Disease, Health and Medicine in American History

4 credits · Undergraduate

This course surveys the history of medicine in the United States from the colonial era to the present, examining how medical knowledge, healthcare institutions, and public health policies have been shaped by political, social, and economic forces. Students will explore the evolution of healing practices, the professionalization of medicine, the growth of hospitals and public health systems, and major debates over healthcare access and reform. Through the study of epidemics, medical education, health activism, patient perspectives, and the intersections of race, gender, class, and health, the course investigates medicine as both a scientific field and a powerful social and political institution.