Course Descriptions

Course Description:

This course introduces students to the many facets of medicine, health and illness from a sociological perspective. Throughout the course, sociological research will be used to highlight medical sociological methods and thinking. The historical context of the rise of medical sociology and its relationship to public health, the professionalization of medicine, the establishment of medical institutions, and the industrialization of health care will be examined. This will also include how patient and health care professional roles have changed. We will also explore patient and health care professional roles as well as alternative health practices and practitioners. A major theme that is addressed throughout the semester is social inequality and the way social class, race, gender, culture, and environment connect to health disparities that shape access to health care.