Health and Society Courses
Health and Society: H S
Lower-Division Courses
H S 301. Introduction to Health and Society.
Same as Sociology 308S. A broad, multidisciplinary overview that introduces students to the study of health and society. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Health and Society 301, Sociology 308 (Topic: Introduction to Health and Society), 308S.
H S 302. Current Approaches to Health and Society.
Continue exploring how social forces shape health behaviors and outcomes. Examine varied current subjects related to health, paying particular attention to methodological approaches and research designs used in the interdisciplinary health sciences. Explore career possibilities. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Health and Society 301.
H S 310P. Physical Activity and Society.
Same as Sociology 302P. Explores the way in which people are physically active in a social context - primarily in the United States. Examines how social forces influence physical activity including cultural, economic, historical, and demographic considerations. Examines physical activity on both the individual and population levels to better understand benefits and barriers to activity through the social context. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Sociology 302P, 304 (Topic: Physical Activity and Society), Health and Society 310P.
H S 119S, 219S, 319S, 419S, 519S, 619S, 719S, 819S, 919S. Topics in Health and Society.
This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Health and Society major. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary.
Upper-Division Courses
H S 129S, 229S, 329S, 429S, 529S, 629S, 729S, 829S, 929S. Topics in Health and Society.
This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Health and Society major. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary.
H S 330. Health Care Policy in the United States.
An overview of the health care system in the United States and analysis of health policy issues primarily from the perspective of health economics. Three lecture hours or two lecture hours and one discussion hour a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Health and Society 330, Public Health 358D, Sociology 358D. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
H S 330C. Climate Change and Health.
Explore the basic science of climate change, including historical changes and how they have led to health problems and wars. Focus on global warming and how it will cause health problems in the coming decades. Examine solutions and moral and ethical dimensions to both global warming and its effects on human health. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Health and Society 330C and 340 (Topic: Climate Change and Health) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
H S 331C. COVID-19 Social Impacts and Public Dilemmas.
Explore the COVID-19 pandemic through multiple social, cultural, and economic lenses. Consider how globalization has influenced transportation networks and economic relationships that shape infectious disease transmission in the twenty-first century. Examine the effectiveness of different public health efforts to curb the spread of this virus. Discuss how the public health efforts of different nations and international governing bodies reveal different cultural values, political realities, and healthcare systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Health and Society 331C and 340 (Topic: COVID Socl Impact/Pub Dilem) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
H S 340. Topics in Health and Society.
Selected topics on health and society. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; additional prerequisites may vary with the topic.
Topic 5: Health Disparities. Examine health disparities and outcomes in four areas: core medical sociological theories and models; the biology of stress; intersections of race, class, and gender for health; and introduction to genetics and health disparities. Health and Society 340 (Topic: Health Disparities) and 340 (Topic 5) may not both be counted.
Topic 6: Cancerland. Same as Sociology 320C. Explores the social and cultural terrain of cancer research, treatment, and public policy in the United States. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Health and Society 340 (Topic 6), Sociology 320C, 321K (Topic: Cancerland). Additional prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 7: Contemporary Practice of Medicine. Explores what it means to be a practicing physician in contemporary America. Structured as a series of guest lectures by doctors from different medical specialties and at different stages in their careers; physician scientists and academicians; hospital administrators and related professionals; providers of medical care from international settings; and ethicists. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Health and Society 340 (Topic 7) and Sociology 321K (Topic: Contemporary Practice of Medicine) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 8: Economic Sociology of Health. Same as Sociology 322J. Provides a look at the economics of health and health care through a sociological lens. Examines how the multidimensional nature and distribution of health and healthcare are shaped by a variety of social and economic factors. Gain an understanding of the power of incentives, markets, and cost-benefit analysis, as well as the limits of these tools, in creating effective health care policy. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Health and Society 340 (Topic 8), Sociology 321K (Topic: Economic Sociology of Health), 322J. Additional prerequisite: Upper-division standing
Topic 9: Valuing Mental Health. Explores the value of health in general and mental health specifically. Comparison of notions of health and illness, non-communicable disease and mental illness, and relative valuations in health and mental health. Development of sound, sensitive, and defensible opinions about mental health through the use of plays, poems, songs, videos, short stories, and personal accounts of illness and disability. Three lecture hours a week for one semester Health and Society 340 (Topic 9) and Sociology 321K (Topic: Valuing Mental Health) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 11: Medical Sociology. Same as Sociology 341C. Explores the social context of health, illness, and the health care system in American society. Discussion of the processes of medicalization and demedicalization, social factors influencing health and health care, the organization of the health care delivery system and patient outcomes, and the social meaning and experiences of illness. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Sociology 321K (Topic: Medical Sociology), 341C, or Health and Society 340 (Topic 11). Additional prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
H S 341. Health and Justice.
Same as Philosophy 325J. Examines ethical, political, and legal issues surrounding medicine, society, and healthcare. Three lecture hours or two lecture hours and one discussion hour a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Philosophy 325J, 365 (Topic: Health and Justice), Health and Society 341. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
H S 341C. Comparative United States Health Systems.
Examine the social and economic distribution of health and health care and how underlying social values shape both the health of a population and its approach to health care. Analyze health care systems worldwide to see what the advantages and disadvantages of these models are for different segments of society compared to the US model. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Health and Society 340 (Topic: Comparative US Health Systems) and 341C may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
H S 347E. Sustainability, Equity, and Health.
Same as Geography 342S. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Geography 342S, 356 (Topic: Sustainability/Equity/Health), Health and Society 340 (Topic: Sustainability/Equity/Health), 347E. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
H S 350E. Foundations of Epidemiology.
Same as Health Education 343. Introduction to the basic tenets of epidemiology as well as the different types of epidemiological study designs. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Health Education 343, Health and Society 340 (Topic 1), 350E. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
H S 378. Seminar in Health and Society.
Focuses on a key topic or debate within the Health and Society area of study and develops students' abilities to use data and write a research or policy paper that informs that topic or debate. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; and Health and Society 301 or Sociology 308S.
H S 679H. Honors Tutorial Course.
A supervised conference course to provide training in research and writing. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for two semesters. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: For 679HA, upper-division standing and admission to the honors program in Health and Society; for 679HB, Health and Society 679HA.