HHV 130 - The Sociobiology of Health and Illness

The median age of Americans is steadily rising.  Faced with the new realities of aging and associated increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, how do we as individuals, families and communities manage our health?  We need a vision of health care which allows effective and efficient management of chronic diseases in order to reduce the burden of illness and disability on society.   Many in the healthcare community are looking to primary care to serve the basic healthcare needs of the population.  In this course, students will learn about the biological and chemical bases of disease manifestation, diagnosis and treatment, psychosocial and cultural factors that impact health and wellness, and disparities in health status and access to healthcare amongst various populations in the US. However, emphasis will be given to the fundamental concepts in biology; this course has been specifically designed for students who are interested in future careers in healthcare and seek to refresh the knowledge they acquired in a high school biology course.  Students will integrate their knowledge of the natural, clinical, and social sciences to understand select chronic illnesses and consider primary care as an effective, equitable and sustainable chronic care management model.  The goal of the course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills they will need to be thoughtful advocates for quality healthcare for themselves, their families, and communities. 
 

Satisfies an interdisciplinary minor requirement in Health and Human Values.