MAKING SENSE OF MENTAL HEALTH & MENTAL ILLNESS

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Social Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate awareness of their own assumptions and values related to ‘mental health’ , ‘mental illness’ and experiences that influence their perspectives. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Identify the strengths and limitations of the approaches, services and systems designed to address mental health and mental illness currently and historically. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Understand the importance of the historical and cultural background of individuals and communities for developing and delivering culturally sensitive and socially just mental health interventions. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Understand and assess how critical theories challenge mainstream western conceptions and treatment approaches for mental illness and demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate the merits and limitations of these critical theories. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Analyze alternatives for the treatment and care of severe mental illnesses that provide sustained support, choice, and empowerment to services users. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate awareness of their own assumptions and values related to ‘mental health’ , ‘mental illness’ and experiences that influence their perspectives. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Identify the strengths and limitations of the approaches, services and systems designed to address mental health and mental illness currently and historically. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Understand the importance of the historical and cultural background of individuals and communities for developing and delivering culturally sensitive and socially just mental health interventions. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Understand and assess how critical theories challenge mainstream western conceptions and treatment approaches for mental illness and demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate the merits and limitations of these critical theories. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Analyze alternatives for the treatment and care of severe mental illnesses that provide sustained support, choice, and empowerment to services users. Audience: Undergraduate