Professor Jeff Osborne is program director for the global health major.

NORTH MANCHESTER — Global health is a growing field that addresses the challenges of an increasingly interdependent world.

Manchester University is building on its strong reputation as a health science educator by adding a global health major that focuses on health issues in our nation and around the world, spanning not only national boundaries but also socioeconomic ones.

Beginning in this 2018-19 academic year, MU students can major in global health. It incorporates interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary science components, with options for related courses in everything from social work to business.

Global health is a dynamic lens that focuses on the fields of natural science, social science, humanities and management. This forward-looking field enables graduates to deal with health issues that affect populations and individuals here at home, and worldwide.

At Manchester, a major in global health offers the ideal marriage of purpose and mission. The new major’s broad scope provides a wealth of rewarding career opportunities and squarely aligns with Manchester’s mission to improve the human condition.

Careers for someone with a global health major can include community health administrator, community health worker, consultant, disaster relief support technician, foundation executive, health educator, health services manager, pharmaceutical sales, policy analyst, program evaluator, public health advocate and research coordinator. The major can also form a solid foundation for graduate or professional school.

The Manchester global health course sequence includes disciplines for which Manchester has long been recognized, such as peace studies and conflict transformation. This gives Manchester a unique platform to launch this major offered at only four other school in the Midwest.

Professor Jeff Osborne is program director for the new major. He also leads the international Medical Practicum and biology-chemistry programs at Manchester.