Systems science has been instrumental in breaking new scientific ground in diverse fields such as meteorology, engineering and decision analysis. However, it is just beginning to impact public health. This seminar is designed to introduce students to basic tools of theory building and data analysis in systems science and to apply those tools to better understand the obesity epidemic in human populations. There will also be a lab in which students will use a simple demonstration model of food acquisition behavior using agent-based modeling on standard (free) software (netlogo). The central organizing idea of the course is to examine the obesity epidemic at a population level as an emergent properties of complex, nested systems, with attention to feedback processes, multilevel interactions, and the phenomenon of emergence. While the emphasis will be on obesity, the goal will be to explore ways in which the systems approach can be applied to other non-communicable diseases both nationally and internationally.
Give your career the gift of Coursera Plus with $160 off, billed annually. Save today.
(203 reviews)
Details to know
Add to your LinkedIn profile
6 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 4 modules in this course
Obesity, the facts of the case, and human populations through a systems science lens.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
Complex systems, system dynamic models, and developing a stock and flow. This module includes a lab lesson.
What's included
6 videos1 reading2 assignments
Social networks and obesity, neighborhoods and noshing, and prices and poverty.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment
Agent based modeling and conceptual motivation for agent based modeling. This module includes a lab lesson.
What's included
8 videos2 readings2 assignments
Instructors
Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Public Health
Utrecht University
University of California, Davis
Johns Hopkins University
University of California, Santa Cruz
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Learner reviews
Showing 3 of 203
203 reviews
- 5 stars
72.90%
- 4 stars
20.19%
- 3 stars
4.43%
- 2 stars
1.97%
- 1 star
0.49%
New to Public Health? Start here.
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
You will be eligible for a full refund until two weeks after your payment date, or (for courses that have just launched) until two weeks after the first session of the course begins, whichever is later. You cannot receive a refund once you’ve earned a Course Certificate, even if you complete the course within the two-week refund period. See our full refund policy.