Course Description

This course explores the public health and economic dimensions of tobacco use and control, with a focus on the U.S. context. Students will examine the history of tobacco, why people smoke, and the role of the tobacco industry, alongside critical evaluation of policies such as tobacco taxes, smoke-free laws, flavor bans, mass media campaigns, and Tobacco 21 laws. The course draws on economic theory, policy analysis, and public health research, incorporating applied assignments and a final policy memo. Taught by a health economist, the course equips students to analyze the effectiveness of tobacco control strategies and understand their impact on health behaviors and disparities. 

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Describe the public health burden of tobacco use and its historical, social, and economic context.

2. Evaluate the effectiveness of tobacco control policies such as taxation, Tobacco 21 laws, smoke-free air laws, and warning labels.

3. Analyze disparities in tobacco use and tobacco-related health outcomes across demographic and socioeconomic groups.

4. Interpret empirical studies on tobacco and health, with an emphasis on causal inference and policy evaluation.

5. Apply public health and economic reasoning to assess the costs and benefits of tobacco control interventions.

6. Use data to investigate how tobacco policies affect health behaviors and outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations.

Prerequisite(s)

HLT 201 (or SOA 101/111) and a solid understanding of basic algebraic concepts.