Summer 2020  |  SOC 4246 Section 301: Sociology of Health and Illness (82992)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
Completely Online
Class Attributes:
College of Continuing Education
Online Course
Times and Locations:
Summer Session 14 wk
 
05/18/2020 - 08/21/2020
Off Campus
Virtual Rooms ONLINEONLY
Enrollment Status:
Open (29 of 32 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
This course is an introduction to the importance of health and illness in people's lives, how social structures impact who gets sick, how they are treated, and how the delivery of health care is organized. By the end of the course you will be familiar with the major issues in the sociology of health and illness, and understand that health and illness are not just biological processes, but profoundly shaped by the organization of society. prereq: One sociology course recommended; soph or above; soc majors/minors must register A-F
Class Notes:
See course details at https://ccaps.umn.edu/credit-courses/sociology-health-and-illness
Class Description:
This course provides a topical overview and introduction to important sociological perspectives on health and illness. We will identify and critically evaluate the social, political, economic, and cultural forces that influence health outcomes and health disparities by demographic group. Over the semester, we will analyze a variety of readings on health, including qualitative and quantitative empirical studies, medical sociology theory, public health reports, and mainstream news articles, in order to delve deeper into the sociological meanings of health. The course will cover topics ranging from health policy and the U.S. health system in the international context to health social movements to bioethics and biotechnology. By the end of the course, you will have a firm grasp on the connections between medical sociology, the broader disciplinary concerns of sociology, and the pragmatic concerns of health issues.
Who Should Take This Class?:
Students interested in learning about sociological understandings of health, illness, the body, and the medical field, including the logics and consequences of various cultural understandings and institutional approaches to defining and managing health and illness in society.
Learning Objectives:
- Demonstrate an understanding of a broad overview of the field of sociology of health and illness.
- Examine the cause and cultural impact of socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, immigrant status, and gender health disparities.
- Synthesize contemporary research and current events in the areas of health and illness to define their implications of current U.S. health policy.
- Critically analyze the social implications of health and illness.
- Discuss the connections between medical sociology, the broader disciplinary concerns of sociology, and the pragmatic concerns of health issues.
Grading:
Discussion Points - 200 pts
Reading Journals - 75 pts
Midterm Exam - 225 pts
Peer Writing Group - 100 pts
Research Paper - 400 pts

Total = 1000 pts

Exam Format:
Online
Class Format:
Online
Workload:
Weekly readings, online lectures, and online discussion posts; regular reading journal entries; 1 midterm exam; and a final research paper.
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/82992/1205
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
4 March 2020

ClassInfo Links - Summer 2020 Sociology Classes Taught by Ryan Steel

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