Exploration of common origins of urban planning and public health, from why and how the fields separated and strategies to reconnect them, to addressing urban health inequities in the 21st century. Inquiry to influences of urban population health, analysis of determinants, and roles that city planning and public health agencies - at local and international level - have in research, and action aimed at improving urban health. Measures, analysis, and design of policy strategies are explored.

City life is the norm for an ever growing proportion of the world’s population. As urban populations increase, strains are placed on basic infrastructure, housing, ecologic resources, social relationships, the local and regional economy and governance practices. The urban environment influences many aspects of health and well-being: what people can eat, the air they breathe and the water they drink, where (or if) they work, the housing that shelters them, where they go for health care, the danger ( or safety) they encounter on the street, who is available for emotional and inancial support, how political power is distributed and public resources allocated. How cities are managed, local policy, planning and design decisions can all help determine whether the places we live will be threats to the health of the public, protective against disease and premature death, and which populations will benefit or suffer the most. While the fields of modern city planning and public health emerged together in the 19th century to address urban inequities and infectious diseases, they were largely disconnected for much of the 20th century. In the 21st century, planning and public health are reconnecting to address the new health challenges of urbanization and globalization – from racial and ethnic disparities to land use sprawl to providing basic services to the millions of urban poor around the world living in informal slum settlements. How to reconnect the fields of planning and public health to address these and other 21st century urban health challenges is the focus of this course.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.