Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
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HE 300 - Social and Cultural Issues in Health (SF)


Credits: 4

This course provides an introduction to the determinants of health with a focus on the role of social and cultural factors in determining the health and well-being of diverse populations in the United States today. Students will gain basic literacy and understanding of the influence such factors have on healthcare perceptions, lifestyle behaviors, and medical treatment. The role social and cultural determinants of health play on health inequities and disparities will also be reviewed.

This is a Sustainability-Focused (SF)  course.

Prerequisite/Corequisite
Junior or senior status in HWP or instructor permission

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to do the following:

  • Provide an overview of the major health issues and their determinants in the U.S. today.
  • Discuss the major social and economic issues related to health in the U.S. today, including poverty, food insecurity, violence, substance abuse.
  • Explain how historical factors, behaviors, and belief systems within a particular culture influence a person’s views of health, illness, treatments, and health care.
  • Describe and explain major concepts and principles governing various multicultural healing approaches and alternative healing systems.
  • Define and explain common terms related to various alternative healing systems, such as aromatherapy and homeopathy.
  • List and explain some of the emotional, spiritual, psychological, physical, geographical, and behavioral factors influencing health, the manifestation of illnesses, and the therapeutic techniques used in various cultural healing systems.
  • Explore and practice interviewing for understanding cultural and social influences on health. Students will identify and practice using a selected protocol.
  • Describe strategies for reducing and eliminating health disparities and inequities.
  • Apply concepts learned in this course to social/cultural issues in a practical context while gaining insights from practitioners in community-based organizations.
  • Enhance personal and social growth wile participating in a community-based learning project, including communication, collaboration, leadership skills; awareness, understanding, empathy towards other social/cultural groups; sense of social responsibility, deeper understanding of social issues, and skills for community involvement.
  • Explain how technology affects health.




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