SOCI 4851, Spring 2008

Professor:

Diane Shinberg

Email: dshinbrg@memphis.edu

This course is intended to introduce you to sociological perspectives on the study of health and illness in the context of the American health care system. We will consider health, illness, sickness and disease as social phenomena. In particular we will examine ways in which health (and ideas about health and its causation) is shaped by social context, culture, social structure, and social processes. We consider the social organization of health care including health care occupations, the organization of the health care delivery system and related policy issues.

Along the way we watch and discuss some important films, write interesting papers, and read some of the most engaging books and articles in the field.

Evaluation will be based on:

• attendance
• active participation in classroom discussions
• three written exercises
• a research term paper with annotated bibliography
  • The term paper assignment is now posted under "Assignments." Note new due dates.
• an optional written final

• Help Desk: 901-678-8888 for computer questions
• English Learning Center: 225 Patterson Hall, M-Th 8am - 7pm, F 8am-12 noon
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• Sociology Office: 231 Clement Hall