Advising: Program in Global Health Studies

Advising

To access all of the latest advising policies, procedures, and forms referenced below, visit WCAS's advising page.

Global Health Studies academic year advising in 2025-2026 will be conducted remotely either over email or via Zoom by default, though students may request in-person appointments. Please allow 24 business hours for a response to any email requests.

The terms GHS advisor and GHS Directors of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) are used interchangeably.

General Advising

Declaration of adjunct major or minor

Step 1: Review the adjunct major requirements and minor requirements.

Step 2: If you would like more information about the GHS Program and its requirements not found on the websites above, please email the appropriate Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) based on the first letter of your last name:

If you do not have any questions about the Program, you may simply complete one of the following forms and email it to GHS Assistant Director, Greg Buchanan. He will virtually sign the form and submit it for processing.

If you would like to change your minor to an adjunct major or vice versa, update the appropriate form below and email Greg Buchanan.

GHS Directors of Undergraduate Studies/Advisors

Once you have declared your GHS major or minor, you are assigned to a GHS DUS advisor who will be your point of contact throughout your degree. Please contact the following advisor based on the first letter of your last name:

Contacting more than one GHS advisor will cause additional labor and confusion, so please seek your assigned advisor for guidance.

Degree Tracking Worksheets

Please use one of the following forms to track your progress and report to your advisor when there needs to be changes.

Confirming/Correcting Student Records in CAESAR

In there are inconsistencies in your CAESAR degree progress such as approved courses or electives not populating correctly, please contact your assigned GHS DUS providing a copy of your major or minor worksheet with the correct course listings.

Petitioning a Non-GHS Elective

If you are petitioning for a course not already pre-approved as a non-GHS elective to a fulfill a degree requirement, email the course title and description (and syllabus if it better illustrates the global/health connection) to your GHS advisor.

Courses not on the pre-approved list that we will consider for global health electives must have significant health component to them (at least 50% of the course content) and must be taken at the 200-or-above level (that is, 2nd year or more advanced undergraduate courses).

While several courses out there topically may relate to health (for instance race, ethnicity, community, sexuality, environment), but don't relate them to human health or consequences for social determinants of health are less likely to be approved.

Note that students may only count one 200-level course as a non-GHS elective course.

All other electives must be at the 300-or-advanced undergraduate level. While during the pandemic times we were sometimes approving students to take additional GHS courses as electives, starting in Winter 2023, all student electives must be taken outside of the GHS program, except for pre-approved independent study courses GBL_HLTH 399.

Petitioning to Graduate

Petitions to graduate can be completed following these instructions from the Registrar. Your assigned Global Health Studies advisor will receive an email that they will review and sign electronically.

If your CAESAR record needs any adjustments prior to submitting your petition, see the above section "confirming/correcting student records in CAESAR" for instructions.

Study Abroad

Northwestern or Northwestern-Affiliated Study Abroad Advising

The requirement for study abroad as part of the degree requirements for GHS has been waived and is now optional.

If you're interested in studying abroad, as you're planning your study abroad experience -- whether you're researching program options, determining possible outcomes to complete, or have questions about financial aid -- you should start by meeting with the Global Learning Office (GLO).

The DUS is generally unable to answer these kinds of questions, and GLO has numerous resources available to help you decide on programs of interest, or to tell you about timelines and programs other GHS students have pursued.

Head to the Global Learning Office's website to make an appointment.

Non-Northwestern or Unaffiliated Study Abroad Advising

Students interested in a non-Northwestern/unaffiliated program should start this process by meeting with the Global Learning Office, as they can assist students in identifying program options. 

Generally, the GHS criteria for non-NU or non-NU-affiliated study abroad programs are as follows:

The program is primarily course-based. In most cases, internships or volunteering are not eligible for course credit. Exceptions are for internships that have a significant course requirement with a minimum amount of contact hours accompanying the internship.
Suggested courses are health-related, broadly construed.
The courses in the study abroad program are region or area-specific, in that they’re specifically about the place where the student will undertake the study abroad, rather than general courses that don’t teach about the specific context. Courses should provide a deep dive into the context where a student studies.

Once you have met with GLO to discuss options, and have decided on a program and courses, it is a good idea to meet with your GHS advisor to discuss your plans before going abroad.

In such cases, email your GHS advisor with documentation outlining the program you want to go on (with links to information provided), and the courses you propose taking. Your GHS advisor will let you know whether the program is likely to be approved for transfer of elective credit (up to 2 electives can be counted towards your GHS degree).

Overall, it is best to start this advising process with GLO early on, so that there is sufficient time for your GHS advisor to review your proposal before you go abroad.

Transferring Credits

Transfer of Non-Northwestern Affiliated Study Abroad Courses

Upon returning from a non-NU affiliated study abroad program, once you have your transcript, you will need to petition to have your courses transferred to your NU record.

Submit your information via a petition process, as well as accompanying documentation per the petition instructions.

If your Global Health Studies advisor has any questions, you will be contacted.

If not, your GHS advisor will return your form with signature within 1 week of receipt.

Transfer of Elective Health-Related Courses Taken at Another Institution

Some students opt to take an additional health-related class outside of Northwestern or a study abroad program in order to transfer the elective credit to count for the GHS adjunct major or minor.

Courses students want to take at another institution must be pre-approved by your GHS advisor in order to be counted towards the GHS degree, must meet the criteria above “Petitioning a non-GHS elective” (200 level or above, must have substantial health component), must follow all Registrar and Weinberg policies relating to transfer credit, and upon completion of the course along with the transfer petition the student must provide an official transcript along with a syllabus for the course.

Courses taken at the 100-level, that do not have a substantive health component, or that have not been pre-approved by your GHS advisor may not be counted for transfer credit for the GHS degree.

ALL OTHER ADIVISING

Questions that don't fall into the above categories should be directed to your assigned GHS advisor.