Urban Studies – Writing Intensive
Prerequisites: Math Proficiency, ENG101 (or equivalent), SSY101 General Psychology
Health Sciences Department, E300
CUNY Community Health Gateway Course
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No Required Text
Students are expected to read posted lectures, videos and review outside links before each class
N.Y. State Education Department (NYSED), Credit Hour definition
A semester hour is defined in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education as “a credit, point, or other unit granted
for the satisfactory completion of a course which requires at least 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) of instruction and at least
30 hours of supplementary assignments
By this definition, a 2-credit course requires 30 hours in class and 60 hours of supplementary outside assignments
regardless of class format (in person, hybrid, remote, or online)
o These standards require students to schedule time outside of class to complete supplementary assignments
(about 4 – 5 hours a week for a 12-week semester)
o Before class: Review posted links, lectures and videos
o After class: Complete required assignments
Blackboard
Announcements, class materials, online exams, and upload of all required written work in Microsoft Office or PDF
formats No Mac .pages or Google doc files
Course Description
This course will examine the historical, philosophical, and theoretical principles and foundations of community health.
Global perspectives on the role of health education in keeping people and communities healthy, as well as future trends in
health promotion will be analyzed. NYC Department of Health initiatives and data, as well as NYC historical events in
health are used to illustrate course concepts. This writing intensive course includes assignments based on required reading
and activities.
This is a CUNY Community Health Gateway Course and will
Provide students with an overview of community health education and introduce students to the skills needed for
theory-driven program planning
Discuss social determinants of health, including the role of social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors on
personal and community health
Describe the core components of program planning including community needs assessment, target health problem,
target community, program design, implementation, and evaluation
Discuss the role of community engagement in promoting population health and social justice
Examine the major social, psychological, educational theories and instructional strategies used in community health
education and program planning
Identify quantitative and qualitative data and information that can be used for assessing the health of a community
Urban Study Course
Urban study courses promote a multidisciplinary understanding of the urban environment enriched by a hands-on,
experiential approach to learning in and through the city
Students will be required to participate in at least two hands-on, out-of-classroom research projects that promote
using the city as a learning laboratory and that permits follow-through of conceptual material taught in the classroom
Urban Study courses focus primarily on aspects of urban life that help students understand the dynamics of cities and
related controversies and explore systematically the resources of New York City in order to reinforce and expand
upon course concepts
Urban Study courses are designated as writing intensive
2024 – 2025