your interest in participating in this program.
2. What strengths, experiences, and aspirations do you have to offer to your
team?
3. What has been your involvement with community service projects?
4. In what coursework or activities have you participated which have heightened
your understanding of issues of global health, social justice, community
partnerships, and/or interprofessional collaboration?
5. What do you hope to gain from this program?
6. Will you enroll in the 3 credit service learning project implementation course
in summer of all 2012 following completion of the three prerequisite 1-credit
courses in spring 2012?
Yes____ No _____
7. If your answer to Question #6 was “yes,” would you prefer to enroll in the 3
credit (90 hour) project implementation practicum in Summer or Fall 2012?
Summer _____________ Fall _______________
For questions or further information please contact Mary Evans at 975-8387.
3
UAB Interprofessional Global Health
Service Learning Program Application