Social Science and Health

The main goal of this multidisciplinary course is to understand the significant effects of social factors on life expectancy and health disparities. The social environment substantially modifies health through factors such as early life experiences, poverty, socioeconomic status, social exclusion, work, stress, social support, drugs, food supply, transport, and neighbourhoods. Students will learn to explain how these social factors influence physical health and longevity, and how public policy is key in improving health and reducing a range of social injustices. This course will help students to understand how a social science practitioner can address the health of populations, and more generally how a citizen can contribute to a more just and caring society.