Urbnizatn,Health, Envirnment

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

According to UN projections, 68% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050, with 90% of this growth taking place in Asia and Africa. This course considers the implications of rapid urbanization for the health and well-being of city residents around the world, with a particular emphasis on the urban poor. The course will introduce urban demographic changes and epidemiological transitions, alongside the physical, social, natural and built environments associated with rapid urban growth that impact health. Discussions and readings will emphasize the complex public health problems and health disparities encountered by various populations within urban settings. Students will learn to identify common legal frameworks for local governance that affect work at the program level, as well as multiple methodologies for designing, implementing and evaluating health and social policy. The goal of this course is to expose students to the complexities of urban growth and development for population health and health equity, and the need for evidence based, locally designed solutions.