SOCY5522 · Sociology

Social Determinants of Health

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

This course will examine how and why the social world plays a fundamental role in human health and well-being. Throughout the semester, students will engage with sociological frameworks for understanding both micro and macro-level pathways through which structural conditions shape health outcomes, including behaviors, social relationships, and political, economic, and cultural factors. We will explore how these pathways contribute to inequalities in resources and opportunities in ways that affect community and population health, emphasizing how the sociological perspective contributes to topics of ongoing public policy discourse. Throughout the course, students will evaluate approaches used in this field as they develop proposals for extending research in this area.