This four-week field course explores the intersections of economics, health, medicine, and social development in the tropics—with Belize as the focus. Its objective is to provide students with knowledge and insight into the epidemiology, diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of tropical diseases. Emphasis is placed on the scientific, intercultural, and social aspects of global health, tropical medicine, public health, and ethnobiology in these subjects. 

Students also examine policy issues and determinants of public health and health policy in international health. They acquire an introduction to tropical infectious diseases and review the strategies used to treat these diseases in resource-limited settings. Finally, they learn to situate health in its wider social, economic, and political context and acquire a basic understanding of the intimate, bi-directional relationship between health and development processes. Instruction focuses on field-based, hands-on learning. Lectures, readings from primary literature, and discussions are also integral components of the program.

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