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Health, Medicine, and Society

Program Director. Elizabeth A. Dolan, Associate Professor of English and Director for Health, Medicine, and Society

610-758-3317; bdolan@lehigh.edu

An interdisciplinary Health, Medicine, and Society minor is offered in the College of Arts and Sciences. An interdepartmental committee composed of faculty from several departments across the college developed and participate in the program. Students interested in declaring a minor in Health, Medicine, and Society should contact Professor Elizabeth Dolan.

The challenge of meeting the increasingly complex health needs of growing and aging populations is moving to the forefront of national and international concerns in the 21^st century. The Health, Medicine, and Society field focuses on the social scientific and humanistic dimensions of health and medical care to develop an understanding of the impact of health, illness, and medical care on individuals, families, and societies. This minor is intended to serve students who wish to be involved in some aspect of the health care industry or health policy and also students who are interested in communications, the pharmaceutical industry, law, business, agency work, and other careers where understanding health care is essential.

Minor in Health, Medicine, and Society

Required Core Courses: (Take one of the following three courses as your core course. If you take more than one of these three courses, it will count as an elective).

Course Requirements (at least three additional courses from the list below or other courses designated HMS)

Undergraduate Courses in Health, Medicine, and Society

HMS 115 (ENGL 115). Topics in Literature, Medicine, and Health (4)

Largely focused on narratives about health, illness and disability, this course will examine individual experiences with attention to social context. Topics may include the physician/patient relationship, illness and deviance, plague literature, gender and medicine, autism, AIDS, mental illness, aging. (HU)

HMS 116 (PHIL/REL) Bioethics (4)

Moral issues that arise in the context of health care and related biomedical fields in the United States today, examined in the light of the nature and foundation of moral rights and obligations. Topics include: confidentiality, informed consent, euthanasia, medical research and experimentation, genetics, the distribution of health care, etc. (HU)

HMS 117 (JOUR/ES 117). Environmental Health Risks and the Media (4)

This course explores the risks and effects of environmental contamination on human health and behavior as well as the role of the mass media in alerting citizens to potential environmental health risks. Environmental topics vary but usually include air and water pollution, endocrine disrupters and radioactive waste. (SS)

HMS 118 (STS/HIST 118). History of Modern Medicine (4)

Introduction to Western medical history from the 18th century to the present day. Students will explore patient/practitioner relationships, examine changing ideas concerning health, sickness, and disease, chart changes in hospital care and medical education, and tackle topics such as eugenics, medical experimentation, and health insurance. (HU)

HMS 152 (SSP 152). Alcohol, Science, and Society (4)

Alcohol use and abuse, its historical function in society, moral entrepreneurship, status struggles and conflict over alcohol. Current problems with attention to special population groups and strategies for prevention of alcohol abuse. (SS)

HMS 160 (SSP 160). Medicine and Society (4)

Health, illness, and the health professions from the sociological perspective. Social epidemiology, social psychology of illness, socialization of health professionals, organization of health care, patient-professional relationships and ethical issues in medical care. (SS)

HMS 162 (SSP 162). AIDS and Society (4)

Impact of the AIDS epidemic on individuals and on social institutions (medicine, religion, education, politics, etc.); social and health policy responses; international experience; effect on public attitudes and policy on people affected directly by AIDS. (SS)

HMS 170. Medical Humanities (4)

The focus on individual voices and particular historical moments in the humanities disciplines has much to add to our understanding of health and illness. This course will take up ethical, historical, and literary approaches to health. The course can count as the core course for the minor (instead of HMS/SSP160), or it can be taken as one of the three electives. (HU)

HMS 180. Introduction to Public Health (4)

This course provides historical perspective on the contributions and roles of public health; introduces health status indicators of morbidity and mortality, concepts of rate, causation, and public health surveillance and vital statistics; and addresses determinants of health from an environmental, social, behavioral perspective. Aspects of health care delivery will be addressed from a population perspective and organizational structure. Course can count as the core course for the minor (instead of HMS/SSP160), or taken as an elective. (SS)

HMS 226 (REL 226). From Black Death to AIDS: Plague, Pandemic, Ethics and Religion (4)

An investigation of the role of religion and ethical analysis in constructing meaning around the idea of plague and pandemic. The role of religion in the European bubonic plague epidemic, the influenza pandemic of 1918, and the AIDS crisis will be examined, with attention give to ethical analysis of the institutional response to pandemic disease as distortions have occurred for political, social, and religious reasons. (HU)

HMS 291. Independent Study (1-4)

Independent research and reading with a faculty member. After receiving initial approval from the HMS director, the student must prepare an independent study proposal, with readings and assignments, in consultation with a professor who agrees to direct the independent study. Open only to declared HMS minors who have complete HMS/SSP 160 in a previous term. (SS or HU).

HMS 305 (PSYC 305). Abnormal Psychology (4)

Examines research and theory on the patterns, causes, and treatment of various forms of abnormal behavior. Prerequisite PSYC 153 or consent of instructor. Department permission required. (SS)

HMS 315 (ENGL 315). Topics in Literature, Medicine, and Health (3-4)

Analyzing the stories people tell about health, illness and disability, this course engages cultural studies approaches in order to explore the way those stories are told. Topics may include: illness and the graphic novel, the changing image of the healer in literature, collaborative storytelling with Alzheimer's patients, end of life narratives, tales from the ER, narrative ethics. (HU)

HMS 322 (SSP/GS/GCP 322). Global Health Issues (4)

Examines the sociological dimensions of health, illness, and healing as they appear in different parts of the world. Focuses on patterns of disease and mortality around the world, with special emphasis on major epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, and malaria; the relative importance of ‘traditional' and ‘modern' beliefs and practices with regard to disease and treatment in different societies; the organization of national health care systems in different countries; and the role of international organizations and social movements in promoting health. (SS)

HMS 323 (ES/JOUR/STS 323). Health and Environmental Controversies (4) spring

Exploration of health and environmental controversies from the perspectives of scientific uncertainty and mass media coverage. Examines genetic engineering, biotechnology, environmental health risks, and nanotechnology. Includes discussion of ethical and social responsibilities and interactions with the public. (SS)

HMS 327 (PSYC 327). Health Psychology (4)

An overview of the topic of health psychology. The course presupposes a preventative intervention approach to the problem of assisting healthy individuals to understand the relationship between behavior and health, and to engage those behaviors that promote health. This course will be underpinned with basic science and research on health psychology, but will include an application focus. Prerequisite: PSYC 001. Department permission required. (SS)

HMS 334 (PSYC/WGSS 334) The Psychology of Body Image and Eating Disorders (4)

The course addresses the psychosocial aspects of the development of healthy and unhealthy body image and eating disorders. The roles of personality traits/individual factors, family and interpersonal functioning, and cultural factors will be examined, as will the impact of representations of body image in mass media. Public health and psychological interventions for prevention and treatment will be explored. Personal accounts/memoirs, clinical case presentations, and documentary and dramatic films will be incorporated in the presentation of topics. (SS)

HMS 341 (SSP/WGSS 341). Women and Health (4)

Relationships of women to the medical system. Influence of medicine on women's lives and the impact of the women's movement on health care. (SS)

HMS 344 (PSYC 344 )Health Care Reasoning and Decision-Making (4)

Health care professionals diagnose physical and mental illnesses and create treatment plans to improve their patients’ health. How do these professionals make decisions related to these important issues? We will explore the literature on how medical and mental health professionals reason and make decisions about health care issues. Topics to be covered include diagnosis, treatment decisions, access to care, and how these reasoning processes are swayed. Consideration will be given to patient decision-making as well. Prerequisite: PSYC 117 or PSYC 176 or COGS 7 or consent of instructor. Department permission required. (Advanced Psychology Seminar) (SS)

HMS 354 (POLSCI 354). U.S. Health Care Politics (4)

Explores a range of health care programs and policies and their impacts on American society. Topics include the development of the U.S. approach to health care; public sector plans (Medicare and Medicaid); the role of managed care; the employer-sponsored system; the situation of the medically uninsured; the health care vested interests and lobbyists; movements for national health care; and options for change. (SS)

HMS 386 (PSYC 386). Psychological Perspectives on Health and Illness in Children and Adolescents (4)

Focuses on developmental research and theory related to health and wellness issues in children and adolescents. Topics include children's understanding of biology and disease, disease management, medical consent, education and policy efforts to promote children's health. Prerequisite: PSYC 107 or consent of instructor. Department permission required. (Advanced Psychology Seminar) (SS)

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