BIOL 1920C - Social Contexts of Disease

Institution:

Brown University

Subject:

Description:

What shapes our understandings of disease? What makes a disease real? How might we explain the demise of formerly prevalent diseases (e.g. neurasthenia) and the arrival of others (e.g., fibromyalgia)? How do politics, technologies, and institutions like hospitals affect conceptions of disease and structure their treatment? We will examine the impact of social context on patients’ experiences of disease, as well as clinical, scientific, and public health approaches to disease. We will also consider disease in relation to important social relations such the doctor-patient relationship, the power of the state to monitor and regulate disease, disparities in the burden of disease, and the cultural care of the body. Enrollment limited to 20 juniors and seniors, required instructor permission; AB Human Biology seniors intending this as capstone will have first priority; others by permission.

Credits:

1.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.brown.edu

Phone Number:

(401) 863-1000

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Semester

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