Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - HSCI 130 D100

Foundations of Health Science (4)

Class Number: 3479

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

How health, illness and disease are defined and measured for individuals and populations. Research strategies used to identify how health, illness and disease are distributed across human populations and how environmental, socio-economic, demographic, biological, behavioural and political factors influence individual and population health. Breadth-Social Sci/Science.

COURSE DETAILS:

HSCI 130 includes the following activities: readings, lectures, group exercises, and tutorials.  The course ai help students develop a better understanding of public health and health sciences. Topics include: study measurement and design; public health and determinants of health; population health and health policy; infectious diseases and global health; and community engagement.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to: (1) describe the concepts of health, illness and disease from a range of perspectives; (2) understand the core terminology and strategies used to measure health, illness and disease in public and population health; (3) explain how a range of factors may act as potential health determinants (e.g. environmental, socio-economic, demographic, biological, behavioural and political factors) for individual and population health; and (4) critically reflect on ways which how specific health issues influence the definition, theoretical understanding and solutions to problems involving health, illness and disease.

Grading

  • Tutorial assignments 16%
  • Leadership/group exercises 17%
  • Quizzes 1 and 2 40%
  • Knowledge translation projects 27%

REQUIREMENTS:

None

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Course-related information and materials will be available on SFU’s Canvas at: http://www.sfu.ca/canvas.html including links to on-line materials.

REQUIRED READING:

Johnson, S. The ghost map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic - and How It Changed Science, Cities and the Modern World. New York: Riverhead Books, 2006.

All other articles are available online through Canvas or open access websites.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.