Learn more about the Urban Design specialization

MASTER OF
PUBLIC HEALTH
URBAN DESIGN SPECIALIZATION
The Urban Design specialization brings interdisciplinary
thinking to the multifaceted public health challenges across
urban, built environments. Our curriculum prepares students
to understand, address and prevent the adverse health
consequences and inequities associated with poorly
designed urban landscapes.
PROGRA M OVERVIEW
C UR R IC ULUM R EQ UIR E ME N TS : 16 C R E DITS
Strong evidence indicates that the built environment
can create or restrict opportunities for healthy living.
The greatest improvements in population health will
come from innovative, intersectoral collaborations
around issues of public health, housing, food and
recreation access, worksites, transportation, and urban
design—areas our students learn to address.
Geographic Information Systems
Metropolitan Urbanism^
Metropolitan Development^
Lively City: Behavioral Studies & Public Space^
Transdisciplinary Problem Solving: Public Health
and the Built Environment
Public Health Urban Design Seminar^
MPH practicum (urban design-focused)
The specialization in Urban Design prepares students
to meet those challenges from an evidence-based and
transdisciplinary Perspective. Students learn essential
methodologies including Geographic Information
Systems and Health Impact Assessments. This
specialization is offered in collaboration with the
Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.
Other courses of interest may include:
Community Development & American Cities^
Developing Sustainable Urban Communities^
Urban Development Seminar^
^Taught through or with WUSTL’s Sam Fox School
of Design & Visual Arts
“I’m driven by questions
like: How can we make our
environments healthier?
How can we make them
more accessible to
everybody who can benefit
from them? Whether it’s
planting trees, putting
in bike lanes, or building
a farmer’s market or a
grocery store, I think,
‘Who are the people that
are going to benefit from
them and what can we do
to make those accessible
to everybody?”
REBECCA GERNES,
MSW/MPH ’14
Environmental Health
Fellow, Environmental
Protection Agency
URBA N D ES I GN S P ECI A L I ZATI ON
“The intersection between public health and urban
design is vital to developing communities where
every person has the opportunity for healthy choices.
Our specialization builds on the unique strengths of
the Brown School and the Sam Fox School to prepare
students for a variety of career paths, providing
graduates with many exciting opportunities.”
—Ross Brownson, Chair, Urban Design Specialization
PR A CTICU M
CAREER PATHS
A minimum of three credits (360 hours) of
MPH practicum is required. Sample Urban Design
practicum sites include:
Students earning an MPH with a specialization in
Urban Design will be competitive for a variety of
transdisciplinary jobs at organizations like:
Beyond Housing
City of St. Louis Department of Health
Community Health Institute/
John Snow Institute
Great Rivers Greenways
H3 Studio
Jefferson Collaborative
Nashville Area Metropolitan
Planning Organization
Old North Restoration Group
Trailnet
World Vision
Departments of public health,
transportation, planning, sustainability, and
environmental protection
Metropolitan planning organizations and
regional commissions
Community development agencies
Neighborhood revitalization organizations
Pedestrian, bicycling, public transit, and active
living advocacy organizations
Food and nutrition outreach programs
Organizations conducting
Health Impact Assessments
Ross Brownson is an expert
in the field of chronic
disease prevention through
environmental and policy
change. He has led several
research initiatives to study
the impact of community
design on health risks both
nationally and internationally.
His most recent work
focuses on approaches
for obesity prevention and
increase in population level
physical activity. As a trained
epidemiologist, Brownson
uses data and surveillance
to help guide community
improvements.
C O N TA CT US
APPLICATION
INFORMATION
For more information about
admission into the MPH
program contact:
B R O WN S C H O O L
Office of Admissions
and Recruitment
877.321.2426 (toll free)
[email protected]
mph.wustl.edu
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