Overview
An introduction to the relationship between human wellbeing and environmental sustainability in New Zealand and globally. Sustainability frameworks, environmental health determinants and environmental relationships to health inequalities are integrated throughout.
The quality of our physical living environment is fundamental to human survival and quality of life. Human habitats have changed radically over time, and the built environment now dominates. At the same time, humans have been changing global ecosystems in unprecedented ways, with far-reaching implications for public health. This paper provides an introduction to the links between human habitats, environmental sustainability and human wellbeing. It introduces students to theoretical and methodological knowledge; skills for undertaking integrative research and decision making; and tools for communicating with a variety of audiences. Links with Māori wellbeing, as well as links with health and social inequalities, are integrated throughout.
About this paper
| Paper title | Environment and Health |
|---|---|
| Subject | Public Health |
| EFTS | 0.125 |
| Points | 15 points |
| Teaching period(s) | 1st Non standard period (28 April 2025 - 19 June 2025)
(On campus)
1st Non standard period (28 April 2025 - 19 June 2025) (On campus) 1st Non standard period (28 April 2025 - 19 June 2025) (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,644.75 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Limited to
- MA, MHealSc, MPH, MSc, DPH, PGDipArts, PGDipHealSc, PGDipPHC, PGCertPH, PGCertPHC
- Eligibility
- Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline or recognised equivalent.
- Contact
Wellington Campus: publichealth.wellington@otago.ac.nz
Christchurch Campus: publichealth.christchurch@otago.ac.nz
Dunedin Campus: publichealth.dunedin@otago.ac.nz- More information link
- View more information on postgraduate studies in Public Health
- Teaching staff
Wellington Campus: Dr Caroline Shaw
Christchurch Campus: Dr Angela Curl (Overall Convenor)
Dunedin Campus: Dr Rebbecca Lilley
- Paper Structure
Topics:
- Introduction to environmental health; ecosystem health frameworks
- Policy and regulatory frameworks for environmental health and sustainability
- Methods for integrating health, equity and sustainability
- Communicating science and effecting environmental health change
- Cities, transport and housing; local field trip
- Energy systems and human well-being; climate change
- Teaching Arrangements
Wednesday mornings: 9:00am - 12:30pm
One full-day field trip on Wednesday 28 May: 12:30pm - 4:30pm
- Textbooks
- Required text: Frumkin, H (ed), Environmental Health. From Global to Local. John Wiley and Sons.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper should be able to:
- Apply a range of theoretical, research and practice tools to analyse the environmental determinants of public health, including for Māori wellbeing and health inequities
- Assess the optimal public health responses to important current environmental health and sustainability issues
- Take action on the environmental determinants of health, from a public health perspective, within the global and national legislative structures governing environmental sustainability and resource management
- Assessment details
Assessment:
- Assignment 1 - 50%
- Assignment 2 - 50%
- Two in class assessments that are compulsory for terms