SOC 310 - Health, Society, and Environment

A growing amount of research connects illness to environmental contaminants which raises various questions that drive our inquiry of the links between neighborhood, community, health, and society. What is the relationship between pollution and human health? How does our cultural approach to natural resources affect our health? What social factors affect access to healthy or unhealthy environments and how does this relate to individual wellness? This course examines the relationship between the built and natural environment, human health, and social forces with a sociological perspective. We will focus on various institutions and stakeholders that influence our exposure to and understanding of environmental health risks. Using literature from environmental and medical sociology we will explore issues such as asthma, lead poisoning, multiple chemical sensitivity, and cancer. We will also investigate health hazards, concerns, and infectious diseases induced by climate change. Course Codes: BR. Prereq: Social Science PEQ.

Prerequisites & Notes
Course Codes: BR. Prereq: Social Science PEQ. Normal cycle offering: Fall. Yearly cycle: all years.

Credits: 3