Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title SOC 2614: Sociology of Health, Illness, and Health Care

Catalog Description

Credits 3
Hours/Week 3
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) SOC 1614
Other requirements None
MnTC Goals (if any) NA

Course Description

This course uses the sociological perspective to examine the role of the social environment in health, illness, and health care systems. Historical and contemporary issues relating to medicine, health, and illness are studied along with the diverse ways in which social categories such as gender, race, ethnicity, and social class affect health, illness, and medical care. College level reading and writing skills are recommended.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

March, 2025

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. Perspectives on the Sociology of Health, Healing, and Illness
  2. History and Development of Medical Sociology
  3. The Development of Medicine
  4. The Influence of the Social Environment on Health and Illness
  5. Social Epidemiology
  6. Society, Disease, and Illness
  7. Social Stress
  8. Health and Illness Behavior
  9. Health Behavior
  10. Illness and Disability
  11. Health Care Practitioners and Their Relationship with Patients
  12. Physicians and the Medical Profession
  13. Medical Education
  14. Nurses, Mid-Level Practitioners, and Allied Health Workers
  15. Healing Options
  16. Physicians’ Ethics, Obligations, and Relationships with Patients
  17. The Health Care System
  18. Health Care in the United States
  19. Health Care delivery
  20. Health Care technology
  21. Comparative Health Care Systems

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Apply the sociological perspective and its founding theoretical perspectives to understand health, illness, and healing along with the U.S. health care system.
  2. Demonstrate how the social structure of the health care system affects human thought and action at both the micro and macro levels.
  3. Explain how hierarchy, power, and authority influence the operation of the health care system.
  4. Articulate how the meanings of health and illness are socially constructed.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

NA

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Global Awareness and Diversity
Students will demonstrate an understanding of and respect for human diversity through their words and actions.

Special Information (if any)

None