Training

Multidisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program in HIV & STIs

Program Overview
The program provides training and context for the global AIDS epidemic, arguably the most pressing public health issue of our time. It equips future professionals in health and social science disciplines to address the complex interplay of biomedical, social, economic, gender, political and geographic factors that impact the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Controlling these epidemics requires comprehensive strategies across sectors and countries; this program provides a framework and interdisciplinary foundation for this.

In addition to education about the diseases themselves, students will learn about contextual issues surrounding the epidemic including individual, family, community and societal points of intervention. Various prevention and treatment approaches will be explored, with a focus on vulnerable populations (commercial sex workers, men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, adolescents, mother-to-child transmission). The program examines these disease epidemics from both domestic and global perspectives. Students interact with professionals currently working in the field of AIDS & STIs in clinical, research, and program management capacities.

This certificate program currently involves affiliated faculty and steering committee members from multiple Departments and Schools across the university in the health and social sciences and other disciplines.

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Requirements
A graduate certificate program is a linked series of credit bearing graduate courses that constitutes a coherent body of study and culminates in a capstone project. The Graduate Certificate in HIV and STI’s is intended to enhance the education of matriculated UW graduate students and professional students beyond their regular course of study or to provide continuing education to graduate nonmatriculated (GNM) students. Students will qualify for the certificate upon completion of 15 credits of approved coursework and a capstone project. Completed graduate certificates are recorded on the student’s UW transcript.

Please note that in order to complete this program, you need to reside in the state of Washington. The Graduate Certificate Program in HIV and STI’s is not able to offer scholarships or any funding to students.

For master's degree students, the certificate program is typically completed during their second year of study, but students may choose to begin taking courses within the program during their first year without being admitted to the program. Doctoral students may complete the certificate requirements over several years.

Graduate nonmatriculated students (GNM) are also welcome to apply. Instructions for Graduate Nonmatriculated Students (PDF, 17KB).

One quarter prior to graduation, all students must submit a planning form via email to the program manager (contact information below).

Planning Form (DOC, 23KB)

Coursework: Completion of the graduate certificate program requires a minimum of 15 course credits, 8 of which must be taken from selected core courses, 4 from elective courses and 3 earned through the completion of a Capstone Project. Overlap of coursework applied towards the certificate program and degree program must not exceed 6 credits and is limited to elective coursework in each program. Core course requirements of a degree program may not be counted toward the certificate. For students completing more than one graduate certificate, no more than 6 credits may overlap between certificate programs. Therefore students are strongly encouraged to work with the coordinator of their degree program and with Certificate staff to develop a specific course plan that will meet the requirements of both the degree and the certificate.

Capstone Project and Independent Study Credits: Students will complete an individual capstone project or paper over the course of the program and present their work at a capstone seminar in the final quarter of their academic program. The capstone project must be separate from a student's thesis or doctoral work. Students must sign up for 3 independent study credits as part of their capstone requirement. Capstone project proposals must be approved by the Certificate Program Manager and Director. Students may provide technical assistance to ongoing HIV/STI research studies (development of study instruments, data analysis, field implementation, laboratory testing), write a paper exploring a contextual aspect of HIV/STI (intersections between gender and HIV, analysis of international AIDS policy, program evaluation of a STI treatment program), or develop a clinical case scenario.

Capstone Project Guidelines/Mentor Instructions (PDF, 42KB)

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Courses
Students must complete a minimum of 15 course credits. 8 of the course credits must be taken from 7 core courses and 4 from elective courses. The remaining 3 credits will be completed through a Capstone Experience. Courses taken prior to admission to the Certificate Program may be counted retroactively. 9 credits must be graded. Students may petition to have additional courses count towards the elective requirement if they can demonstrate a link between the course material and Capstone project proposals must be approved by the Certificate Program Director. HIV & STIs (for ex., a public policy class in which the student’s individual project focused on AIDS policy) and substitution of courses is not in conflict with Graduate School Certificate Program requirements: (http://www.grad.washington.edu/Acad/GradCertificate.htm). To petition, please email Anneleen Severynen (odasev@u.washington.edu) with the course syllabus and a description of relevant course work. There must be relevant HIV/STI content within the course which may include a research project or paper.

Core Courses (8 credits required)

• UCONJ 555 - Principles of HIV & STI Research
• EPI 586/GH 532 - Responsible Conduct of International Research (course begins prior to start of fall quarter)
• EPI 530/GH 562 - HIV: A Multidisciplinary Approach
• CONJ 553 - Clinical Management of HIV. This course offered free of charge via distance learning technologies to groups of students in resource-limited settings. More information
• GH 521 - International HIV Program Planning & Evaluation
• OB GYN 590/EPI 507 - HIV & STIs in Women & Children
• NMETH515/EPI 549 - Sociobehavioral and Prevention Research Methods for HIV & STI (not offered in 2009)
• ANTH 483 - Africa Living with HIV/AIDS
• PABIO 590 - Sexually Transmitted Diseases (offered every 3 years: 2007, 2010)

Selected Electives Courses (Minimum of 4 credits) - Elective courses may not be counted toward core course credit requirements.

• GH 511 - Problems in International Health
• EPI 588/HSERV 590A - Preparing and Writing Research Proposals
• EPI 527 - Vaccines
• GH 565/PABIO 550 - Diseases of Public Health Importance and Strategies for their Control
• NSG 521 - Infectious Disease and Infection Control
• EPI 520 - Epidemiology of Infectious Disease
• GH 543 - Global Health Pharmacy: Medicines, Practice, and Policy
• EPI 539/GH 531 - Research Methods in Developing Countries
• EPI 529 / HSERV 536 - Emerging Infections of International Public Health Importance (note: this course may be cancelled in 2010)
• HSERV/EPI/GH 590 - Special Topic Series (Topic changes every quarter. Some courses may be applicable to certificate program; must get permission of Certificate Manager)
• BIOSTAT 524 - Design of Medical Studies (course has prerequisites)
• GH 533 - Reproduction Health, Population and Development
• EPI 532 - Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Resource-Limited Countries
• ANTH course number to be assigned - Anthropology, Women, and Gender in Development

The following courses can be counted toward the certificate IF course assignments are focused on issues related to HIV and STI’s. An email description of course papers must be sent to the Anneleen before credit can be granted for these courses toward the certificate:

• HSERV 522 - Health Program Evaluation (3-5) - course assignments must be focused on HIV/STI
• NURS 576 - Assessment and Collaboration with Communities Populations and Systems - course assignments must be focused on HIV and STI
• EPI/ HSERV 600 - International Field Work related to HIV/STI (6 months min.) Field Work must take place in a developing country and for a minimum of 6 months. Fieldwork must directly relate to HIV/STI and CANNOT be associated with thesis or practicum. Please talk with adviser and program manager, Anneleen Severynen, to confirm that credit can be received for international work.

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Admissions
There are two application periods per year. The next application deadlines are Friday, October 16, 2009 and Friday April 9, 2010.

To apply, please submit the following materials via email to Anneleen Severynen (odasev@u.washington.edu) (Paper applications will not be accepted):

1. Application Form (PDF, 123KB)
2. Background & Goal Statement - maximum of 1 page describing your area of interest within the field of HIV & STIs, any relevant technical or language skills, relevant work, volunteer or international experience, and how the certificate program will help meet your academic and professional goals
3. Current resume or CV
4. UW transcripts (official or unofficial)
5. For graduate nonmatriculated students only: Undergrad transcripts

For questions regarding the application process please contact the Program Manager:

Anneleen Severynen
Email: odasev@u.washington.edu
Phone: 206-234-4079

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Contact Information
For additional information about this graduate certificate program in AIDS & STIs, please contact:

Program Manager, Graduate Certificate Program in HIV and STIs
Anneleen Severynen
Email: odasev@u.washington.edu
Phone: 206-234-4079
Box 359931

Program Director, Graduate Certificate in HIV and STIs
H. Nina Kim, MD MSc
Email: hyangkim@u.washington.edu


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