PAFF 548CHlth Disparities Across Pops

Catalog

Part one of a two-semester course sequence that provides an intensive examination of the role, status and situation of rural people and places in contemporary American society. Disciplinary focus is sociology, but pertinent literature and materials from economics, political science, geography and other disciplines are also included. Investigates how rural populations, communities, economies and institutions have persisted and changed in the face of macro-level forces such as urbanization and metropolitan expansion, technological innovations, globalization, economic restructuring and changes in public policy. First semester focuses on both the structure and organization of the rural community and on the restructuring of rural economies and opportunity structures. Second semester begins with an examination of the rural demography with a particular focus on populations in need - youth, the elderly, racial and ethnic minorities and the poor- then investigates the impacts of macro-level forces on rural people and communities. Concludes with a discussion of how public policies, especially health and social welfare policies, affect rural America. Much of the research and literature on rural America is at the national or broad regional level. Accordingly, a field research project is used to ground the course in the local reality of rural New York. At conclusion, students have 1) basic knowledge of structure and change in rural America and 2) sufficient technical and conceptual expertise to conduct applied analyses of rural issues.