In response to the growing demand for health education rooted in equity, interdisciplinarity and global citizenship, McGill University has launched a new program: the Bachelor of Arts in Population and Global Health.
Beginning in fall 2026, it will be offered as a Faculty program, allowing students to progress as a cohort through an integrated, interdisciplinary and interfaculty curriculum, while individually choosing electives from an array of fields aligned with their own goals, including pre-med, public health, policy, health communication and related fields. This structure underscores a broader commitment to breaking down silos in how health is understood and addressed.
The program is aimed at students who want to engage with complex global issues like climate change, pandemics, displacement and health inequities. No science prerequisites are required, and students from a range of academic backgrounds are welcome.
Graduates will be well positioned for careers in global and public health, health policy, community health, humanitarian work, mental health services, Indigenous health, disability advocacy and more. Many are expected to pursue graduate or professional studies in specialized global health-related fields such as social or environmental sciences, epidemiology, public health and medicine.
A collaboration between Arts and Medicine
While the program will be administered by the Faculty of Arts, it will be delivered by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
“This new Bachelor of Arts in Population and Global Health is an exciting step forward, preparing future leaders to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges of our time,” said Dr. Lesley Fellows, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. “Combining the strengths of our Faculty with those of the Faculty of Arts, we’re proud to offer a truly interdisciplinary program that will empower students to drive meaningful change.”
Dean of Arts Lisa Shapiro said her Faculty “is pleased to partner with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences to offer this truly innovative multidisciplinary program.
“It will prepare our students to be leaders both locally and globally in addressing complex problems related to health, with equity considerations at the fore,” she said.
Confronting global health challenges through real-world learning
According to Prof. Alayne Adams (Faculty of Medicine), co-director the program along with Prof. Lucyna Lach (Faculty of Arts), the program’s structure reflects the need to prepare students for the realities of global health work.
“It really is embedded in the fabric of everything we’re doing,” said Adams, who is appointed in the Department of Family Medicine, and an associate member in the Department of Global and Public Health. “We’re intentionally designing the program to promote interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration. Students will explore perspectives from sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, epidemiology and environmental studies – all in the context of real-world global and local health challenges.”
A defining feature of the program is its community-engaged learning model. Students will be paired with local organizations, such as immigrant resettlement agencies or health advocacy groups, and apply their classroom learning to practical problems.
“We want students out in the world, engaging with communities, gaining professional experience and expanding their understanding of complex realities that can’t be fully grasped in a classroom,” said Adams.
These placements are structured and supervised, with support both from community partners and McGill faculty. A semester-long experiential learning component will be introduced later in the program in collaboration with organizations in Canada, or abroad.
“We’re building on longstanding partnerships and working to ensure these relationships are respectful, reciprocal and sustainable,” Adams added.
Ethical and equity-focused perspectives
A central pillar of the curriculum is its critical approach to global health education. Students are encouraged to examine the historical, political, social and structural roots of health inequities, and to engage critically with the institutions and power imbalances that shape global health outcomes.
This approach helps students reflect on global governance, institutional accountability and the limitations of dominant narratives in global health. By grounding learning in both local and international contexts, the program challenges students to think creatively and ethically about the future of health systems.
The program emphasizes inclusion, with a holistic admissions process and planned outreach to underrepresented communities. Financial aid and student mentorship are part of the program’s commitment to accessibility.
“Diversity in the classroom enriches everyone’s learning,” Adams said. “It’s something we take seriously and we’re working to reflect that in every aspect of the program.”
Applications are now open, with the first cohort starting in fall 2026. Students can address questions to Enoch Leung – Student Affairs Officer <studentaffairsofficer.dgph@mcgill.ca>