STS 374 - Epidemic: Global Responses to Disease Outbreak and Public Health Crises

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as SOCI 374) What is an “epidemic”? How are epidemics given social and cultural meaning? How do epidemics mobilize action? This course takes a global perspective to understand how different countries address disease outbreaks. This course approaches epidemics (and the idea of “epidemic”) as vehicles to understand the social structures and mechanisms that shape the way societies conceptualize and respond to public health crises. Students also consider factors that facilitate the construction of epidemics. For instance, Autism Spectrum Disorder prevalence has increased precipitously over the last twenty years. Autism is estimated to affect 1 in 59 children in the United States and 1 in 38 in South Korea. But is there an autism “epidemic”? What are the factors contributing to this rise? How is the term “epidemic” mobilized? And what does this achieve? How does increasing prevalence change the way societies think about autism? Students engage with sociological and public health scholarship on HIV/AIDS, Ebola, SARS, Zika, measles, autism, and opioid addiction. Catherine Tan.

One 2-hour period.

Course Format: CLS