Built Environment & Health

Catalog description

TOPICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH--This topics course provides students with an opportunity to develop intermediate-level skills in public health and to explore specialized topics related to a particular type of public health issue or methodology. The course is open to students from all class years and from any major. PH-295 may be repeated if the topic changes. <br> </br> Description for <strong>"THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH: DESIGNING HEALTH-PROMOTING SPACES</strong>--Aspects of the built environment, such as building design, transportation systems, and green spaces, have significant effects on human health and health behaviors. For example, beautiful stairwell designs or elevators programmed to be just 5 seconds slower can motivate people to take the stairs. Lighting, cubicle design and interior greenspaces in work places can affect mental health and social interactions, as well as productivity. Intentional decisions about where to place certain foods in a cafeteria can encourage people to make healthier dietary decisions. This course examines the impact of the built environment on human health, and introduces students to the WELL and Fitwel building standards for maximizing health. students will draw on literature and examples from fields including architecture, urban planning, psychology, behavioral economics, sustainability studies, and public health to design proposals for maximizing physical, mental and social health through changes to the built environment.<br> </br> Description for <strong>"WAR, CONFLICT, AND PUBLIC HEALTH"</strong>--From civil disputes to "forever wars," this course examines the intersection of armed conflict(s) on health systems, populations, and public health infrastructure. Students will delve into historical and contemporary case studies to understand the multifaceted effects of war on health; exploring direct consequences, e.g., injuries, fatalities, and mass atrocities, as well as the indirect effects of communicable disease outbreaks, mental health crises, and the disruption of health services.<br> </br> Description for <strong>"HEALTH RUMORS, CONSPIRACY THEORIES, URBAN LEGENDS: UNDERSTANDING AND RESPONDING TO MIS- AND DIS-INFORMATION IN AN INCREASINGLY GLOBALIZED WORLD"</strong>--This course will focus on the challenges related to the amplification of health misinformation and disinformation in an increasingly globalized and digital world. Students will apply theories from sociology, anthropology, psychology and public health to specific examples of health misinformation and disinformation in order to understand why certain rumors, conspiracy theories and urban legends are believed, why they spread, and what purposes they serve in society. They will learn about social listening methods and technologies, and use those methods to examine social media posts about health. Additionally, students will brainstorm ways that public health institutions can respond to the spread of misinformation and disinformation online, including by celebrities and political leaders.<br> </br> Description for <strong>"RELIGION AND HEALTH"</strong>--This This course offers an interdisciplinary study of religion and health, exploring how belief systems, traditions, and spiritual practices can positively and/or negatively shape public health practice, policy, and personal health outcomes across the life course. Students will consider such topics as birth, death and dying, sex and reproduction, mental health, and the diagnosis and treatment of illness; as well as issue and disease-specific case-studies such as menstruation and HIV/AIDS. Crosslisted w/ REL-299.<br> </br> Description for <strong>"POVERTY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HEALTH"</strong>--This course will draw on diverse public and anthropological perspectives to examine ethical and social justice issues that impact health in communitites in both the U.S. and globally. Health disparities and public health efforts to alleviate those disparitites will be examined. Students will explore how poverty impacts agency and health. The ethical issues inherent in public and global health interventions as well as global development efforts will be discussed.<br> </br>