Social Contexts of Disease

What shapes our understandings of disease, and what makes a disease real? How might we explain the demise of formerly prevalent diseases and the arrival of others? How do politics, technologies, and institutions affect conceptions of disease and structure their treatment? Will examine the impact of social context on patients' experiences of disease, including clinical, scientific, and public health approaches. Will consider disease in relation to social relationships, power of the state to regulate disease, and cultural care of the body. Enrollment limited to 20 students; instructor permission required; serves as Capstone in Health and Human Biology. Not for concentration credit.