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SOCY 320

I. Course Title: Social Determinants of Health

II. Course Number: SOCY 320

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 or SOCY 213.

     Cross-Listed: PBHL 320.

V. Course Description: 

Students will examine relationships between social factors and health status for both communities and specific populations. The pathways by which social circumstances affect disease risk, health-related behavior, and health outcomes are discussed.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

[1] Introduction

  • Health Inequalities

[2] Individual and Population Health

  • Levels of Analysis
  • Origins of Population Health

[3] Health Care Services

  • Health Care as a Determinant of Health
  • Access and Equity

[4] Health Research Methods

  • Theoretical Considerations

[5] Population Health and Social Epidemiology

  • Emergence of Social Epidemiology
  • Population Health Perspective

[6] Income, Inequality, Wealth and Health

  • Income and Health
  • Public Programs and Services
  • Poverty and Mitigation

[7] Childhood and the Transition to Adulthood

  • Early Childhood
  • Older Children and Teens

[8] Gender and Health

  • The Health of Women and Men
  • Gender Equity
  • Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender People
  • Body Image and Health

[9] Social Support, Social Capital, Social Exclusion, and Racism

  • Social Norms and Human Health
  • Social Networks
  • Social Isolation and Older Adults
  • Social Cohesion and Social Capital
  • Racism

[10] Health of Indigenous Peoples

  • Understanding the Determinants of Indigenous People

[11] Employment, Working Conditions, and Health

  • Health and Jobs
  • Working Conditions and Jobs

[12] Housing and Neighborhood

  • Neighborhood and Health
  • Urban Design, the Built Environment, and Physical Activity
  • Housing Policy and Health

[13] Food, Food Insecurity, Nutrition, Obesity, and Health

  • Diet and the Health of Populations
  • Obesity

[14] The Environment and Health

  • Climate Change
  • Natural Disasters
  • Air Pollution

[15] Social Patterning of Behavior

  • Human Behavior and its Context
  • Healthy Lifestyles

[16] The Politics of Population Health

  • Models of Health
  • Population Health and Politics

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

The course includes lecture, case studies, required/supplemental readings, internet research, and class discussions of readings and related current events.

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

By completing the course, students will be able to:

  1. Assess the significance of social variables on indicators of health status for specific groups and the community as a whole.
  2. Contrast the WHO Social Determinants of Health Framework with the Health Belief Model in their ability to predict community health outcomes.
  3. Propose a community level health policy to address a social determinant of health issue.

VIII. Assessment Measures:

Assessment measures are graded assignments, tests, and a final comprehensive health policy proposal paper.

 

Other Course Information:

This course is online/asynchronous.

 

Review and Approval

March 01, 2021

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