Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a summer course titled "Creating Healthy Cities" as part of its MSc in Global Health program. This elective course focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, socio-political conditions, and environmental factors in creating healthy and sustainable cities.

Course Description

The course explores how urban living can be made sustainable, liveable, and healthy, addressing questions related to infrastructure, social-political conditions, and the environment. It covers topics such as urban infrastructure, health and disease in urban spaces, socio-political aspects of healthy urban living, disparities, migration, environmental aspects, urban adaptation to climate change, and disaster risk management.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge about urban trends and challenges relating to infrastructure, socio-political factors, and environmental risks.
• Identify and analyse the dynamics of creating healthy cities through both theoretical and practical lenses.
• Discuss different theoretical positions in relation to major urban trends.
• Apply approaches and tools to create solutions to a healthy urban environment.
• Contribute to a constructive and effective multidisciplinary team process.

Literature and Resources

The course utilizes scientific publications, reports, case stories, and data sets as learning materials.

Recommended Academic Qualifications

This course is aimed at students and professionals in all fields of social and natural sciences, public health, humanities, engineering, architecture, and business with an interest in healthy urban development. Participants should hold at least a completed Bachelor's degree (or equivalent).

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course combines formal lectures, online modules, quizzes, class and team exercises, field visits, and case-based learning in the form of a team project.

Workload

The course workload is distributed as follows:

• Lectures: 24 hours
• Preparation: 58 hours
• Field Work: 20 hours
• Project work: 30 hours
• Exam: 6 hours
• Total: 138 hours

Assessment

The course assessment includes a practical oral examination, with a marking scale of passed
ot passed. The exam involves a case-based project presentation by teams to a panel of experts.

Course Information

• Language: English
• Course code: SGLK22001U
• Credit: 5 ECTS
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: Self-study one week workload, followed by two weeks of on-campus, excursions, and project work
• Placement: Summer
• Schedule: Self-study material available from July 1st, with a full-time program in Copenhagen from August 5th to 16th (including the exam)
• Course capacity: Maximum 35 participants, with a minimum of 25 approved participants required for the course to be offered

Study Board and Contracting Department

The Study Board for Public Health Science and Global Health is responsible for the course, which is contracted by the Department of Public Health within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

Course Coordinators

The course coordinators are Anne Bach Nielsen and Bjørg Elvekjær. For practical questions regarding course coordination, please contact the designated coordinator.