This course will serve as an introduction to the major issues of public health and health care in the United States — what they are, what determines them, and how they can be addressed. The course will provide a broad overview for students looking for only an introduction to the field, as well as a good grounding for students who wish to pursue additional coursework in the subject.
The course will explore the principal determinants of health and disease, with a special emphasis on environmental, social, and political influences, with explicit attention to how these determinants differ depending on a person’s education, occupation, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the broad field of public health in both the U.S. and globally, as well as an understanding of the U.S. public health infrastructure for monitoring and improving the public’s health.