BSHS Selectives 2023-2024
Selectives Type:  Medical Humanities

Selective Title
Capstone Project in Global Health (BSHS Credit)		 Course Number
MEHU-4410
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all Year 3 requirements; C Form required prior to enrollment
Responsible Faculty Director:
Bindi Naik-Mathuria, MD, MPH
Other Faculty:
 		Contact Information
Interested students should contact Bradley Brock at ba2brock@utmb.edu		 Periods Offered
1-13
including holiday period 8		 Maximum Enrollment
No Limit

Learning Objectives
The student will work closely with a UTMB faculty mentor to develop a global health-related project proposal focusing on medical humanities. The project may focus on an area of on-going research or a faculty approved, student-selected topic. Students will be expected to:

- Define a clear question of interest
- Identify, then apply appropriate methodology to the topic
- Generate and adhere to an appropriate timeline
- Articulate a cogent, well-referenced analysis of the selected topic

Describe the qualifications background and career goals or interests of students who would benefit from the course:
Students that enrolled in the global health scholarly concentration or students that are interested in expanding their knowledge of global health issues are encouraged to take this BSHS. Those in the global health scholarly concentration must have completed at least one international rotation (though two is preferred since this represents their capstone project). Individuals with an interest in international research, humanities/ethics, or community health may also benefit from the course.

Description of course activities
The course will vary depending on the project, but activities may include (but are not limited to) small group seminars, meetings, conferences, fieldwork, epidemiological studies, home visits, and library research.

Proposed time requirement (%) for the student activities per 40-hour week:
Activity Percent of Activity
Faculty contact time

15
Self-directed study

50
Data collection/analysis

35
Other


Method of student evaluation

Check all that apply - complete appropriate section(s) only:
1.  Grading
   
A. Please specify your grading criteria for outstanding performance:
  Students must attend and actively participate in all required activities as determined by their faculty mentors. At the minimum, a 12-page paper summarizing the results of the project must be submitted by the end of the selective. Substitutions for a 12-page paper (such as film, media presentations, course curricula, etc.) must be submitted for review by the end of the first week of the selective. Their validity as a substitute entity will be considered on a case-by-case basis and decided upon by the faculty mentor.

Students that show innovation, leadership, and take exceptional initiative in the design and implementation of their projects will be commended.

2.  Written Assignment (Homework, projects, notes, papers, abstracts, etc.)
A. Frequency of written assignment(s)
  One 12-page paper at the end of the BSHS course culminating the student's chosen project. Papers submitted by students in the global health scholarly concentration should demonstrate a clear timeline of project development over time. - Seminars or tutorials culminating in a research paper - Submission to academic journals is encouraged. - Basic science research plus documented written report. - Other modality with a self- directed, scholarly research component culminating in a written report. Must meet the minimum requirement of 12 pages or be of equal rigor, as designated by the supervising faculty.
B. Type of written assignment
  Seminars or tutorials culminating in a research paper.
Basic science research plus documented written report.
Humanities, social sciences, biostatistical or epidemiological research culminating in a scholarly paper or written report.
Clinically-based written reports focusing on a basic science or humanities problem.
Journal club written reports
Grant proposals
Literature review
Oral presentation plus written report.
Other modality with a self-directed, scholarly research component culminating in a written report.
C. Format of written assignment
  Formal essay or other appropriate format for area of study/research (to be defined with the supervising faculty member)
D. Method of content selection (student-selected, assigned, relate to cases, etc.)
  Method of content selection (student-selected, assigned, relate to cases, etc.) For global health track students, the content selection should be directed by previous international experience (clinical, community project, or research). Single clinical cases are not sufficient unless presented in the form of a comprehensive write-up of a clinical query. Case series are acceptable. In all cases, content will be selected by the student and approved by the instructor.

3.  Oral Presentation
  A. Frequency / duration of presentation(s)?
    Students will be encouraged to present their projects in a forum of their peers. The presentation will be done as a one-time event at the end of the project. It should not exceed 40 minutes so as to allow for questions and discussion.The presentation may be didactic, case-based, or seminar-based. Powerpoint is not required, though it is encouraged for clarity. Students will perform a one-time self assessment at the end of the selective. Faculty will also evaluate the presentation performance based on the above-described course objectives. Students will select the presentation content based on the topic. Content will be discussed with the faculty supervisor prior to the presentation
  B. Type and format of presentation
   
  D. Assessment - Who assesses the student's presentation performance?
    Self-assessment   Peer assessment   Faculty assessment
  E. Method of content selection
    Student-selected topic   Assigned topic

4.  Professionalism
  What expectations do you have for the student to demonstrate participation in the elective (e.g. small group activities, seminars, thoughtful questions, providing resources, journal club, resident lecture attendance)?

The instructor will discuss principles of appropriate attribution and the referencing of literature with the student. The student is expected to understand and to adhere to the principle that all presented work must be solely the student’s own.
    The instructor will discuss principles of appropriate attribution and the referencing of literature with the student. The student is expected to understand and to adhere to the principle that all presented work must be solely the student's own. Any plagiarism is grounds for failure of the course. The mentor will evaluate the student's professionalism.

5.  Other Modes of Evaluation
  Please explain below.
    Students will also evaluate their supervisors by completing an evaluation form specific to the elective. This form will be reviewed with the responsible UTMB faculty member.