Sociology of Medicine

Catalog description

This course is designed to give the student a general introduction to the myriad ways culture, society, and organizations impact medicine and health care. This course is designed to give the student a general introduction to the material and there are no prerequisites for the course. Students will cover topics as diverse as the institution and profession of medicine, the practice of medical care, and the social factors that contribute to sickness and well-being. While we will not cover everything, we will attempt to cover as much of the field as possible through four central thematic units: (1) the organization of development of the profession of medicine, (2) the delivery of health-care, (3) social cultural factors in defining health, and (4) the social causes of illness. Throughout the course, our discussions will be designed to understand the social science and policy implications for the field of medicine and encourage the application of such ideas and concepts to a variety of contemporary healthcare issues. This course can count towards health equity & social justice minor.