ALH 5 - Health and Social Justice

Transfer Status

CSU

Unit(s)

3.00

• Lecture: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)
• Total: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the health inequities in the United States that stem from unequal living conditions. Students will explore how education, socioeconomic status, racism, and gender shape health epidemics and policy development. Fundamental theories to advocate for health and social justice will be explored, and community organizing approaches will be practiced. (C-ID PH 102).

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify, assess, and utilize credible information resources on public health current issues, such as the Internet, social media, media outlets, and libraries.
2. Demonstrate advocacy skills, such as outreach, organizing, and mobilization of communities to improve health outcomes.
3. Describe strategies or tactics to improve health inequalities, such as advocacy, community organizing, and/or policy change.
4. Analyze case studies of prevalent health problems to compare individual behavior change approaches versus public health approaches.
5. Describe the connection between environmental justice and disparate health outcomes based on race, class, and gender.
6. Analyze the contribution of environmental conditions to disparate health outcomes, using case studies.
7. Compare United States healthcare policies with that of other developed countries and contrast the characteristics of each system.
8. Compare and contrast the two paradigms that seek to explain health disparities: the individual approach and the public health model.
9. Describe disparities in health outcomes in the United States by race, socioeconomic status, and gender.
10. Apply social and behavioral strategies and principles by using theoretical frameworks in analyzing public health issues.

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

1. Discussion
2. Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
3. Lecture
4. Multimedia Presentations
5. Reading Assignments

1. Quizzes
2. Research Projects
3. Projects
4. Written Assignments

Reading Assignments

1. Read the assigned chapters and be able to participate in a classroom discussion on the disparities in health outcomes in the United States by race, socioeconomic status, and gender.
2. Read the assigned chapters and be able to describe and compare United States healthcare policies with that of other developed countries and contrast the characteristics of each system during a classroom discussion.

Writing Assignments

1. After completing the assigned reading and classroom presentations, prepare a 3-page paper analyzing case studies of prevalent health problems to compare individual behavior change approaches versus public health approaches.
2. After completing the assigned reading and classroom presentations, create a 400-word paper identifying, assessing, and utilizing credible information related to current issues in public health.

Out-of-Class Assignments

1. After completing the assigned reading and classroom presentations, prepare a group presentation that demonstrates advocacy skills, such as outreach, organizing, and mobilization of communities to improve health outcomes.
2. After completing the assigned reading and classroom presentations, prepare a group presentation about the area agencies that serve the health care needs of those with housing insecurity in the greater Butte County area.

Fiona McKay, Ann Taket. (2020). Health Equity, Social Justice and Human Rights. Routledge, 2nd. 9780367281380.

Pattie Rose. (2021). Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Context, Controversies, and Solutions. Jones and Bartlett, 2nd. 9781284197792.

Barry Levy. (2019). Social Injustice and Public Health. Oxford University Press, 3rd. 978-0190914646.

Emergency Medical Technologies

Health (Masters Required)

Health Care Ancillaries