Courses
The Department of Health Studies offers courses in health policy, global health, epidemiology, and several other health studies areas. Recent special topics courses (HS 397) have included seminars on health communication; health program planning, implementation, and evaluation; health and housing; addiction; global infectious diseases; and climate change and health. Health studies is by definition a multidisciplinary field, and additional health-related courses for the major and minor are offered by departments across the School of Arts and Sciences as well as the School of Business and the School of Leadership Studies.
Health Studies
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HS 100 Health Policy
Units: 1
DescriptionSurvey of: (1) how health care is financed, organized, and delivered both in the U.S. and in other countries; (2) major health policy areas and issues; and (3) what constitutes the study of public health, health administration, health services and bioethics. Surveys the key stakeholders: those who pay for, provide and receive care. Contrasts the different ways that health care providers are paid, how and why reimbursement methods have changed over time, and their consequences for the quality, cost and accessibility of health care services. Finally, as a case study, the Affordable Care Act will be dissected for the purposes of illustrating the ways in which the U.S. health care system differs from those of other wealthy countries. No particular disciplinary background is assumed, nor is any special familiarity with the field of health care required. -
HS 101 Global Health
Units: 1
DescriptionExamines the history and functions of global health; the links between globalization and health; the social and environmental determinants of health; health and human rights; comparative health systems; global health agencies and organizations; the global burden of disease; and population health interventions. -
HS 200 The Medical Humanities
Units: 1
DescriptionDesigned for students who are planning to enter the health care field. Provides an introduction to non-clinical aspects of medical practice that confront health care practitioners. Topics include medical ethics, cross-cultural medicine, the doctor-patient relationship, and death and dying.Prerequisite
HIST 410 or 411
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HS 202 Patients and Providers
Units: 1
DescriptionExamines the roles of the various professionals involved in providing healthcare services, including diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitation services for inpatients and outpatients; the ways that patients from a diversity of racial/ethnic, sex/gender, age, rural/urban, and other backgrounds access and experience the healthcare system; and the ways that patients and practitioners understand health, healing, illness, disability, and death.Prerequisite
HS 100 or 101
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HS 203 Health Ethics
Units: 1
DescriptionExplores the origins and evolution of health and healthcare ethics in the United States by examining both historical case studies and current ethical problems encountered in the health sector. -
HS 240 Law and Medicine
Units: 1
DescriptionExamines the intersection of law and medicine, primarily in medical malpractice litigation and also by looking at other areas of medical jurisprudence including state and federal health care regulation.Prerequisite
HS 100 or 101
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HS 250 Epidemiology and Health Research Methods
Units: 1
DescriptionStudy of the distribution and determinants of population health status. Research process that includes identifying a study question, selecting a study approach, designing a study, collecting data, analyzing and interpreting data, and then reporting the findings. Examines quantitative and qualitative health research methods, with an emphasis on epidemiologic study designs (such as cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and experimental studies) and epidemiological analysis.Prerequisite
HS 100 or 101
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HS 305 Human Nutrition
Units: 1
DescriptionExamines digestion, absorption, transport, and metabolism; the sources and functions of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals; nutrition, growth, health, noncommunicable diseases, and physical performance; and nutrition across the lifespan. -
HS 388 Individual Internship
Units: 1
DescriptionSupervised community-based learning in the healthcare field. No more than 1.5 units of internship in any one department and 3.5 units of internship overall may be counted toward required degree units. -
HS 395 Independent Study
Units: 0.5-1
DescriptionIn-depth study of a health care topic under the supervision of a faculty member. -
HS 397 Special Topics
Units: 1
DescriptionCovers subject matter not encountered in other health studies courses.Prerequisite
HS 100 or 101
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HS 400 Senior Capstone
Units: 1
DescriptionIntegrates and applies multidisciplinary perspectives on health through reflection on personal and professional experiences and goals, examination of the ethics and values of the health professions, and exploration of current public health issues.Prerequisite
HS 250 with a minimum grade of D-
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HS 406 Summer Undergraduate Research
Units: 0
DescriptionDocumentation of the work of students who receive summer fellowships to conduct research [or produce a creative arts project] in the summer. The work must take place over a minimum of 8 weeks, the student must engage in the project full-time (at least 40 hours per week) during this period, and the student must be the recipient of a fellowship through the university. Graded S/U.