BCHS 7201 - Ecological Approaches to Community Health Sciences

[3 Credits]

This course introduces students to the concept that health-related outcomes involve the interaction of the individual with the environment at multiple levels. The ecological approach addresses how both individual-level risk factors, as well as beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions, may be moderated and/or mediated by environmental and social factors, such as norms, social networks, and cultural values, to affect health outcomes. Mirroring the complexity of contemporary public health problems, the major variables in social ecological models are multi-level and their influence is bi-directional. Students will learn to use this approach to address several major public health issues, including health disparity, smoking, obesity, and addiction. Class activities will include lecture, group projects, films, and discussion.