Health Care-Social Issues

Health care–social issues is an interdisciplinary minor designed to enhance students' competence in analyzing complex social and ethical implications and ramifications of health care issues, policies, and delivery systems. Students gain an understanding of how the economy, culture, technology, sociological and psychological processes influence modern health care. Although it is administered by Warren College, it is available to all UCSD students with a general interest in health care as well as to students considering health care careers. This minor offers UCSD students the opportunity to examine health care-related issues from the perspectives of a wide range of disciplines that include anthropology, contemporary issues, economics, ethnic studies, philosophy, psychology, sociology, urban studies, and science and technology. By bringing together course work from these academic departments, this interdisciplinary curriculum offers a breadth of intellectual experience that enhances students' undergraduate education and their preparation for professional and postgraduate education in health care professions.

Students should consult an academic adviser in their college provost's office to determine how the health care–social issues minor can best meet their college's graduation requirements. Declarations must first be reviewed and approved by the coordinator of Interdisciplinary Programs and then by the student's college academic advising office.

Students are strongly urged to supplement the health care–social issues minor with a health-related internship. The Academic Internship Program offers internship placements in clinical settings and with medical research teams that provide valuable experience, career clarification, and an opportunity to apply theories learned in course work. Juniors and seniors with at least a 2.5 overall grade-point average (some placements require a 3.0 GPA) are eligible and can earn from four to sixteen units of academic credit for the internship experience.

Further information on related programs and activities is available at the Interdisciplinary Programs Office, Literature Building, Second Floor, Room 3238, Warren College, or call (858) 534-1704. Web site: http://warren.ucsd.edu/health

Health Care-Social Issues Minor Requirements

The minor consists of seven courses (three required and four electives). At least five courses must be taken at the upper-division level. Students who entered UCSD prior to January 1, 1998 are required to take six courses (three required, three electives, and four must be upper-division). Upper-division courses must not overlap with courses in the student's major and must be distributed in two or more disciplines. Lower-division elective courses that are not health-related (Economics 1A-B/Psychology 1–60) must be followed by a health-related upper-division course in the same department. For full descriptions of the following courses, please see departmental listings.

The health care–social issues minor is applicable as a Warren College program of concentration in the social sciences.

Required Courses

Sociology/L 40—Sociology of Health Care Issues

Philosophy 163—Bio-Medical Ethics

One course in Urban Studies and Planning chosen from the following:

143—The U.S. Health Care System

144—Environmental and Preventive Health Issues

145—Aging: Social and Health Policy Issues

147—Case Studies in Health Care Programs: The Poor and Underserved

(Additional urban studies and planning courses may be taken to fulfill elective requirements in the minor.)

Elective Course Options

Four courses (three before January 1, 1998) to be chosen from the following list. At least three (two before January 1, 1998) must be upper-division and must not overlap with courses in the student's major.

ANTHROPOLOGY

Lower-Division

1—Introduction to Culture

2—Human Origins

General

128—The Anthropology of Medicine

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

22—Human Sexuality

40—The AIDS Epidemic

136—The Anthropology of Medicine

ECONOMICS

1A-B—Elements of Economics

138A-B—Economics of Health

ETHNIC STUDIES

142—Medicine, Magic, and the Global Politics of Inequality

PHILOSOPHY

147—Philosophy of Biology

148—Philosophy and the Environment

151—Philosophy of Neuroscience

162—Contemporary Moral Issues

164—Technology and Human Values

165—Professional Ethics

PSYCHOLOGY

1—Psychology

2—General Psychology: Biological Foundations

60—Introduction to Statistics

104—Introduction to Social Psychology

124—Introduction to Clinical Psychology

134—Eating Disorders

153—Clinical Psychology

154—Behavior Modification

155—Social Psychology and Medicine

163—Abnormal Psychology

168—Psychological Disorders of Childhood

169—Brain Damage and Mental Function

172—Psychology of Human Sexuality

179—Drugs, Addiction, and Mental Disorder

181—Drugs and Behavior

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

181—Elements of International Medicine

SOCIOLOGY

Lower-Division

1A, 1B—The Study of Society

Cluster B

120S—Special Topics in Culture, Language, and Social Interaction (prior approval of topic required)

143—Suicide

Cluster C

134—The Making of Modern Medicine

135—Medical Sociology

136A—Sociology of Mental Illness: Historical Approach

136B—Sociology of Mental Illness in Contemporary Society

159—Special Topics in Social Organizations and Institutions (prior approval of topic required)

URBAN STUDIES AND PLANNING

143—The U.S. Health Care System

144—Environmental and Preventive Health Issues

145—Aging: Social and Health Policy Issues

147—Case Studies in Health Care Programs: The Poor and Underserved

Recommended Internship Experience