Course Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the dates of the course?
This course will launch on September 1, 2021, at 00.00 hrs UTC and will remain open through August 31, 2022. It is a self-paced course.
Are there due dates for the assignments?
For self-paced courses, edX suggests due dates for assignments and exams as a way to help you stay on track. These due dates are suggestions to help you plan and pace your studies. You can submit assignments or exams any time up until the final end date of the course. Learn more about edX suggested due dates here.
If you see an assignment you have not completed is Past Due, or you see a message that you have missed a suggested deadline on the course homepage or Dates tab, you can shift your due dates. You can shift your due dates using the Shift due dates button on the course homepage or Dates tab. This will not affect any of the progress you have made in the course so far.
Time in the course follows UTC or Coordinated Universal Time. Please be aware of what time that is in your respective timezone. (To calculate the difference, we suggest using this time zone converter.)
Once the material has been opened, it remains open for the duration of the course.
How long will this course take?
Although this varies by person, this course should take on average 4-6 hours of work per module (per week). This includes watching all the video chapters for each unit, completing the accompanying readings, and completing all quizzes. There are 10 modules, so 40-60 hours is a rough estimate for the duration of the entire course. This number will also depend on the extent of the reading that you complete.
How will I communicate with the lecturers and other students?
You will communicate mostly in the Discussion Forum within the course platform.
To interact with the larger SDG Academy cohort, you are invited to join the SDG Academy Alumni Facebook Group. Keep in mind that this is a closed group, so be sure to answer the security question by mentioning the name of the course (Global Public Health) that you are enrolled in!
How is the course graded?
For Verified Learners, this course has two primary gradable components: a mid-term exam that worth 40% of your overall grade and a final exam that is worth 50% of the overall grade. The remaining 10% is participation (i.e. filling out the Pre- and Post-course surveys).
Audit learners have no graded assessments but can test their knowledge by attempting the comprehension questions. Each video chapter has 1 or 2 questions below it that are open to all learners.
Am I eligible for a Verified Certificate?
In order to be eligible to purchase a Verified Certificate signed by the instructors, you will need to upgrade to the "Verified Track" on or before the Verified Deadline as seen under the "Important Dates" section of your Course tab. Once you are enrolled in the Verified track, you must pass the course with at least 70% to receive your certificate.
Be mindful of the edX Honor Code when completing your assessments!
Is this course free?
Yes, there is no course fee associated with this course. Viewing the video chapters, transcripts, and readings is free of charge and open to all.
There is a fee associated with the Verified certificate, priced at 49 USD. A reminder that edX offers financial assistance to all learners who wish to purchase the certificate but are unable to afford it.
What resources will I need for this class?
A strong internet connection is advisable, but we will try to ensure that most materials are available on slower bandwidths, as well. The course is optimized to run on the most recent versions of most browsers, and Google Chrome and Safari have previously been shown to work best with the platform.
No other computer programs or books are required. All the readings will be provided online.
While you may access the course on the edX mobile app, we request you to view the course on a desktop or laptop computer when completing any assessments!
What kind of background do I need for this course?
No specific background is required for this course. It is open to all and accessible to students with no prior experience in medicine or public health. In fact, we welcome students from different backgrounds to bring their fresh perspectives to our Discussion Forum!
Can I take this class for University credit?
No. Even though we encourage any professors to incorporate this material into their own courses, you cannot take this course on its own for university credit.
Whom do I contact with specific questions?
You can email us at courses@sdgacademy.org with any questions about the material, assessments and general queries. This email account is used for multiple courses, so please mention "Global Public Health" in the subject line!
For technical questions about the platform, please contact edX by clicking on the Help button at the top right of the page.