Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - HSCI 890 G200

Special Topics in Health Sciences (4)

Strategic Applications of GIS in Health

Class Number: 3348

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Special topics in areas not currently covered within the graduate program offerings.

COURSE DETAILS:

The goal of this course is to provide an introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) and its use in health research and public health practice.  

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of relevant theoretical aspects of health geography, mapping, and spatial analysis along with practical experience of using GIS software. Topics covered may include infectious disease surveillance, injury mapping, environmental justice, exposure assessment, environmental health, social determinants of health, and access to health resources.

Two 2-hour sessions per week in the computer lab will be a combination of lecture, presentations, exercises, and data analysis.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Students who fulfill all course requirements will be better prepared to:

  1. Explain the role of GIS-based techniques and approaches to analyzing and describing data representing public health issues.
  2. Critique the use of GIS as an approach to representing data, people, their health outcomes, and strengths and weaknesses in regards to issues such as confidentiality, bias, and temporality.
  3. Design and apply GIS techniques to complete a health research study using population health data.
  4. Apply GIS techniques to build datasets, identify spatial patterns in health outcomes, and conduct exploratory analyses of risk factors. 

Grading

  • Attendance 10%
  • Exercises and activities 10%
  • Skills assessment 25%
  • GIS labs 25%
  • Final project 30%

NOTES:

Each week there will be two 2-hour sessions in the computer lab. Typically, the Tuesday session will be used primarily for instruction and the Thursday session will be used for guided GIS labs or self-directed project work. Students must attend all classes in their entirety in order to develop the practical skills required to succeed in this course. The computer laboratory is available outside of class hours (when another class is not in session) for independent work on the lab exercises and final project.

Materials

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.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

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.