No clinical qualification is needed. The material is educational; figures and policy examples should be checked against current sources before professional use.
About this course
Why do some populations experience much greater health risks than others, and what can health systems do about it? This free Yale course introduces global health through disease burden, social conditions, health services and the choices involved in improving outcomes. It gives particular attention to health disparities and lower-resource settings.
Course at a glance
| Provider | Yale |
|---|---|
| Instructor / Teaching team | Richard Skolnik |
| Platform | YouTube · YaleCourses |
| Access | Free Video |
| Level | Beginner · WikiFree audience assessment |
| Language | English |
| Lessons | 36 |
| Video duration | 12h 23m · allow extra time for reading and practice |
| Format | Self-paced video learning |
| Certificate | No certificate included with free YouTube viewing |
What you’ll learn
- Explain the purpose of common measures of population health.
- Recognize how social conditions influence health disparities.
- Compare major categories of global health challenges.
- Describe why sustainable responses often require coordination across sectors.
Skills you’ll gain
- Global health literacy
- Health equity
- Disease burden
- Health systems
- Policy analysis
Course Overview
The course moves from measuring health and understanding determinants to examining major causes of illness and disability. Later lessons consider health systems, humanitarian emergencies, technology and cross-sector responses. This breadth makes the sequence useful for learners who need to understand how individual health issues relate to development and public policy.
How the course develops
- Measure and explain: examine disease burden, risk factors and the social and economic influences on health.
- Understand major challenges: study infectious and noncommunicable disease topics alongside nutrition, maternal and child health and mental health.
- Consider responses: compare health-system issues, value for money and approaches involving sectors beyond healthcare.
The classroom contains all 36 videos in this official YaleCourses playlist. Use the lesson list to follow the course or search for a topic you want to revisit. Introductory segments, teaching examples and supplementary discussions remain available within this course.
Who is this for?
Students, development practitioners, nonprofit staff and professionals seeking an introduction to global health.
Before you start
No clinical qualification is needed. The material is educational; figures and policy examples should be checked against current sources before professional use.
Put the lessons into practice
Choose one population-health challenge and create a brief issue map covering who is affected, possible determinants, relevant health-system constraints and two kinds of evidence needed to assess a response.
This optional study activity is provided by WikiFree for independent reflection. It is not a graded Yale assignment. Keep a short record of what you can explain confidently and what you need to revisit; use that record to plan your next study session.
Certificate / Assessment
The public videos can be watched free of charge. This WikiFree listing does not include a Yale certificate, academic credit, a degree, graded assessments or feedback from the instructors. A similarly named course on another platform may have different enrollment, assessment and payment conditions.
The classroom’s Mark complete control records your personal progress. It does not assess your understanding or award a credential. Course examples reflect the recordings; check current sources whenever you need up-to-date professional information.
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Intermediate
Compare course focus, level and study time
| Course | Level | Focus | Study time |
|---|---|---|---|
| This course — Free Yale Course: Essentials of Global Health | Beginner | Global health literacy · Health equity · Disease burden | 12h 23m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free MIT Course: Health Information Systems and Healthcare Improvement | Intermediate | 1. Translational Research and Advocacy · 4. Health Systems Research · 7. WHO Safe Surgery and Safe Childbirth Checklists | 12h 51m of video; practice time is additional |
| AI for Good Foundations and Public Health: Free Course | Beginner | AI project framing · Public-health data · Stakeholder analysis | 4h 1m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free Yale Course: Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers | Intermediate | Clinical communication · Substance use education · Referral awareness | 8h 14m of video; practice time is additional |
Frequently asked questions
Is this Yale course free?
Yes. This listing provides the official YaleCourses YouTube videos for free viewing. Textbooks, optional materials and separately enrolled programs may have their own costs.
How long does the course take?
The playlist contains 36 videos totaling approximately 12h 23m. Reading, note-taking, revision and independent practice add to that viewing time.
What background do I need?
No clinical qualification is needed. The material is educational; figures and policy examples should be checked against current sources before professional use.
Will I receive a Yale certificate?
No. Watching these YouTube lessons or marking them complete on WikiFree does not earn a Yale certificate, degree or academic credit.
Can I watch on a phone?
Yes. Use the responsive lesson list and player on a phone, tablet or computer. A larger screen and a notebook may help with detailed examples, equations or software demonstrations.
What happens if a video becomes unavailable?
The lesson should remain visible in its place with its title and an availability notice. You can continue with the other lessons and report the problem through the correction link.
Provider: Yale. Videos play from the YaleCourses channel on YouTube.
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