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Health and Society 502 (SASN)

Health and Society 502


Department: Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Visit the Health and Society website.

Overview

Why and how has social scientific reasoning become fundamental to life sciences and health fields? What do social sciences bring to life sciences and health studies? The Health and Society minor develops interdisciplinary and transferable skills and knowledge for problem-solving within life sciences, health, and medical fields. Our focus includes: the social and behavioral determinants of health; the public and private sector arrangements of health care; diverse explanatory models of disease; anthropogenic climate change and population health; and the relevance of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion to life sciences and health fields. Sociology and Anthropology majors who are interested in this minor can also consider applying to the Master of Public Health Articulated Degree (B.A./M.P.H.).

Learning Goals

By completing the Health and Society Minor, students will be able to:

  • Describe the social and behavioral determinants of health

  • Debate the public and private sector arrangements of health care 

  • Articulate diverse explanatory models of disease

  • Analyze population health, including impacts of anthropogenic climate change 

  • Describe the relevance of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion to life sciences and health field.

Minor Requirements (18 credits)

  • Core Course (3 credits): Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (21:070:204) or Introduction to Sociology (21:920:201)

  • Core Course (3 credits): Medical Anthropology (21:070:209) or Perspectives on Health Care Policy (21:070:371/21:920:318)

  • Electives (12 credits):

Anthropology
21:070:209 Medical Anthropology
21:070:341 Human Nature
21:070:305 Culture and Personality

Sociology
21:920:338 Sociology of Death and Dying
21:920:337 Sociology of Gender
21:920:316 Race and Ethnicity in Multicultural Societies  
21:920:370 Sociology of Mental Health and Illness

Psychology
21:830:424 Health Psychology  
21:830:341 Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination  
21:830:374 Psychopathology of Childhood

Economics
21:220:316 Economics of Health

Social Work
21:910:342 Contemporary Social Welfare Policies

Cross-listed courses:
Global Sustainable Development Goals (21:920:328; 21:070:328)
Inequality (21:920:324; 21:070:337)
Perspectives on Health Care Policy (21:070:371; 21:920:318)
Social Determinants of Health (21:070:370; 21:920:370)
Anthropology of Science and Technology / Sociology of Science (21:070:385; 21:920:385)
Drugs and Society (21:920:285; 21:070:285)

Notes above Minor Electives:

  • At least one elective must be a Sociology (920) course

  • At least one elective must be an Anthropology (070) course

  • For sociology and anthropology majors, only two courses in the minor will count towards requirements for the major

  • Electives from outside of the department are capped at two

  • Additional courses from any department can be counted as electives with Department approval and on an ad hoc (i.e., case-by-case) basis

  • One internship for academic credit in health fields may also be counted as an elective with Department approval and on an ad hoc (i.e., case-by-case) basis

  • Each semester there are additional courses, that are not listed above, that may count towards the elective requirement with the approval of the director of the program.

Please visit the departmental website for the most up-to-date information about minor requirements and current courses.