People, Health & Place: International Perspectives on Urban Health, Physical Activity, Urban Design, and Transportation

3 units

This course explores the intricate relationships between public health, urban design, transportation, and physical activity, emphasizing the comparative analysis of cities in Brazil and the United States. By applying the "necessity versus choice" model, students will critically assess how the built environment influences opportunities for active living—whether driven by necessity (e.g., transportation to work, labor demands) or by choice (e.g., leisure-time activities, recreation). The course will uncover how structural bias, social inequities, and urban policies contribute to disparities in access to physical activity and health outcomes in diverse cultural contexts.