This course explores the impacts of human behavior, politics, and policy on the emergence, transmission and persistence of infectious diseases in a global context.

This course will explore contemporary topics and methods in studying the link between the physical environment and population?s health, i.e. environmental epidemiology. Many chronic diseases are of unknown or multifactorial etiology but may likely be related to environmental exposures. Environmental epidemiology focuses on the ways environmental factors affect the health of populations. Topical areas include effects of air pollution, pesticides, metals, and endocrine disrupting chemicals on a wide range of health outcomes, including, neurodevelopment, reproductive, and metabolic functions.

While the health and wellbeing of the nation has improved overall, racial, ethnic, gender and sexuality disparities in morbidity and mortality persist. To successfully address growing disparities, it is important to understand social determinants of health and translate current knowledge into specific strategies to undo health inequalities. This course will explore social justice as a philosophical underpinning of public health and will consider the etiology of disease rooted in social conditions.

In this course, students will learn about basics of the policy process in the United States, with a focus on issues pertaining to health and healthcare. Students will develop an understanding of how political factors and aspects of the policy environment shape public health and the provision of healthcare services at both the national and state level.