Introduction to Planning, Public Policy and Public Health
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
10:832:101:03 F13 10:762:101:03 F13
Fall 2013
Thursday 5:00 to 6:20 PM
Lucy Stone Hall – Room B115
Instructor: Paul M. Drake
MCRP PP AICP LEED-GA PMP
E-mail: drake2plan@yahoo.com
pmdrake@rci.rutgers.edu
Cell Phone: 908-872-3790
Office Hours: By Appointment on class days
Course Description
Purpose
In 2013, the United States continues to face an epidemic of health issues including high levels of stress,
diabetes, cancer and other diseases attributed to our sedentary lifestyles. All the while, we have tolerated
the design of places that continue our dependence on the automobile. This has replaced the oldest form of
transportation we know – our feet. Charting the right course for our future requires a team of generalists,
including urban planners and public health professionals, who understand the complexity of the many
supporting and opposing forces that influence public policy.
This course will introduce and will challenge students with many of the policy decision-making processes
in the fields of urban planning and public health. These fields share common and often complex
relationships that call out for an integrated approach to how we interact with local communities and
collectively, our planet. Planners and public health professionals share a unique responsibility to protect
the public interest throughout the decision making process. This is often not easy when faced with
competing interests at times when planning and policy decisions are being formulated by small towns as
well as big cities and in the laws and regulations of New Jersey and the many branches of the Federal
government.
This course will introduce students to the theoretical principals and professional practices involved in
urban planning and public health. The reading assignments and class discussions will cover practical
topics that are shaping the two professions while group exercises will provide students with practical
experience. Wherever possible, this course will include local and state examples from New Jersey.
Course Objectives
After completing this course, you will understand:
(a) the core subject matters and dynamics of the fields of planning, public policy, and public
health, and how they intersect; and
(b) methods of analyzing planning, public policy, and health policy issues, including analysis and
evaluation from the perspective of the six key factors that drive public policy formation:
(1) science
(2) elected officials and their staff
(3) other stakeholders (business, media, not-for-profits, the public)
(4) money (costs and benefits)
(5) ethics and morality
(6) practicality (time and flexibility)
More specifically, students will be able to:
Identify and describe the key urban planning and public health issues that affect public policy formation
and apply these issues to making practical decisions regarding urban planning and public health,
especially as they relate to a greater understanding of the basis and development of human and societal
endeavors across time and place.
Students will also understand the inter-relationship between urban planning and public health that will
enable the student to apply concepts about human and social behavior to particular questions or situations.
The class assignments will require the student to research public health and urban planning issues at the
municipal level and recognize these visual signs in a community through a collaborative, active-learning,
investigative team project and presentation. This will evoke an understanding of different theories about
human culture, social identity, economic entities, political systems, and other forms of social
organization.
Required Readings
There are no textbooks for this class. Instead the various reading assignments for this class will be posted
as a PDF under the RESOURCES section on Sakai. All readings shall be completed BEFORE the class
based on the FALL 2013 CLASS SCHEDULE. The readings may be supplemented, amended or
replaced depending on the specific current topics being discussed in class. Students are encouraged to
post interesting and related topical readings or videos on the FORUM section of the Class SAKAI site.
Introduction to Planning, Public Policy and Public Health
Fall 2013
| Page 2 of 8
Course Policies
Student Responsibilities:
Compliance to the following guidelines will ensure that each student benefits from class lectures and
discussions:
1. You are expected to follow the Rutgers Academic Integrity Policy.
2. Be on time – Class starts promptly
3. You are expected to be non-disruptive during class. Side conversations, verbal insults, reading
non-related course material, working on your computer for another class, surfing the web, texting,
e-mailing, use of cell phones or listening to music is not permitted in class.
4. Laptops may will used in class with my permission for note taking only. If it becomes clear that
laptop use in class is more of a distraction, than an aid to learning, then such use will be
discontinued. Updating Facebook or surfing the internet during class is not class participation.
5. Recording of lectures is not permitted in class.
GRADING & POLICIES
Grade Distribution
Attendance /Class Participation/Public Meeting Summary 20%
In class Mid-Term Exam: 25%
Term Paper: 20%
Class Project & Group Presentation: 20%
Take-home Final Exam 15%
Extra Credit - TBD
Attendance & Class Participation: Attendance and class participation is mandatory, especially when
guest speakers are scheduled, since the class format is not solely lecture-oriented. Please note that
attendance and participation will count significantly towards your final grade for the class. Each student
will be expected to contribute to the class with respect to the readings and in-class discussions
Students are expected to attend all classes; if you expect to miss one or two classes, please
use the University absence reporting website https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/to indicate the
date and reason for your absence. An email is automatically sent to me.
Introduction to Planning, Public Policy and Public Health
Fall 2013
| Page 3 of 8
Public Meeting Summary: Students will be expected to attend a public meeting as discussed in class and
to prepare a summary of the topic discussed. Details to be provided.
Mid-Term Exam: This exam will focus on the topics discussed in class and in the readings assigned.
The MID TERM WILL BE TAKEN IN CLASS AND MAY BE ON SAKAI ON INDIVIDUAL
LAPTOPS. Please advise me if you do not have access to a laptop.
Term Paper: Each student will be required to research and prepare a TERM PAPER OF 5-10 PAGES
based on the topic below. The format of the paper will follow the outline to be provided. Each paper
should be peer-reviewed for clarity and grammar by two of your classmates before submission. The peer
reviewers will be credited on the final paper. Note: The paper will be required to be submitted on-line
through Sakai and will be run through software that checks for plagiarism. Late papers will not be
accepted.

Based on a topic of student interest and observations relevant to the topics discussed in class, this
paper is an opportunity for each student to reflect on and ANALYZE a topic of interest in the world
of planning and public health. The paper should be organized in a clear way and demonstrate an
advocacy or adverse position for the topic. For example, from the news, select one policy issue about
which government is in motion (i.e., about which there is either having a public conversation, or
government officeholders are formally debating, etc.), and use that issue to illustrate how "public
policy," "health policy," and "urban planning and development policy" are related.
Class Project: This project is intended to be very interactive and visual. From the first day of class, you
can be preparing for the completion of the final project by observing the world around you. The world is
a big place but as planners and public health professionals, you have the ability to have a positive
influence on how things work. Instructions for the class project will be provided in more detail but it will
involve the taking of photographs of positive and negative images around you in groups of three or four.
How people react to the world around them – the images they see everyday – has a profound affect on
their physical well-being. This class project will explore these very topics through the eyes of students
and the lens of a camera and mapping tools such as Google Earth.
Final Exam: This exam will be a TAKE HOME exam on Sakai covering the readings and in class
discussions.
Rutgers University’s Academic Integrity Policy:
Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, failure to cite sources, fabrication and falsification,
stealing ideas, and deliberate slanting of research designs to achieve a pre-conceived result. Misconduct
will not be tolerated. Penalties for misconduct can range from failing an assignment/exam or the class to
even dismissal from the university.
The University’s Academic Integrity Policy can be found at:
http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml#.
Introduction to Planning, Public Policy and Public Health
Fall 2013
| Page 4 of 8
Academic Misconduct: A Bloustein School Perspective
Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, failure to cite sources, fabrication and falsification,
stealing ideas, and deliberate slanting of research designs to achieve a pre-conceived result. We talk about
misconduct and ethical behavior in classes and expectations are set forth in student handbooks and
catalogues. For example, it is presented on pages 545-547 in the New Brunswick Undergraduate
Catalogue for the years 2003 through 2005 and on pages 16-18 of the Edward J. Bloustein catalogue for
the years 2003 through 2005. We are not repeating that material here. Note, however, that penalties for
misconduct can range from failing an assignment/exam or dismissal from the university.
The Bloustein School is appending this memorandum to your course syllabus because we recently have
detected obvious cases of plagiarism. We have found far fewer cases of other forms of academic
misconduct, but we find several every year. It is imperative that you understand that unethical academic
conduct is intolerable, and it is completely preventable.
Academic misconduct almost always happens for two reasons. One is ignorance of academic rules and
practices. For example, in virtually every recent plagiarism case in the School, material has been taken
from an Internet site and placed in text without appropriate note or attribution. You must learn the proper
rules for attribution. If you are not sure, ask your instructor! If you do not know the rules that govern the
use of data sets, attribution, analysis and reporting of these sets, the faculty will help you. There is no
such thing as a stupid question regarding this subject.
Pressure is the second common reason for academic misconduct. Students, faculty, every one of us are
subject to deadline, financial, self-worth, peer, and other pressures. If you are potentially allowing
pressure to drive you to misconduct, please step back and resist that urge. You can cope with pressure in a
positive way by reaching out to friends, counselors, and faculty members. Within the Bloustein School
community, you will find understanding people and positive direction.
The Bloustein School plays an important role in the planning and public policy agenda. Our work and our
students must be above reproach.
CANCELLATION OF CLASSES
In the event of weather or other emergency, a “Campus Operating Status” page will be posted as a link
from the New Brunswick Campus website, http://nb.rutgers.edu Please refer to this page for updated
information on closings, class cancellations or delayed openings, as well as bus schedules, parking lot
availability, and dining hall and student recreation center hours. Please do not call the Rutgers Police for
closing or class cancellation information.
Introduction to Planning, Public Policy and Public Health
Fall 2013
| Page 5 of 8
FALL 2013 CLASS SCHEDULE – v. 1
Introduction to Planning, Public Policy and Public Health
WEEK 1 – SEPT 3 & 5 Tuesday/Thursday - INTRODUCTIONS and COURSE OVERVIEW
Reading Assignment: No reading for this week
Interactive Class exercise regarding the public process

Discussion of Assignment 1: Required Attendance at a Public Meeting
WEEK 2 – SEPT 10 & 12 Tuesday/Thursday - ORIGINS OF URBAN PLANNING
Reading Assignment: See RESOURCES - Week 2

Discussion of Assignment 2: Term Paper
TERM PAPER DUE: Sunday, November 24, 2013 AT 10 PM THROUGH SAKAI
WEEK 3 - SEPT 17 & 19 Tuesday/Thursday - ORIGINS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Required Readings: See RESOURCES - Week 3
WEEK 4 – SEPT 24 & 26 Tuesday/Thursday - PUBLIC POLICY FORMATION - STAKEHOLDER
PARTICIPATION
Required Reading - See RESOURCES - Week 4

FINAL PROJECT TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLASS AND GROUPS TO BE ASSIGNED FOR CLASS
PRESENTATIONS ON DECEMBER 3, 5 AND 10TH
WEEK 5 – OCT 1 & 3 Tuesday/Thursday – THE LEGAL BASIS OF PLANNING; Infrastructure and
Environmental resource protection
OVERVIEW OF STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS AFFECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
Required Reading: See RESOURCES Week 5
Introduction to Planning, Public Policy and Public Health
Fall 2013
| Page 6 of 8
WEEK 6 – OCT 8 & 10 Tuesday/Thursday - Land Policy / Public Health Decision processes
OVERVIEW OF STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS AFFECTING PUBLIC HEALTH
Required Reading: See RESOURCES Week 6
WEEK 7 – OCT 15 & 17 Tuesday & Thursday BROWNFIELDS AND REDEVELOPMENT
Required Reading: See RESOURCES Week 7
Thursday: Review of MID-TERM EXAM
WEEK 8 - October 22 & 24 – Tuesday/ Thursday
Tuesday MID TERM EXAM
Thursday GUEST SPEAKER - PROFESSOR TONY NELESSEN
WEEK 9 – October 29 & 31 Tuesday & Thursday FOOD AND NUTRITION
Required Reading: See RESOURCES Week 9

PUBLIC MEETING SUMMARY DUE OCTOBER 31, 2013 BY 5:00 pm
WEEK 10 – Nov 5 & 7 Tuesday & Thursday URBAN DESIGN & TRANSPORATION
Required Reading: See RESOURCES Week 10
WEEK 11 – Nov 12 & 14 – Tuesday & Thursday AFFORDABLE CARE ACT; INSURANCE; RISK
MANAGEMENT
Required Reading: See RESOURCES Week 11
Introduction to Planning, Public Policy and Public Health
Fall 2013
| Page 7 of 8
WEEK 12 - Nov 19 & 21 Tuesday & Thursday ENERGY, GLOBAL WARMING

TERM PAPER DUE Sunday Nov 24, 2013 by 10:00 PM via SAKAI
Required Reading: See RESOURCES Week 12
WEEK 13 – Nov 26 & 28 Tuesday & Thursday
Tuesday: Guest Speaker: Adam Zellner
Thursday – THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
WEEK 14 – Dec 3 & 5 Tuesday & Thursday CLASS PRESENTATIONS

RELEASE FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS VIA SAKAI - DISCUSSION OF TAKE HOME FINAL EXAM
WEEK 15 – Dec 10 - Tuesday - - CLASS PRESENTATIONS - LAST CLASS
WEEK 16 - TAKE FINAL EXAM DUE December 15, 2013 - no later than Dec 22, 2013 at 10 PM via SAKAI
Introduction to Planning, Public Policy and Public Health
Fall 2013
| Page 8 of 8