Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - HSCI 403 D100

Health and the Built Environment (3)

Health and the Built Environment

Class Number: 2102

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Fri, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    60 units including HSCI 230 (or 330) with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Relationships between the physical environment in which people live and their health and well being. How the built environment affects physical activity, obesity, exposure to pathogens and toxins, health status, mental health, and risk of illness and injury. How urban form, physical infrastructure, and landscape and building design can promote health. Students with credit for HSCI 309 may not complete this course for credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will explore the interconnections between planning and public health, and equip students with skills and experiences to plan healthy communities. The planning and public health disciplines emerged together with the common goal of preventing infectious disease outbreaks. Since that time, the disciplines diverged; public health following a clinical model and planning focusing on urban design and physical form. However, as the intimate connections between the built environment and disease continue to surface, the planning and public health fields have begun to converge once again. This course is organized in 4 units: (1) planning and public health foundations; (2) natural and built environments; (3) structurally marginalized populations and health inequities; and (4) integration and health policy.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Learning objectives:

  1. Foundational Knowledge. Outline the historical evolution of public health and planning, and examine key theories and frameworks connecting the built environment and public health.
  2. Identify and discuss built environment features and planning principles (across neighbourhood design, transportation, natural environments, food systems, and housing) that can shape individual and community health.
  3. Human Dimensions. Consider the context in which people operate within their environment to describe how built environments intersect with socioeconomic positions and social and cultural factors to influence health outcomes.
  4. Integration and Communication. Develop skills to examine studies and compile evidence; critique methods and findings; engage communities; recommend and justify ideas and interventions; and apply lessons from planning and public health research to current problems.

Grading

  • In-class participation 10%
  • In-class assignments 30%
  • Neighbourhood audit 35%
  • Communication assignment 25%

NOTES:

The instructor may make changes to the syllabus if necessary, within Faculty/University regulations.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Making Healthy Places: Designing and Building for Well-being, Equity and Sustainability (2022) by Botchwey et al. (available electronically from Library).

Other journal articles and materials to be assigned (available via Canvas or through SFU Library).

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

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


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.