Medical Sociology

Catalog description

This course presents a conceptual overview of medical sociology, also referred to as public health or the sociology of health and illness. Students examine a variety of social and cultural forces that affect illness, disparities in health, and access to healthcare. Students learn the major concepts, methods, and theories that medical social scientists use to understand public trends and topics in health, illness, and medicine. Furthermore, students will examine various medical topics from sociological and cross-cultural perspectives, including but not limited to medical ethics, death and dying processes, the work environments and careers of health professionals, the commodification of illness, healthcare systems and reform, and the intersection of inequalities as they relate to health, illness, and access to healthcare.