Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - HSCI 891 G100

Special Topics in Health Sciences (3)

Health and the Built Environment

Class Number: 3547

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

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

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Description: 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) vulnerable populations and health disparities; and (4) integration and health policy.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Learning Objectives:                        
1) Foundational Knowledge. To understand public health and planning history and evolution, as well as current theories and associations on the relationship between the built environment and public health.
2) Application. To identify features of the built environment that reflect efforts to influence health.
3) Human Dimensions. To learn about the context in which people operate within their environment to better understand how built environments, socioeconomic positions, social and cultural backgrounds affect health status.
4) Integration and Communication. To develop skills to identify studies and engage communities, critique methods and findings, and apply lessons from planning and public health research to current and future problems.

Grading

  • Homework and In-class assignments 20%
  • Communication assignment 20%
  • Research overview and bibliography 20%
  • Product and summary report 20%
  • Class lecture/presentation 20%

NOTES:

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

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Readings available electronically through the Library (see links in weekly outline).


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

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.