Sociology 209: Sociology of Health and Illness

This course provides an introduction to the sociology of health and illness, also known as medical sociology. It examines the distribution and experience of health and illness, and explores how the health care system, health experiences, and health inequalities are shaped by social, cultural, political, and economic factors. The course will introduce sociological perspectives on health and disease, and focus on understanding illness trends and experiences in social and historical context. Topics covered include: the illness experience; doctor-patient relationships; hierarchies within the health care sector; the social construction of medicine; the impact of food, occupations, and the environment on health; disparities in health outcomes and health care access; ethics in medicine; health social movements; and health care policy.