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May 30, 2026
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
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GPS 0336 - Public Health Planning
Credits: 3
The physical and social forms of our communities have significant public health consequences. The built environment and infrastructure of a community shape people’s exposure to environmental toxins and infectious diseases and it shapes their likelihood of survival from natural disasters. Land use patterns, transportation networks, and zoning laws determine whether people have access to healthy food and services as well as public spaces for recreation and physical activity. The design details of streets, buildings, and public spaces influence patterns of everyday mobility, mental well-being, and chronic illness. In the end, planning decisions can create or exacerbate major health risks for populations, or they can foster healthier environments and prevent 21st-century lifestyle illnesses, which lead to more resilient cities and societies. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and interactive discussions, students will analyze and critique urban planning policies, projects, and interventions from a public health perspective. They will learn to assess the potential health impacts of zoning regulations, transportation infrastructure, housing policies, land use decisions, and environmental regulations. Furthermore, students will examine how these planning decisions can exacerbate or alleviate health disparities in urban communities.
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