Program Areas & Curriculum
Graduate students in GLOBES enroll in a home department in which they pursue their Ph.D. degrees. Participating Notre Dame departments include:
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Economics and Econometrics
- History
- History and Philosophy of Science
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Sociology
- Theology
In addition to fulfilling the PhD requirements of their home departments, GLOBES fellows participate in:
- Field research projects that group students and faculty into interdisciplinary research teams investigating issues concerning environmental health, infectious diseases, and invasive species on-site at locations in North America, China, West Africa, Bali, and Haiti.
- A new series of multidisciplinary gateway courses and seminars covering such topics as "Environment, Human Well-being and Governance," "Human Culture and Genes," "Disease Ecology," "Biodiversity and Law," and "Science, Technology and Values."
- Cross-training modules that provide practical knowledge and hands-on experience by faculty experts in fields of study outside of the students' primary discipline. Topics range from genomics and ecology practicums to policy, ethics, economics, and risk assessment analysis.
- Workshops on campus and in Washington, D.C. to hone teaching, communication, policy, and leadership skills.
- Student-led seminars and symposia organized around seminal GLOBES topics dealing with issues in human and environmental health.
The GLOBES curriculum leads to a myriad of educational experiences and career opportunities for students. On the ground, with boots on, participants face the realities of addressing critical environmental and health problems. They acquire real-world knowledge and skills as well as a fluency in the languages of biology, the social sciences and the humanities. Armed with a global perspective and the ability to engage in meaningful dialogue at many levels, GLOBES students are well prepared to be tomorrow's leaders.