SGLK15002U Drivers of Change in Human Health: Coping with population and environmental dynamics
MSc Programme in Global Health - compulsory
This course will enable participants to acquire a thorough
knowledge and understanding of population and environmental
dynamics across the globe. Small and large-scale migrations of
different types (forced, voluntary, and semi-voluntary) and
modalities of resettlement will be examined using appropriate
demographic models and tools. Demographic trends will be
interpreted through quantitative and qualitative narratives. The
influence of environmental, ecological and sociopolitical
parameters on disease dynamics will be discussed. The focus of
attention will be on health, social systems, environmental
interactions and sub-systems nested within larger “Complex Adaptive
Systems” (CAS) that form the backbone of health dynamics. Course
participants will be familiarized with complexity theory as it
applies to population dynamics: migration, health, crisis, and
transformative change in different parts of the world. Furthermore,
the linkages between "Human systems and "Earth
systems" will be discussed with particular attention to
impacts of climate change on human health.
Topics to be explored include: resilience, a key topic of
investigation through exploring the realities and health challenges
of predictable and unpredictable catastrophes associated with
climate change, rising sea levels, and loss of arable and/or
habitable land causing economic and social vulnerabilities; and
armed conflict arising from natural resource exploitations.
Course participants will be trained to identify interdisciplinary
and innovative approaches to framing, defining, and evaluating key
concepts and formulating research questions. This course is
designed to provide the participants knowledge and skills that are
synergistic with the other courses offered during the first year in
preparation for the participants’ direct involvement in research,
be it field-based or through library-based desk
study.
Knowledge/comprehension
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
- Describe and discuss international policy and practice in response to crisis, migration, adaptation, transformative change, and in building resilience.
- Understand human systems and earth systems linkages and their relationship to human health
More specifically the student will gain knowledge on:
Human and social systems: in particular population dynamics and health
- The basic metrics, trends, determinants and consequences of demography as related to health in different situations – demography as a tool for situation analysis
- Interrelationship between policy and demographics
- Classification of climate change related health impacts into major impact areas
- Climate change vulnerable regions and population groups
- The role of health systems in response to climate change
- Health impact assessment (HIA), remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) used for disease mapping in a climate change context
Earth systems: in particular the role of climate change and environmental factors
- Climate factors that increase risks to human health or enhance health opportunities
Skills
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Employ analytical skills using the tools of demography, anthropology, sociology, and epidemiology to assess case studies and scenarios that call for inter-disciplinary and inter-sectoral ways of problem solving.
More specifically the student will be able to:
- Access, analyze and present data from major sources, and applying a critical view of the data quality, and adapting to specific country situations
Competencies
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Compare and contrast empirical evidence on some human and earth system drivers of global health change, the interrelationships between population dynamics, climate change and health, and variable patterns of infectious and non-communicable diseases of global significance.
- Use gained knowledge and skills as input to assess case studies and scenarios that call for interdiscliplinary ways of analysis and problem solving
- Recognize and explain the interaction between climate change,
demographic trends and global health challenges
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 18
- Lectures
- 32
- Preparation
- 134
- Theory exercises
- 22
- Total
- 206
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignment, 48 hoursThe length of the written take-home assignment must be 6-8 pages (à 2,400 keystrokes).
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
- Exam period
http://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/guidance-information/exam-schedule/global-health/
- Re-exam
http://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/guidance-information/exam-schedule/global-health/
Criteria for exam assesment
To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student must be able to demonstrate:
Knowledge
- - on international policy and practice in response to crisis, migration, adaptation, transformative change, and overall resilience.
- - human systems and earth systems linkages and their relationship to human health
Skills
- - on using the tools of demography, anthropology, sociology, and epidemiology to analytically assess case studies and scenarios that call for interdisciplinary ways of problem solving.
Competencies
- - in comparing and contrasting empirical evidence on the health and demographic ramifications of urbanization, climate change, ageing, and emerging patterns of infectious and non-communicable diseases of global significance.
- - in using gained knowledge and skills as input to assessing case studies and scenarios that call for interdiscliplinary ways of analysis and problem solving
- - for the recognition and explanation of interactions between climate change, demographic trends and global health challenges
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- SGLK15002U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedule
- A
- Course capacity
- 44 participants. 4 slots open for credit transfer student. Credit transfers students should apply for enrollment here: http://sund.ku.dk/uddannelse/andre-uddannelsestilbud/meritstuderende/
- Study board
- Study Board for International Health
Contracting department
- Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology
Course responsibles
- Peter Furu (4-778683865184867f753f7c863f757c)
Chief responsibility - Carina Munck Olsén (18-506e7f767b6e3b5a827b70783b5c7980727b4d77827f3b78823b7178)
All questions regarding exams, please contact Exam Coordinator Helga Brask Nielsen at helga.nielsen@sund.ku.dk