About this course: Whether you've traveled before or not, living and working overseas can be challenging. Learn how best to prepare and make the most of your time internationally. This course will prepare you to work and live overseas. It explores the epidemiology of common morbidity and mortality among travelers and examines key prevention, safety, and travel medicine principles and services to contextualize risks and maintain wellness. The course reviews applicable interventions, appropriate vaccines, and personal protection methods to prepare you to respond to expected and unexpected situations and will challenge you to examine travel health and safety priorities through case studies and discussions. The Honors Lesson will assist you with personal preparations for travel through the creation of a country-specific profile.
Who is this class for: This class is for anyone who travels or is preparing to travel internationally, especially those traveling to low- and middle-income countries for academic, professional, and healthcare-related reasons.
Created by: Johns Hopkins University
Taught by: Anna Kalbarczyk, Research Associate
Global Disease Epidemiology and Control
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 2 hours per week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Nuts and Bolts of Travel Preparation
In this module, we'll go over the basics of preparation, planning, documentation, and insurance. Thinking ahead about all of the elements you'll need is an essential part of the process.
9 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Welcome and Overview
- Reading: Syllabus
- Discussion Prompt: Introduce Yourself
- Video: Project Planning
- Video: Working in the Field
- Video: Tales from the Field: Steve Harvey
- Reading: Ouma and Dimaras: Views from the global south
- Video: Preparing to Travel
- Video: Travel Warnings and Alerts
- Video: Health Insurance
- Video: Emergencies
- Video: Tales from the Field: Summer and Shaun
Graded: Nuts and Bolts of Travel Preparation
WEEK 2
Travel Health & Prevention
It's easier to stay healthy if you know how to anticipate potential challenges, minimize your risk, and access the care that you need.
10 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Travel Health Overview
- Video: Vector-Borne Diseases and Prevention
- Video: Food and Waterborne Diseases
- Video: Rabies, Altitude, and Sun Exposure
- Video: Injuries
- Reading: Rates of intentionally caused and road crash deaths of US citizens abroad
- Video: Tales from the Field (Julie Denison)
- Video: Finding Care Overseas
- Video: The Returned Traveler
- Video: Mental Health Considerations for Travelers
- Video: Burnout and Vicarious Traumatization
- Reading: Aid workers, assuming survivors' agony, at risk of 'vicarious trauma'
- Discussion Prompt: Zombie Penguins
Graded: Travel Health & Prevention
WEEK 3
Staying Safe
In this module, we'll cover strategies for staying safe while traveling, measures you can take to minimize risk, as well as specific advice for women and LGBT travelers.
7 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Conceptual Framework for Safety While Traveling
- Video: Moving Around
- Video: Staying Safe
- Video: Looking After Yourself
- Video: Tales from the Field: Joanne Katz
- Video: Safety and Gender-Based Violence
- Video: Lesbian-, Gay-, Bisexual-, Transgender-, Queer-, and Intersex-Specific Considerations
- Reading: A few resources on safety
- Discussion Prompt: Current Events in Health and Travel
WEEK 4
Cultural Competence & Ethics
In this final module, we'll address matters of cultural competence and the ethics of travel. Travelers have responsibilities to the people who live and work in the countries they are visiting, and it is important to keep th
6 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Cultural Competency
- Video: Culture Shock
- Video: Tales from the Field: Courtland Robinson
- Reading: Culture Shock and Travelers
- Video: Ethical Considerations of Training
- Video: Ethical Practices/Behaviors in Global Health
- Discussion Prompt: Ethical Dilemma
- Video: The Importance of Learning Languages
Graded: Staying Safe and Cultural Competence & Ethics
Graded: Country Profile Project
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Very informative course for those who are considering overseas travel for work, or extended stay. Also serves as a great reference for those who are already seasoned travelers.