SOC 211 – COMMUNITY AND HEALTH

SOC 211 – COMMUNITY AND HEALTH

Section 301 – Online Course

(Available Spring and Summer Term 2, 2020)

The sociological study of health and medicine places individual and population health and well-being in
social context. This course is an introduction to the fields of community sociology and population
health. It focuses on: (1) the social distribution of disease; (2) fundamental causes of illness and
disease; (3) the social ecological model (SEM) and population health; (4) how structural characteristics
of communities and access to essential public services influence disparities in physical and mental
health outcomes; and (5) health care policies designed to improve the health and well-being of at-risk
groups and communities. Students will examine issues such as addiction, suicide prevention, food
insecurity, problems related to access to healthcare and other resources (e.g., public recreation) for
underprivileged communities, and community-based actions to address public health issues across
both rural and urban areas. The overall goal is for students to consider the theoretical and practical
application of sociological theories of community and the Social Ecological Model (SEM) to population
health research and intervention in the United States.

*Fulfills GEP Social Science and
U.S. Diversity requirements.

Instructor:
Dr. Karl Jicha
Contact Information:
100C Patterson Hall
919.513.4674 (Office)
kajicha@ncsu.edu