Sociology of Death, Dying, and Bereavement

Catalog description

This course provides students with an in-depth examination of the social and cultural dimensions of death, dying, and bereavement within the United States. Cross-cultural, historical, and international perspectives are also introduced as various theories and methods of sociology are employed to examine such issues as the meaning of death, the process of dying, facing death across the life course, the death industry, coping with loss and grief, and the social context of death, dying and bereavement. Instruction of the course material frequently takes an applied approach when connections are made between theory and practice as they exist within various occupations and industries centered on death, dying, and/or bereavement.