Department website: http://krieger.jhu.edu/publichealth/
Public health combines a prevention orientation with a population perspective in pursuit of better health for all members of society. Public health professionals deal with critical large-scale issues such as access to health care; chronic disease control; mapping, predicting, and containing outbreaks of infectious disease; as well as researching factors such as gender, poverty, and education that contribute to health outcomes. Public health has close ties with medicine through clinical and biomedical research and healthcare policy.
The Public Health Studies Program offers undergraduates a major that links them to the world of public health through core courses taken on the Homewood campus, as well as electives taken at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH).
Core coursework at Homewood includes Introduction to Public Health, Research Methods in Public Health, Fundamentals of Epidemiology, Environment and Your Health, Fundamentals of Health Policy and Management, Biostatistics, and a course in Social and Behavioral Health. Students also take coursework in Social Sciences, Biology and Calculus. Students will select additional public health coursework from a range of options that include global health, demography, health economics, medical sociology, history, and politics. The major is flexible and easily adapted to further coursework in the natural and social sciences. About two-thirds of Public Health Studies majors complete the premedical core curriculum.
Public Health Studies majors also complete the Public Health Applied Experience as part of their undergraduate degree requirements. This involves a supervised, hands-on experience working with public health professionals. The goal of the applied experience requirement is to ensure that students have practical public health exposure in a research or community setting. Find more information on the website.
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is the oldest and largest school of public health in the United States. Although its primary function is as a graduate school, seniors majoring in public health studies take a semester's worth of courses therein fulfilling their B.A. degree requirements. Undergraduates may take classes in any of the 10 departments at JHSPH. Many students also get involved in ongoing research projects at JHSPH.
Available coursework at JHSPH includes the following areas: health education, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health finance and management, health policy, human genetics, immunology and infectious diseases, international health, maternal and child health, mental health, nutrition, occupational medicine/health protection and practice, population studies, toxicology, and tropical medicine, among others.
An honors option is available to Public Health Studies seniors with a major GPA of at least 3.5. Public Health Honors students complete an independent research project under the supervision of a JHU faculty member and with the guidance of the Honors seminar instructor. Students register for AS.280.495 Honors In Public Health - Seminar in the fall and AS.280.499 Honors in Public Health in the spring. Interested students should discuss their plans with their PHS advisor no later than the spring of their junior year.
Many Public Health Studies students have pursued international public health internships and study abroad opportunities both during the academic year and over the summer. In addition to a wide array of general options available through the JHU Office of Study Abroad, the PHS program runs a public-health specific program during Intersession (3 weeks) in Uganda, which includes both academic and applied components and allows students to earn graded JHU credits which can be used toward the Public Health Studies major. The Uganda program compares health issues in urban and rural settings. For more information, go to the Study Abroad page.
The Public Health Studies office is located in the 3505 North Charles Building, adjacent to the Homewood campus. Public Health Studies advisors may be consulted about the various courses, careers, and graduate programs in public health on a walk-in basis or by appointment. Students can make an appointment via the PHSCal scheduling system. Information can also be obtained by emailing phstudies@jhu.edu or at the Public Health Studies website.
Bachelor of Arts/Masters Program
The Bachelor of Arts/Master of Health Sciences (BA/MHS) and Bachelor of Arts/Master of Sciences in Public Health (BA/MSPH) programs are a coordinated academic collaboration between the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It enables talented and committed Public Health Studies majors to complete a BA from KSAS and master's degree from the JHSPH in five to six years.
The Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology, Department of Mental Health and Department of International Health will consider JHU undergraduates majoring in Public Health Studies for admission to the BA/MHS program. The Department of Environmental Health Sciences also offers a BA/MSPH in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. The Department of Health Policy and Management offers a BA/MSPH in Health Policy. The Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health offers two BA/MSPH programs, one in Adolescent Health, and the second in Sexual and Reproductive Health.
Public Health Studies students apply for early admission during their junior year. Admitted students must complete the BA degree before formally enrolling in the graduate school, but up to 16 of the public health credits earned inter-divisionally toward the BA may also apply toward the MHS or MSPH degree. In addition, students in this program will receive co-advising from both schools to optimize their academic experience. Find more information on the website.
For current course information and registration go to https://sis.jhu.edu/classes/
Courses
AS.280.101. Introduction to Public Health. 4 Credits.
This course provides an overview of the field of public health. Topics include the major causes of morbidity and mortality; the socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental factors that affect health; the analytical methods used in the field; the role of government in protecting the public’s health; key features of the U.S. health care system; and current challenges in the field. The course also introduces students to the basic conceptual models and approaches that are central to public health practice. This course is restricted to rising Sophomores who are declared Public Health Studies majors, and incoming Freshman only.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
Writing Intensive
AS.280.120. Lectures on Public Health and Wellbeing in Baltimore. 1 Credit.
An introduction to Urban Health with Baltimore as a case study: wellbeing, nutrition, education, violence and city-wide geographic variation. Lectures by JH Faculty, local government/service providers and advocates.
Prerequisite(s): Students who have taken AS.280.320 are not eligible to take AS.280.120.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.140. Social Inequality and the Public's Health. 1 Credit.
In epidemiology, public health scientists use quantitative and analytic tools examine to the distribution of disease across the population and to identify the various factors that shape these patterns. This course will explore how epidemiologic tools can be used to interrogate the social and structural factors that create health disparities in society. Students will learn about key social determinants of health (including class, race, and gender), the various pathways by which social experiences “get under the skin” to impact physiologic disease states, and how epidemiologists investigate these processes through population-based research. Students will leave the course with an understanding of the ways public health professionals and community members alike can use this public health research to develop policies and programs that protect the health of vulnerable groups and reduce inequality.
Distribution Area: Quantitative and Mathematical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.161. Biodiversity and Public Health. 3 Credits.
This course explores the intersection of biodiversity and public health. A combination of readings, documentaries, case studies, classroom discussions and in-class projects will be used to deepen our understanding of the role that the natural world plays in our emotional, social, physical and mental well-being. This course was designed for public health students who are not intending to pursue a career in natural sciences or medicine. This course satisfies the Public Health Studies Biology requirement but does not satisfy Pre-Med requirements. All first-year students must have taken or be currently enrolled in AS.280.101 to register. Instructor Approval Required.
Prerequisite(s): AS.020.151
Distribution Area: Natural Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Science and Data (FA2),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
AS.280.225. Population, Health and Development. 3 Credits.
This course will cover the major world population changes in the past century as well as the contemporary situation and projections for this century. Topics include rapid population growth, the historical and continuing decline of death and birth rates, contraceptive methods as well as family planning and child survival programs, population aging, migration (including urbanization), population and the environment and a debate about whether the average person in the world in 2050 will be better or worse off than the average person today.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.240. Research Methods in Public Health. 4 Credits.
This course examines the research process, with an emphasis on formulating research questions, critically evaluating published research, and drawing objective conclusions from a body of scientific literature. Students conduct a systematic review of the scientific literature related to a public health issue. Labs focus on developing and documenting a sound review methodology and communicating the review findings effectively in writing.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101 AND (AS.280.345 OR AS.200.314 OR EN.553.230 OR EN.553.310 OR EN.553.311 OR EN.553.420 OR EN.553.421 OR EN.553.430 OR EN.560.348 OR EN.553.211) OR (EN.553.111 AND EN.553.112)
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Science and Data (FA2),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
Writing Intensive
AS.280.314. Truth, Evidence, and Influence: Case Studies in Public Health. 3 Credits.
This course examines the roles of science, media, politics and business in our society and explores how these spheres interact to influence our health. We will develop a conceptual framework that illustrates these relationships by analyzing historical and current case studies in public health, including HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, gun violence, and climate change. We will discuss the nature of “evidence” and how it is used by various entities and actors to advance their interests, sometimes obscuring the truth. Students will write reflections on course materials, participate in classroom discussion, and undertake independent and group projects.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101;AS.280.350
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Democracy (FA4.1),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.320. Seminar on Public Health and Well-being in Baltimore. 3 Credits.
This course presents a perspective on changing the health and wellbeing of residents of Baltimore and those who work in Baltimore. Seminar combines lectures from?AS.280.120?with additional readings and discussion to more deeply address urban health issues. The course will allow students to develop fellowship or project proposals and/or to fucus course reports on work they are doing or would like to do related to health and wellbeing. If you register for this course do NOT register for?AS.280.120.
Prerequisite(s): Students who have taken AS.280.120 are not eligible to take AS.280.320.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.330. Mind-Body Practices and Public Health. 3 Credits.
This course will focus on mind-body practices and their place in public health. We will learn about different mind-body practices and talk about if/how mind-body practices can help amerliorate the national burden of disease. We will also learn how to identify evidence based practices (EBPs) in public health and learn the core components of designing EBPs. We will then combine what we learned about mind-body practices and designing EBPs to create programs that lessen the burden of disease. The mind-body portion of this course is experiential and will include the practice of meditation, yoga, other mindfulness exercises. You will also be asked to reflect on these practices through journaling.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.331. Preparing to Engage with Public Health in Costa Rica. 1 Credit.
The goal of this course is to prepare students to undertake the intersession study trip Global Health: Perspectives from Costa Rica. The course will introduce the socio-historical context of Costa Rica and provide an opportunity for group discussion before traveling together. We will apply a “global/local” framework to illustrate current health-related issues in the United States, to make comparisons when in Costa Rica. We will discuss the importance of cultural humility and positionality. Students will write reflections on course materials and participate in classroom discussion. Seats in this course will be limited to those who are accepted to the Costa Rica Intersession course, as determined by the Public Health Studies Program.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.335. The Environment and Your Health. 3 Credits.
This course surveys the basic concepts underlying environmental health sciences (toxicology, exposure assessment, risk assessment), current public health issues (air, water- and food-borne diseases) and global health threats (climate change, designing healthy communities, and environmental justice).
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101 OR AS.270.103
Distribution Area: Natural Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
AS.280.336. HIV/AIDS Policy, Politics and Ordinary Lives in Southern Africa. 3 Credits.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Culture and Aesthetics (FA3),
Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Creative Expression (FA3),
Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.337. Community Partnership: Theory and Engagement. 3 Credits.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Culture and Aesthetics (FA3),
Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Creative Expression (FA3),
Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.340. Fundamentals of Health Policy & Management. 3 Credits.
Through lectures and small group discussions, students will develop a framework for analyzing health care policy problems and gain familiarity with current issues including managed care, Medicare and the uninsured.Public Health Studies majors have 1st priority for enrollment. Your enrollment may be withdrawn at the discretion of the PHS program if you are not a PHS major.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.345. Public Health Biostatistics. 4 Credits.
Using problem-based learning focusing on public health topics, students learn to describe & summarize data, make inferences regarding population parameters, & test hypotheses. Recommended Course Background: Four years of high school math.
Distribution Area: Quantitative and Mathematical Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2)
AS.280.346. Introduction to R Programming for Public Health. 1 Credit.
Formerly known as Advanced Biostatistics Laboratory, a complementary course to 280.345, Public Health Biostatistics, this course teaches R programming skills necessary for conducting independent data analyses, beyond those presented in the main course. No programming experience is necessary, but a willingness to learn independently and work with other students is indispensable.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.345 OR EN.553.211
Distribution Area: Quantitative and Mathematical Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2)
AS.280.347. Health Data Analysis Practicum. 3 Credits.
Students will learn to formulate precise scientific and policy questions, design exploratory and confirmatory statistical analyses to address the questions, conduct appropriate analyses using the statistical package R, and communicate their findings through graphical and tabular displays that are presented in writing and in person. The course will be run seminar style in which students conduct data analysis to present to one another in one meeting per week. Evaluation will be through class participation and a final project in which students will analyze their own data set to address a question of their choice. Students need to have taken an introductory statistics course at the level of AS.280.345 (Public Health Biostatistics) and must have some experience using the statistical software R to perform basic analyses.
Distribution Area: Quantitative and Mathematical Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
AS.280.350. Fundamentals of Epidemiology. 4 Credits.
A practical introduction to epidemiology focusing on the principles and methods of examining the distribution and determinants of disease morbidity and mortality in human populations.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101
Distribution Area: Quantitative and Mathematical Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2)
AS.280.355. Introduction to Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health. 3 Credits.
Introduces students to a social ecological perspective of population health; Explains key theories and models of health behavior; Describes social and behavioral factors affecting health outcomes; Illustrates the role of factors such as racism, income inequality, social norms, culture, communication and psychological constructs in health outcomes; Demonstrates applications of these theories and models in health behavior research and intervention.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.365. Public Policy, Politics and Public Health. 3 Credits.
This course is composed of lectures on issues that impact the arena of public health and public policy, viewed through a health equity lens. With real-life examples of public health and public policy issues and practices in Baltimore and around the country, this course will provide real-life experiences in the fields of public health and public policy. Throughout the course a major effort will also be made to expose students to the wide array of opportunities that are available to those pursuing a career in public health.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.366. Politics and Public Health. 3 Credits.
This course will examine the role of politics in Public Health. It will cover the legislative process at the local, state and federal level, as well as the role of the executive branch/administrative agencies in implementing new policies. The course will also discuss ways that those involved in the public health arena can influence legislation, policy and budgets as part of the political process.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.379. Designing the Future: Health and Aging. 3 Credits.
Designing the Future: Health and Aging is a course developed for students with a multidisciplinary and/or public health background and interest who are eager to learn new approaches that can be applied in a variety of settings. Students will be introduced to an overview of the public health impact of an aging society as well as design frameworks and methods (i.e. human centered design, co-design, social design) that can be applied to deal with complex problems impacting health and aging. They will apply parts of design frameworks to public health issues and explore purpose-driven innovations that integrate considerations of community-based and service learning and user experiences. Between group projects that include community partners and individual work, students will be involved in diverse activities including engaging in basic research (primary and secondary data collection and review), reframing problems, ideation or collective brainstorming and developing and testing concept prototypes. Grades are based on class participation, completion of group project, group presentation and papers.
Prerequisite(s): Students who are enrolled in or have taken AS.280.389 cannot take AS.280.379.;AS.280.101 must be completed prior to registering for AS.280.379.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.380. Global Health Principles and Practices. 3 Credits.
Global health addresses the staggering global disparities in health status, drawing on epidemiology, demography, anthropology, economics, international relations and other disciplines. We review patterns of mortality, morbidity and disability in low and middle income countries, starting with malnutrition, infectious diseases and reproductive health, and continuing to an emerging agenda including mental health, injury prevention, surgical care, chronic diseases, and health impacts of climate change. Gender, health systems and health workforce challenges, and career trajectories in global health are also discussed. Recommended course background: Minimum of one prior course in Public Health.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.389. Medicine for the Greater Good: Community Engagement's Role in Health Systems. 3 Credits.
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the importance and value of partnerships between medical/health institutions and community organizations to improve community and neighborhood health outcomes. This course will discuss how community engagement can assist in population health concerns and challenges faced in clinical settings through the promotion of community health. Discussed through the viewpoints of a health system and clinician, the how and why of community engagement will be explored, centering on how to create a medical-community relationship, executing engagements and projects, and measuring vital outcomes to reaffirm these partnerships’ significance. This course will combine lectures, class discussions, and services learning. Students, in teams, will complete 40 hours of service learning outside of class time for a community-based organization. This course qualifies as a PHS Upper Level Elective. Students cannot register for this course and AS.280.379.
Prerequisite(s): Students who took or are taking AS.280.379 are not permitted to take AS.280.389.;AS.280.101 must be completed prior to registering for AS.280.389.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.390. Power, Positionality, and Social Change: Theories and Methods of Community Partnerships. 3 Credits.
In this course, students will learn how to build effective public health partnerships with communities. We will discuss history, contexts, and structures of power that influence communities’ social determinants of health. We will also explore sociological, educational, and organizational theories and methods that center community voices and build partnerships that improve community health. This course is valuable to students who want to prepare themselves for working with communities using anti-oppressive practices. By the course’s conclusion, students should understand how to account for and address the systems, history, and positions of power that affect the success of community projects related to social determinants of health.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.399. Service-Learning in Baltimore for Community Health, Justice and Well-Being. 3 Credits.
This course introduces students to a social structural, justice orientation to public health, with an emphasis on service learning in Baltimore City. Through lectures, class discussions, reflection practices and experiential learning, students will gain an understanding of education, healthcare, housing and other sectors as social determinants of health. The course draws on a social ecological framework and highlights the role of relationships and policies in impacting community resources foundational to health and well-being. Students will choose a community-based organization according to their interests and schedule and, working in teams, complete 45 hours of service-based learning. Grades are based on class participation, completion of a service learning project, group presentation, and papers. Open to Junior Public Health Studies majors and, space permitting, to others upon permission of instructor. This course qualifies as a PHS upper elective; however, it does not satisfy the PHS Applied Experience requirement.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.472. Sex and Syndemics. 3 Credits.
This course delves into the interplay between intimacy, sexual health, stigma, syndemics, STIs, and vulnerable populations, with a special emphasis on LGBTQ communities in the United States. Syndemics, the co-occurrence of multiple health problems, interact synergistically within specific social contexts, magnifying their impact. Through a comprehensive exploration of epidemiological principles, research methods, and case studies, students will gain a deep understanding of the challenges faced by communities in optimizing their sexual health. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.350
Distribution Area: Quantitative and Mathematical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2),
Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.473. Access to Essential and Emerging Health Technologies in Low and Middle-Income Countries. 3 Credits.
This course introduces students to different actors in the access to medicine ecosystem and mechanisms by which health technologies like medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics can be made more available to individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Students will learn how health technologies are developed and examine case studies for expanding access to pharmaceutical products including through pricing techniques, licensing, and expanding local manufacturing capacity. Using this knowledge, they will develop the tools to make stakeholder-specific recommendations aimed at making health technologies more accessible in LMICs, culminating in a final policy memo and presentation The intention of this course is not to make experts of students in the topics covered in each session—all of which could comprise their own course or series of courses—but rather to increase competency across a range of topics and actors to help students envision where they may fit in the access to medicine space. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.340
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.474. A Consultation: Assessing the Value of Public Health Intervention. 3 Credits.
Health systems are built on healthcare services and public health interventions designed, funded, and implemented by a myriad of actors, from governments to multilateral organizations and NGOs. These stakeholders of the system regularly assess whether a new program or intervention, fueled by technological or knowledge advances, is a worthwhile investment. They must weigh the benefits, costs, and relevance of a new program against other health programs, but also against other societal investments such as education and infrastructure. Funding, people, and time are limited: health programs must be evaluated, compared, and prioritized. This course will ask students to act as consultants hired by a government or a private organization, to comprehensively evaluate a public health intervention. They will be provided with all the tools and knowledge needed to evaluate the costs, the effectiveness, and the social impact expected for this intervention. They will then reflect on how their assessment fits within contemporary debates on public health funding and governance, including concerns about ethics and the decolonization of global health. Students may showcase the final product of this course as part of their portfolio for their future endeavors, including applying for consulting jobs. Course background in Microeconomics is highly recommended. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.475. LGBTQ+ Health. 3 Credits.
This course examines the health disparities and determinants of health that impact the health of LGBTQ+ populations. Students will gain familiarity with key epidemiological reports, behavioral and social science theories/frameworks, intervention studies, and scientific debates concerning the factors influencing the health disparities experienced by LGBTQ+ populations.The readings and discussions will be approached from the perspective of social, policy, and cultural contexts, providing insights into the unique challenges and experiences faced byLGBTQ+ communities globally. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.240
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.476. Seminar in Malariology: Past, Present and Future Solution. 3 Credits.
This 3-credit course provides an overview of one of the leading infectious causes of death worldwide. While nominally a class in malariology, this course aims enhance each student’s comfort interpreting and presenting scientific literature, essential for a career in any academic discipline. Following a month-long overview of malaria, we will focus on reading and presenting scientific literature in the field of malariology. Special attention will be paid to work on malaria vaccines. Students will be guided through proper reading and presentation of scientific literature throughout this course. At the end of the term, students will complete a final paper and presentation proposing a novel solution to one of the challenges to malaria treatment and elimination discussed in this course. No previous knowledge of malaria is required or expected. Coursework in Cell Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, and Genetics are all helpful but not prerequisites for this course. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Distribution Area: Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.477. Disability Justice and Public Health. 3 Credits.
This course is designed to introduce undergraduate students to disability justice and its applications to public health. Students will learn the history and principles of disability justice, critique models and definitions of disability, and evaluate the inclusion and exclusion of disabled people in public health research, programs, and policies. Students will also develop a deeper awareness of disability justice and its importance to understanding issues of health disparities and inequities affecting disabled people across the life course. This course will require students to critically reflect on their own beliefs, values, and attitudes as they tackle topics of eugenics, oppression, and stigmatization of multiply marginalized disabled people with a life course perspective. This course will center the artistic, academic, and advocacy work of queer and trans disabled people of color. Students will participate in class discussions, write brief posts about assigned content, submit reflections, and complete a final project. Prior knowledge of disability studies is not required. Email the instructor directly if you are interested in registering but do not meet the prerequisite. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.478. Communicating Climate Change: Creative Approaches for Action. 3 Credits.
Effective communication is imperative in reaching time-sensitive goals in reducing the effects of climate change. Using the framework of persuasive communication and behavior change theory, the course will provide a practice-based opportunity for students to apply their knowledge to develop their own climate communication campaigns. Students will gain familiarity with issues in historical approaches of climate approaches, understand audiences navigating climate misinformation, and social and behavioral theories of change, with an emphasis on arts-based approaches to climate communication. Through lectures, seminars, screenings, and workshops, the course will culminate with an applied assignment of students’ original creative climate communication pieces. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course and instructor approval is required. All students interested are encouraged to request approval; those with a public health background will be strongly considered for approval.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Culture and Aesthetics (FA3),
Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Creative Expression (FA3),
Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.479. Power and Politics in Global Health. 3 Credits.
This course delves into the dynamics of power and politics within the health sector, with a specific focus on global health dynamics. We will explore how power influences health inequities, healthcare delivery, research relationships between partners in the ‘Global South’ and ‘Global North’, and decision-making. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, class discussions, and interactive activities, students will analyze how various stakeholders, power dynamics, and political systems play a role in shaping health outcomes. We will delve into domestic and global examples, ranging from the role of power in the opioid crisis in Baltimore to the role of funding agencies in global settings. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to discuss the role of power and politics in global health systems, and they will be equipped with the skills to use verbal and written skills to advocate for effective health policies and interventions. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.340
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.480. One Health, Antimicrobial Resistance and Disease X: Social, Clinical and Public Health Perspectives. 3 Credits.
This course aims to equip learners with an understanding of the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health by introducing them to the concepts and principles underlying the practice of One Health as an approach to address complex public health problems. Using issues such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and emerging infectious diseases (referred to as Disease X), learners will explore the social, clinical and public health challenges of studying novel, emerging threats. The course will equip learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle these threats by providing a global-to-local lens through a dynamic mix of lectures, group activities, case studies, expert guest sessions/panel discussions, and gamified learning experiences which foster critical thinking and problem-solving. Throughout the course, learners will experience the thrills and difficulties associated with designing and implementing integrated, equitable, and effective health interventions, by sampling real-world experiences from global health exemplars. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.240 AND AS.280.335
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2),
Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.481. Designing Social and Behavioral Interventions for People with High Vulnerability in Low and Middle Income Countries. 3 Credits.
In global health, human vulnerability is often defined by population-level disease burdens. One’s vulnerability, however, is highly context-dependent and constantly shaped by diverse social mechanisms. Understanding social, cultural, economic, and environmental variations within a country can guide program and resource planning tailored to the most underserved individuals and communities. Students will apply critical thinking to social and behavioral theories and cases in global health. Through workshops, students will employ human-centered design methods to design an intervention suited to the needs of the population of focus. The course will also cover implementation research perspectives, stakeholder and community engagement, and ethical issues in global health research. Students will have the opportunity to propose a social and behavior change intervention with an implementation plan. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.355 OR AS.230.341
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.482. Historical Perspectives on Vaccines and Public Health. 3 Credits.
This course offers an exploration of the history and evolution of vaccines, examining their development through the lenses of biomedical concepts, historical events, and socio-cultural contexts. Topic will include the origins and impacts of variolation, vaccination, and immunization, while also investigating the influence of colonialism and geopolitical forces on the history of vaccines and public health. Although a background in biology is encouraged, biomedicine will not be the main focus of the class but instead will focus on social-behavioral sciences. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows. Although a background in biology is encouraged, biomedicine will not be the main focus of the class but instead will focus on social-behavioral sciences.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2),
Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.483. Colonialism and Public Health: Histories, Ideas, and Critiques. 3 Credits.
This course interrogates how colonial legacies continue to shape public health theory, practice, research, and global health governance. Through lectures, discussions, and activities, students will explore the role of power, knowledge hierarchies, reparations, and institutional accountability. The course invites students to critically analyze public health through different lens and reflect on how to advance equity and justice in their future public health actions. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.101;AS.280.340
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.280.484. Arts in Public Health Research. 3 Credits.
This course introduces students to the emerging field of arts in health research, examining the intersection of creative arts and expression with public health research. This course will discuss various arts-based methods employed by researchers to engage participants throughout the research process. The types of settings and public health topics where these approaches are applied will be examined, focusing on how they can deepen our understanding of health experiences. This course will discuss relevant concepts and theories in arts-based research, with attention to power, positionality, and reflexivity. Students will be encouraged to use their subjective lens to explore public health topics. Through participatory discussions and hands-on activities, students will build upon their knowledge of public health issues, utilize their creativity, and develop their arts-based research skills. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.240
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Culture and Aesthetics (FA3),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Creative Expression (FA3)
AS.280.485. Food as Medicine. 3 Credits.
Food as Medicine explores how diet influences disease progression and health outcomes through the lens of the gut microbiome. Coursework will emphasize the immunological and physiological mechanisms underlying diet-mediated effects on human health including how factors like affordability, access to foods adhering to public health standards of high-quality nutrition, education, and continuous access to medical care and nutrition support programs can modulate the benefits of health-promoting diets on a population scale. This course emphasizes active, collaborative learning through primary literature, presentations and real-world problem-solving. This is a Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.240
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Culture and Aesthetics (FA3),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Creative Expression (FA3)
AS.280.495. Honors In Public Health - Seminar. 3 Credits.
Using lectures, oral presentations, and writing assignments, this seminar is designed to assist Public Health Studies majors in writing a senior thesis. Students will formulate their topics, develop research skills, and address issues of professional ethics. Participating in this seminar is required for students pursuing honors in Public Health Studies. Permission Required. Classes will be held at Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Science and Data (FA2),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
Writing Intensive
AS.280.499. Honors in Public Health. 3 Credits.
A research methods seminar to prepare students doing honors in Public Health Studies. Permission Required.
Prerequisite(s): AS.280.495
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Science and Data (FA2),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
Writing Intensive
AS.280.500. Applied Experience-Public Health. 1 - 2 Credits.
Perm. Req'd, Public Health Majors Only. This is a supervised, hands-on experience working with public health professionals. Students will complete 80 hours of applied work and will submit a synthesizing assignment at the end of the term. Students completing their AE in the current semester will be enrolled in Section 2. Students whose time will roll over to an additional grading period will be enrolled in Section 1. Please contact your PHS Advisor for complete details.
Prerequisite(s): You must request Customized Academic Learning using the Customized Academic Learning form found in Student Self-Service: Registration > Online Forms.
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
AS.280.502. Internship-Public Health. 1 Credit.
Permission Required. S/U only.
Prerequisite(s): You must request Customized Academic Learning using the Customized Academic Learning form found in Student Self-Service: Registration > Online Forms.
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
AS.280.506. Research in Public Health. 1 - 3 Credits.
Permission Required.
Prerequisite(s): You must request Customized Academic Learning using the Customized Academic Learning form found in Student Self-Service: Registration > Online Forms.
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
AS.280.507. Independent Study-Public Health. 1 Credit.
Public Health majors only. Permission Required.
Prerequisite(s): You must request Independent Academic Work using the Independent Academic Work form found in Student Self-Service: Registration > Online Forms.
AS.280.595. Special Studies in Public Health. 1 - 3 Credits.
Prerequisite(s): You must request Customized Academic Learning using the Customized Academic Learning form found in Student Self-Service: Registration > Online Forms.
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
Cross Listed Courses
Agora Institute
AS.196.302. Science and Democracy. 3 Credits.
What role does scientific expertise play (or not play) in American democracy? What role should scientific expertise play (or not play) in American democracy? These are the key questions we’ll address in this class, focusing on a wide range of examples such as government responses to public health crises, environmental crises, and war. We’ll tackle these questions from multiple angles, drawing on ideas from across the social sciences, including political science, psychology, sociology, economics, history, and communication. We’ll focus largely on the United States, though in some cases compare the US experience with other democracies to understand how unique aspects of our democratic institutions influence the link between science and democracy.
Distribution Area: Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2),
Citizens and Society (FA4),
Democracy (FA4.1),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
Behavioral Biology
AS.290.420. Human Sexual Orientation. 3 Credits.
This course will examine the historical and current theories of sexual orientation and sexual variation development by examining the biological, psychological and social contributing factors that influence the development of sexual orientations and variations along with treatment and modification of problematic sexual behaviors. Priority given to Behavioral Biology majors.
Prerequisite(s): Students may receive credit for AS.200.204 or AS.290.330 or AS.290.420, but only ONE can count towards the upper level SOCSCI in Behavioral Biology
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Democracy (FA4.1),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
Earth & Planetary Sciences
AS.271.107. Introduction to Sustainability. 3 Credits.
Humans are having such a massive impact on Earth systems that some call this the Anthropocene epoch. Should we consider this state of affairs progress or catastrophe? How to we find a sustainable path to the future? This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the principles and practice of sustainability, exploring such issues as population, pollution, energy and natural resources, biodiversity, food, justice, and climate change through the lens of systems thinking. Course open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Science and Data (FA2),
Citizens and Society (FA4)
Writing Intensive
AS.271.360. Climate Change: Science & Policy. 3 Credits.
This course will investigate the policy and scientific debate over global warming. It will review the current state of scientific knowledge about climate change, examine the potential impacts and implications of climate change, explore our options for responding to climate change, and discuss the present political debate over global warming.
Prerequisite(s): AS.270.103 or permission of instructor
Distribution Area: Natural Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2),
Citizens and Society (FA4),
Democracy (FA4.1)
Economics
AS.180.289. Economics Of Health. 3 Credits.
Application of economic concepts and analysis to the health services system. Review of empirical studies of demand for health services, behavior of providers, and relationship of health services to population health levels. Discussion of current policy issues relating to financing and resource allocation.
Prerequisite(s): AS.180.102
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2),
Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
Environmental Health and Engineering
EN.570.108. Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Design. 3 Credits.
This course provides a broad overview of environmental engineering - what environmental engineering is and what environmental engineers do. Whenever possible, the topic areas listed herein will be presented in the context of real-world environmental problems. Specific topics include: Environmental engineering ethics and justice, professional engineering licensure, membership in professional societies and associations, environmental engineering design process and components, mass and energy balances, environmental chemistry, mathematics of growth and decay; risk assessment and management; water resources (quantity and quality), surface water pollutants, eutrophication; groundwater flow, contaminant transport, groundwater remediation; water quality control, municipal water and wastewater systems, drinking water standards; air pollution, national ambient air quality standards, toxic air pollutants, mobile and stationary source control technologies, indoor air quality; global atmospheric change, the greenhouse effect, global energy balance, carbon emissions, stratospheric ozone depletion, and issues pertaining to hazardous, solid, and medical waste management. Overviews of pertinent environmental laws and regulations will be presented where applicable. The course encompasses conceptual design projects for environmental systems and infrastructures. The ePortfolio tag(s) on this course signify that there are one or more assignments offered in the course that provide students with the opportunity to be assessed for proficiency in completion of the relevant ePortfolio requirement(s).
Distribution Area: Engineering
AS Foundational Abilities: Science and Data (FA2)
EN Foundational Abilities: Ethical Reflection ePortfolio (FA5eP)
History of Science, Medicine, and Technology
AS.140.105. History of Medicine. 3 Credits.
Course provides an introduction to health and healing in the ancient world, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. Topics include religion and medicine; medicine in the Islamicate world; women and healing; patients and practitioners.
Distribution Area: Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Culture and Aesthetics (FA3),
Citizens and Society (FA4)
EN Foundational Abilities: Creative Expression (FA3),
Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.140.106. History of Modern Medicine. 3 Credits.
The history of medicine and public health from the Enlightenment to the present, with emphasis on ideas, science, practices, practitioners, and institutions, and the relationship of these to the broad social context.
Distribution Area: Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
Writing Intensive
AS.140.308. Race, Racism and Medicine. 3 Credits.
How can we think about the interconnections between racism, theories of race and the practice of medicine? Living at a moment when racial disparities in health outcomes in the United States are still very stark, this course will provide a historically grounded approach to thinking about the roles that race and racism have played in healthcare, the production of health disparities as well as the role of medicine in the development of racist thought. While much of this course will focus geographically within the United States, this class will also explore global histories of medicine, encountering questions of race and medicine in Africa, the South Pacific and Asia. In addition to the analysis of primary source documents and historical texts, students will also be introduced to theoretical approaches to the study of race and racism from W.E.B. Dubois, Sylvia Wynter, Frantz Fanon and others.
Distribution Area: Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Science and Data (FA2),
Citizens and Society (FA4),
Democracy (FA4.1)
Writing Intensive
Medicine, Science and the Humanities
AS.145.330. Health Care Activism in Baltimore and Beyond. 3 Credits.
National struggles over the right to health care, and over the health needs of marginalized groups, have taken distinctive forms in Baltimore City during the past century. The renowned Johns Hopkins University came to symbolize, for many residents, the power of medicine both to heal and to harm – and the need for community action. This course delves into the archives of local institutions to understand the work of activists and advocates who connected health, medicine, and social justice. We focus on specific sites, from the segregated wards of Johns Hopkins to the People’s Free Medical Clinic on Greenmount Avenue, where demands for equity changed the city's health care landscape. Through interdisciplinary readings and conversations with local organizers, we consider how historical memory can serve as a creative resource for the art and politics of the present.
Distribution Area: Humanities
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Citizens and Society (FA4),
Democracy (FA4.1),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
Writing Intensive
Philosophy
AS.150.219. Introduction to Bioethics. 3 Credits.
Introduction to a wide range of moral issues arising in the biomedical fields, e.g. physician-assisted suicide, human cloning, abortion, surrogacy, and human subjects research. Cross listed with Public Health Studies.
Distribution Area: Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
Writing Intensive
Political Science
AS.190.405. Food Politics. 3 Credits.
This course examines the politics of food at the local, national, and global level. Topics include the politics of agricultural subsidies, struggles over genetically modified foods, government efforts at improving food safety, and issues surrounding obesity and nutrition policy. Juniors, seniors, and graduate students only.
Prerequisite(s): A student who takes AS.190.223 (Understanding the Food System) cannot also enroll in this course.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Citizens and Society (FA4),
Projects and Methods (FA6)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
Writing Intensive
Sociology
AS.230.150. Issues in International Development. 3 Credits.
Is it possible to solve global poverty? For several decades the international development community has been trying to do so, with mixed results. In recent years many donor countries have dramatically reduced development aid, and there is need for new thinking on how to move forward. In this course we study what has been tried and what is being proposed now. Students leave the course with an understanding of economic development in Latin America, Africa, and Asia over the last century, as well as approaches to the study of development in different social science disciplines and an introduction to making a career in international development.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.230.335. Medical Humanitarianism. 3 Credits.
Humanitarian organizations play life-preserving roles in global conflicts, and have front-row views of disasters ranging from the 2010 Haiti earthquake to the 2011 Fukushima tsunami in Japan. Yet even while they provide vital assistance to millions of people in crisis, such organizations are beset by important paradoxes that hinder their capacity to create sustainable interventions. They work to fill long-lasting needs, but are prone to moving quickly from one site to the next in search of the latest emergency. They strive to be apolitical, yet are invariably influenced by the geopolitical agendas of global powers. How do such contradictions arise, and what is their impact upon millions of aid recipients around the world? Drawing on case studies from South Sudan to Haiti, this course addresses these contradictions by exploring how and why medical aid organizations attempt, and sometimes fail, to reconcile short-term goals, such as immediate life-saving, with long-term missions, such as public health programs and conflict resolution initiatives.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Democracy (FA4.1),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.230.341. Sociology of Health and Illness. 3 Credits.
Students will learn core concepts that define the sociological approach to health, illness and health care. Classes will involve a combination of lectures and examples, as well as weekly discussion sections.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
AS.230.370. Housing and Homelessness in the United States. 3 Credits.
This course will examine the role of housing, or the absence thereof, in shaping quality of life. It will explore the consequences of the places in which we live and how we are housed. Consideration will be given to overcrowding, affordability, accessibility, and past and existing housing policies and their influence on society. Special attention will be given to the problem of homelessness.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Citizens and Society (FA4),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
Writing Intensive
AS.230.393. Global Health and Human Rights. 3 Credits.
Is access to healthcare a fundamental human right? If so, then which global actors are obligated to provide healthcare to whom, and for how long? How do meanings of health and illness vary across time and place? And finally, how are human rights principles translated into frontline practice in order to promote well-being? This course takes a critical interdisciplinary approach to these questions through a series of global case studies ranging from humanitarian aid in post-tsunami Sri Lanka to anti-FGM (female genital mutilation) campaigns in Ghana. How do international NGOs, UN bodies, and governments collaborate (or compete) to distribute healthcare in places beset by dire resource shortages? Do human rights principles carry legal weight across borders, and if so, could access to healthcare services and essential medicines be litigated in order to compel governments to provide it? And finally, what cultural assumptions do human rights discourses carry with them, and what happens if rights-based approaches are poorly received by recipient populations? Moving beyond the basic principle of healthcare as a human right, this course aims to bring this idea’s history and politics into focus by offering an in-depth exploration of its ethics and implementation.
Distribution Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences
AS Foundational Abilities: Writing and Communication (FA1),
Citizens and Society (FA4),
Democracy (FA4.1),
Ethics and Foundations (FA5)
EN Foundational Abilities: Engagement with Society (FA4)
Writing Intensive