Penn State Penn State: College of the Liberal Arts

Global and International Studies

/
/
/
Health and Environment

Health and Environment

This option considers the direct impact of global issues on the life on our planet. As intercontinental travel makes nearly every epidemic already global today, the more and more the health of individuals is directly connected to the health of the globe. Growing populations, aging demographics, increasing pollution, and decreasing food resources present new challenges for global human health. Similarly the global cycles of climate change and crisis force us to reconsider both natural processes and anthropogenic influences, examining the philosophy and history of human’s place in nature. Some of the themes on which this Option focuses include: the relationship between local resources and global geopolitics; cultural, economic, and social effects of global climate change; pollution and conservation; environmental movements; and evolution and extinction.

Courses for Fall 2023

Course Number
Course Title
AFR 105
African Biodiversity and Conservation
BB H 305
Introduction to Global Health Issues
BB H 407
Global Health Equity
BI SC 003
Environmental Science
BIOET401Q
Science, Ethics, Policy, and Law
CAS 453
Health Communication Theory and Research
CED 152
Community Development Concepts and Practice
EARTH 105N
Environments of Africa: Geology and Climate Change
EARTH 111
Water, Science, and Society
EBF 200
Introduction to Energy and Earth Sciences Economics
EBF 301
Global Finance for the Earth, Energy, and Materials Industries
ECON 415
The Economics of Global Climate Change
ECON 428
Environmental Economics
EGEE 101
Energy and the Environment
EGEE 120
Oil: International Evolution
GEOG 1N
Global Parks and Sustainability
GEOG 30 / 30N
Environment and Society in a Changing World
GEOG 310
Introduction to Global Climatic Systems
GEOG 430
Human Use of the Environment
HIST 109
Introduction to US Environmental History
PHIL 013
Nature and Environment
PHIL 118
Environmental Philosophy
PHIL/METEO/RL ST 133N
Ethics of Climate Change
PSYCH 419
Psychology in a Sustainable World
SOC 23
Population and Policy Issues
SOC 422
World Population Diversity
SOC 451
Health, Disease & Society
SPAN 100B
Intermediate Grammar and Composition for Students in Medical-Related Fields

Approved Courses in the Health and Environment Pathway

Course Number
Course Title
AFAM 302
Diversity and Health
AFR 105
African Biodiversity and Conservation
AFR 306
Health and Illness in African and Black Diaspora: Cultural Anthropology
AFR/PLSC 464
Extractive Industries in Africa
ANTH 219N
Spillover: The Anthropology of Emerging Infectious Diseases
ANTH 240N
Livelihoods and Ecosystems
ANTH 375Q
Anthropology of Food
ANTH 418
Medical Anthropology
ANTH 419
Anthropology and One Health
ANTH 455
Global Processes and Local Systems
ANTH 456
Cultural Ecology
ANTH 470H
Our Place in Nature
ASIA 106
Asian Traditions of Health, Medicine, and the Body
BB H 305
Introduction to Global Health Issues
BB H 407
Global Health Equity
BI SC 003
Environmental Science
BIOET 501
Perspectives and Methods in Bioethics
BIOET 502
Macro-Perspectives in Bioethics/Public Health Ethics
BIOET 533
Ethical Dimensions of Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems
BIOET110N
Health, Illness, and the Human Condition
BIOET401Q
Science, Ethics, Policy, and Law
BMH 490
Bioethics and Medical Humanities Capstone Course
CAS 453
Health Communication Theory and Research
CED 152
Community Development Concepts and Practice
CED 450
International Development, Renewable Resources, and the Environment
EARTH 103
Earth in the Future: Predicting Climate Change and Its Impacts Over the Next Century
EARTH 105N
Environments of Africa: Geology and Climate Change
EARTH 111
Water, Science, and Society
EARTH 2
The Earth System and Global Change
EBF 200
Introduction to Energy and Earth Sciences Economics
EBF 301
Global Finance for the Earth, Energy, and Materials Industries
EBF304W
Global Management for the Earth, Energy, and Materials Industries
ECON 415
The Economics of Global Climate Change
ECON 428
Environmental Economics
EGEE 101
Energy and the Environment
EGEE 120
Oil: International Evolution
EGEE 401
Energy in a Changing World
ENGL 162N
Communicating Care
ENGL 179
Literature of Food
ENGL 180
Literature and the Natural World
FR 497
French for Global Health
GEOG 1N
Global Parks and Sustainability
GEOG 30 / 30N
Environment and Society in a Changing World
GEOG 310
Introduction to Global Climatic Systems
GEOG 314
Biogeography and Global Ecology
GEOG 332N
Science and policy of global greenhouse gas emissions and management
GEOG 412W
Climatic Change and Variability
GEOG 424W
Geography of the Global Economy
GEOG 426W
Gendered Worlds
GEOG 430
Human Use of the Environment
GEOG 436
Ecology, Economy, and Society
GEOG 438W
Human Dimensions of Global Warming
GEOG 439
Property and the Global Environment
H P A 401
Comparative Health Systems
HIST 109
Introduction to US Environmental History
HIST 110
Nature and History
HIST 111
American Food System: History, Technology, and Culture
HIST 453
American Environmental History
HPA 410
Principles of Public Health Administration
LER 400
Comparative Employment Relations Systems
NUTR 425
Global Nutrition Problems: Health, Science, and Ethics
PHIL 013
Nature and Environment
PHIL 118
Environmental Philosophy
PHIL 134
Food, Values, and Health
PHIL 403
Environmental Ethics
PHIL/METEO/RL ST 133N
Ethics of Climate Change
PLSC 135
The Politics of the Ecological Crisis
PLSC 464
Extractive Industries in Africa
PSYCH 419
Psychology in a Sustainable World
SOC 211Z
Health Inequality: Understanding the Geographies of Life and Death
SOC 23
Population and Policy Issues
SOC 422
World Population Diversity
SOC 451
Health, Disease & Society
SOC 468
Mood-Altering Substances in Society
SPAN 100B
Intermediate Grammar and Composition for Students in Medical-Related Fields
SPAN 300B
Advanced Grammar and Composition for Students in Medical-related Fields

Courses Outside the Liberal Arts

Course Number
Course Title
BB H 305
Introduction to Global Health Issues
BB H 407
Global Health Equity
BI SC 003
Environmental Science
BIOET 501
Perspectives and Methods in Bioethics
BIOET 502
Macro-Perspectives in Bioethics/Public Health Ethics
BIOET 533
Ethical Dimensions of Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems
BIOET110N
Health, Illness, and the Human Condition
BIOET401Q
Science, Ethics, Policy, and Law
BMH 490
Bioethics and Medical Humanities Capstone Course
CED 152
Community Development Concepts and Practice
CED 450
International Development, Renewable Resources, and the Environment
EARTH 103
Earth in the Future: Predicting Climate Change and Its Impacts Over the Next Century
EARTH 105N
Environments of Africa: Geology and Climate Change
EARTH 111
Water, Science, and Society
EARTH 2
The Earth System and Global Change
EBF 200
Introduction to Energy and Earth Sciences Economics
EBF 301
Global Finance for the Earth, Energy, and Materials Industries
EBF304W
Global Management for the Earth, Energy, and Materials Industries
EGEE 101
Energy and the Environment
EGEE 120
Oil: International Evolution
EGEE 401
Energy in a Changing World
GEOG 1N
Global Parks and Sustainability
GEOG 30 / 30N
Environment and Society in a Changing World
GEOG 310
Introduction to Global Climatic Systems
GEOG 314
Biogeography and Global Ecology
GEOG 332N
Science and policy of global greenhouse gas emissions and management
GEOG 412W
Climatic Change and Variability
GEOG 424W
Geography of the Global Economy
GEOG 426W
Gendered Worlds
GEOG 430
Human Use of the Environment
GEOG 436
Ecology, Economy, and Society
GEOG 438W
Human Dimensions of Global Warming
GEOG 439
Property and the Global Environment
H P A 401
Comparative Health Systems
LER 400
Comparative Employment Relations Systems
NUTR 425
Global Nutrition Problems: Health, Science, and Ethics

400 Level Courses With No Prerequisites

Course Number
Course Title
SOC 468
Mood-Altering Substances in Society

Majors should select 21 credits in the Option courses.

  • 15 credits of these 21 will be in a single Option concentration (no more than 6 credits towards the Option completion are to be from courses in a single department).
  • 6 credits of these 21 are from other Options.
  • At least 12 credits must be taken at the 400 level or higher.