Course Description

This course explores key debates about health, illness, and efforts to improve health outcomes of diverse, often highly vulnerable populations. Our aim is to develop critical insight into the complex cultural, social, economic, psychological, and political factors that impact human health and well-being. We will draw on the work of scholars from across the social sciences and humanities as well as the experience of activists and practitioners in health-related fields. Specific topics we will explore include: the impact of social inequality on population health; culturally diverse understandings of health, illness and healing; arguments about healthcare policy; controversies in medical ethics; care of populations across the lifespan, and contemporary public health challenges. 

This course is a required introduction for Health and Society majors. It must be passed with a minimum of a C- to count for the HLT major. The course also meets CAS Social Science OR Humanities distribution requirements. 

Learning Objectives

At the end of the course, students should achieve the following capabilities:

• learn how to apply perspectives of various disciplines from the social sciences and humanities to the analysis of the social, cultural, economic, political, and economic factors that impact the health status, needs, and behaviors of diverse populations;

• the ways in which systemic inequalities affect health outcomes;

• how theoretical frameworks and research from multiple disciplines can be used to find innovative and practical solutions to health-related problems;

• the organization and efficacy of healthcare systems and policies; and

• the skills needed for effective oral and written modes of communicating health-related issues to diverse audiences.