Sociomedical Sciences

Graduates of the Urbanism and the Built Environment Track will be able to:

• Assess the association between patterns of health and disease and the urban environment, in the United States and globally:
  • Analyze the impact of market forces on urban development and the health of urban populations;
  • Analyze how population movements, both forced and voluntary, contribute to these patterns;
  • Analyze how transportation systems and transportation links affect population migration and patterns of morbidity and mortality; and
  • Analyze the political and social organization of urban areas and their association with patterns of health and disease;
• Conduct needs assessments and asset mappings to:
  • Determine the psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence community health in urban settings;
  • Identify and locate the members of cultural, social, and political groups who function as stakeholders and gatekeepers in urban community settings and community social networks; and
  • Identify behavioral, cultural, social, economic, and environmental factors that affect morbidity and mortality in urban communities;
• Use the tools of spatial analysis and spatial mapping [Geographic Information Systems (GIS)] to conduct studies linking health survey data and/or surveillance data to maps of neighborhoods, community settings, urban areas and districts;
• Participate with professionals from other disciplines in the development of policies that promote health and contribute to the elimination of disease in urban settings;
• Contribute to urban and environmental planning initiatives:
  • Explain the range of methods used in urban and environmental planning;
  • Explain current and past theories and concepts of urban planning and design; and
  • Assess and evaluate using current methods the appropriateness and effectiveness of urban planning and design initiatives for improving community health;
• Apply effective and efficient electronic search strategies to the collection and organizing of information relevant to past, current and future developments in urbanism and urban health:
  • Identify appropriate electronic information retrieval sources;
  • Develop and refine electronic search strategies; and
  • Identify changes in research and planning literature in urbanism and health.

In addition to gaining the track-specific competencies listed above, graduates will also achieve both Department-wide as well as School-wide MPH competencies.