2012-2013 Academic Catalog

May 11, 2024

2012-2013 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

IDCE 30270 - Environment, Poverty and Health

Health sits at the nexus of environment, development and population. Understanding and responding to local and global health problems are among the most important “grand challenges” faced by human society in the 21st century. This graduate seminar class will combine risk and vulnerability theory, social-learning theory, capacity building and systems theory with practical applications. Journal readings will be discussed. We will explore how to develop methods to frame and address interrelated problems of environment, poverty, social justice and health in a variety of settings. Case studies will include the National Children’s Study in Worcester County, climate-sensitive malaria in East Africa, and the rapidly urbanizing/industrializing setting of Mexico City in Central Mexico. Students will undertake one group project for critical thinking and skill-building that involves the design of action research to understand, then address health-poverty-environment concerns in a case-study setting of their choice.