Course Curriculum Welcome ...
10.12.10 | The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning's Annual Conference in Minneapolis, MN was outstanding! The conference will be in Salt Lake City, Utah next Fall. Hope to see many of you there! Here's a shot from the bike mobile tour and a link to some information on biking in MN. Pictured (from left to right): Greg Lindsey (UMinnesota), Shaun Murphy (Nonmotorized Transportation Project Coordinator for the Minneapolis Department of Public Works), Noreen McDonald (UNC) in the background, and Curt Winkle (UIC) in the plaid shirt.
10.5.10 | The Readings page now includes student comments from the health and built environment course taught by Dr. Andrew Dannenberg at the University of Washington.
In the early 1900s, planning and public health professionals worked together to protect public health and prevent the spread of disease by developing zoning laws to influence the built environment. However, the disciplines followed different paths with public health focusing on a clinical model, and planning on policy development and physical form. These two fields are re-connecting now as many chronic diseases are associated with the built environment and the individual behaviors that cumulatively lead to negative health outcomes.
Despite this change, planning and public health education, with few exceptions, remains disconnected. This website provides a response to the need for enhanced communication and thus understanding among the planning and public health educators and professionals through the offering of an interdisciplinary undergraduate, graduate, or continuing education curriculum. This curriculum is flexible enough to be offered as a full semester course, individual units or single class modules or individual assignments. This website also provides opportunity for faculty and other users to share comments, amendments and develop collaborations at the intersection of the built environment and health.