UGA Bulletin

Course Description

How health is shaped by beliefs, behaviors, and conditions in the United States. What is health and what does it mean to be healthy for different groups in the United States? In our examination of U.S. healthcare, we will begin with a discussion of how culture shapes health. We will then examine how health emerges from the interactions between biology, society, and culture. Throughout the course, we will also pay special attention to considering health patterns and healthcare among ethnic and social groups in the United States.

Athena Title

Multicultural Health Care

Semester Course Offered

Offered every year. Offered every odd-numbered year.

Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to describe specific examples of how culture and society shape health in U.S. communities.
Students will be able to identify theoretical approaches used by medical anthropology and health-focused social science research.
Students will be able to persuasively discuss research exploring health patterns among groups in the U.S.
Students will be able to practice reading, writing, and speaking skills consistent with your academic and/or professional goals.

Topical Outline

Culture and health
The biocultural construction of illness and health
Theoretical approaches to medical anthropology and health-focused social science research
Social determinants of health
Medical systems
Stigma, belief, and healing
Technology and care
Culturally responsive healthcare in the U.S.
Case studies of health patterns among U.S. groups
Special topics in multicultural healthcare

Institutional Competencies

Communication

The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, or visual form.

Social Awareness & Responsibility

The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.

Syllabus

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