SOCI 215 - Introduction to Medical Sociology

3 Credits

(Every semester)
Prerequisite(s): None. What is the difference between illness and disease? Does poverty lead to illness, or does illness lead to poverty? How does society contribute to the well-being of people’s health? In this course, we understand health from a sociological lens, which concentrates on larger patterns over individual behaviors. Therefore, you will understand health issues as a public problem rather than an individual issue by analyzing the role of healthcare providers, healthcare systems, pharmaceutical companies, economics, and politics in shaping the discussion on health and wellbeing. In addition, you will be introduced to the theoretical assumptions of life chances vs. life choices, and which is a more comprehensive perspective in comprehending health behaviors. Also, this course will shed light on health inequities by race, gender, class, and age. Common ailments that hinder the lifestyles of African-Americans, Native Americans, and Latinx communities are discussed. With much of the discourse circulating around socialized medicine and universal healthcare in comparison to privatized healthcare, you will walk away from this class knowing the developed countries that implement which type of healthcare system. Lastly, a difficult discussion will take place on mental health, along with best practices for coping on an individual and institutional level.