Public Health & Society

PUBHLTHSOC 1000 Foundations in Public Health

This course examines the foundations in public health using an equity and social justice approach emphasizing the interconnectedness of population and individual health. The course will cover the history and impact of public health, including the importance of health equity, social justice, and human rights, as well as the essential role of ethics in public health. The course will expose students to various public health professionals working on inter-professional teams to explore careers in public health, we will invite public health and community health experts from the St. Louis region as well as national and international guest speakers.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 1010 Topics in Public Health & Society

Topics in Public Health & Society, the topics will change each semester.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Fall

PUBHLTHSOC 1011 Environmental Justice as Public Health

Environmental justice has become a pervasive conversation topic as the effects of climate change become more and more prominent in daily life. Yet environmental justice has a longer history, one that is closely related to the global health developments. In this course, we will explore what environmental justice means, how it functions as a form of public health and health activism more broadly, and why the future of public health so heavily depends on it. Through these questions, students will further learn about how issues of environment and health are deeply intertwined with social, racial, and gendered inequities. As we will explore together, this relationship has led to conflicting political and economic priorities as well as the deliberate placement of environmental hazards next to or within working-class, Black and Brown, and other marginalized communities.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC, SC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Fall

PUBHLTHSOC 2000 Introduction to Global Health

Welcome to Introduction to Global Health, a course designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the multifaceted dimensions of public health both within the United States and internationally. Throughout this course, students will embark on a journey to understand how health has been defined within the global context, exploring the historical evolution of public and global health disciplines as well as contemporary issues within the field. Delving into the ethical landscape of global health research, programming, and policy, students will articulate human rights issues and examine approaches ensuring ethical interventions. The course will shed light on the intricate interplay of social determinants of health, unraveling their impact on well-being and the emergence of health inequities. By examining both successes and failures in global health interventions, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the challenges inherent in the field. Furthermore, the course will foster a comparative analysis of the organization, structure, and function of diverse healthcare systems across international settings. Finally, with a focus on morbidity and mortality, students will explore major causes, trends, and measures of infectious and chronic disease, as well as some underappreciated and emerging issues, providing a holistic perspective on the critical issues shaping the landscape of public and global health today. We will engage with class topics through a range of mediums, including book chapters, scientific papers, media pieces, podcasts, guest lectures from leaders in the field, and TED talks. It may be a big class, but students will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on key class topics during small, weekly discussion groups.  Get ready to be captivated, challenged, and inspired - because global health has never been this thrilling!

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC, SC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 2900 Public Health & Society Internship Experience

This mentored internship course involves hands-on work experience in a professional setting, allowing students to apply the skills and knowledge gained from their academic studies in Public Health & Society (PH&S). The internship aims to enhance professional development and prepare students for future career paths.

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 2910 Introductory Directed Research in Public Health & Society

This course is designed to introduce first-year and sophomore students to the research process by actively involving them in ongoing faculty research projects within the department. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, students will contribute to various research tasks, gaining hands-on experience and foundational research skills beneficial for their academic and professional development.

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 2999 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

Open to advanced undergraduates who have successfully completed the course for which they will request to be an undergraduate teaching assistant. Usual duties of teaching assistant in laboratory or other selected courses (e.g. instructor assistance, office hours, holding review sessions, some grading.)

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 3000 Public Health Theories, Models, and Frameworks

This course will provide an overview of social and behavioral science and humanistic theories and frameworks that are currently used to: 1) understand health related behaviors; and 2) guide development of interventions and policies designed to promote positive health behavior including those that prevent, reduce or eliminate major public health problems. We will also explore the history of these theories and frameworks and the cultural and artistic approaches to change health and health related behaviors. We will use an ecological framework to examine theories at multiple levels of the culture and social ecology from individual to policy level, focusing on applications that will impact health at the population level.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 3010 Topics in Public Health & Society

Topics in Public Health & Society, the topics will change each semester.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 3011 Food, Culture, and Public Health

This course explores the intersection of food, culture, nutrition, and health, offering students a look at how food practices shape and are shaped by cultural forces. We begin by learning about the social construction of cuisines, including how social inequality shapes cuisine. We then examine dietary restrictions like lactose intolerance, veganism, avoidance of beef in India, and kashrut. Next, we explore diverse health beliefs about food and the challenges of cross-cultural nutrition advice, including how unintended consequences can occur. Students will then study successful nutrition interventions, including the promotion of traditional Indigenous foodways in Peru and similar efforts in the U.S. These examples will illustrate the importance of culturally appropriate public health efforts for diet. Throughout the semester, students will engage with guest speakers and will take turns leading class discussions. Optional field trips to local restaurants will offer a hands-on experience of the cuisines studied in class, further enhancing students' understanding of food systems in diverse cultural contexts.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC, SC

Typical periods offered: Fall

PUBHLTHSOC 3020 Topics in Public Health & Society

Topics in Public Health & Society, the topics will change each semester

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 3100 Research Methods in Understanding Health and Society

Research is the key to building evidence in public health. This course will provide an overview of public health research methods and the sequential research process. Core research concepts to be presented and applied include developing research questions, literature reviews, research ethics, study designs, data collection, quantitative and qualitative research methods understanding research data, and research dissemination.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 3210 History of Public Health

Starting in the ancient period and ending in the present day, this course examines the history of public health on global scale. What we now know as “public health” did not just come out of a laboratory or clinic; it emerged from the intersection of historical developments in racialization, socioeconomic division, and gendered constructions. The course will explore a number of questions, including: how and why imperial and national politics and economics have influenced public health research and actions; what “publics” public health has served and prioritized; and how the creation of public health authority and knowledge both drew from and exploited marginalized populations. Students will choose an archival primary source about public health and craft an analytical paper about it.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC, SC

Typical periods offered: Fall

PUBHLTHSOC 3280 Infectious Disease and Society

This course explores the evolving relationship between humans and non-human microbiota. Beginning with the modern era, we will study infectious diseases and the critical contexts in which they occur (e.g. ecological, political, social, and cultural). Case studies will include antibiotic-resistant "superbugs," H1N1 influenza, SARS coronavirus, HIV/AIDS, and global cholera epidemics. Through the study of global infectious disease outbreaks and threats, we will address larger societal questions about knowledge, the power of metaphor, the role of institutions, and the health of populations.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC

Typical periods offered: Fall

PUBHLTHSOC 3700 Introduction to Epidemiology

This course introduces core tools of epidemiology-the study of the distribution and determinants of health in populations. Students define and interpret basic measures (incidence, prevalence, risk, odds), compare common study designs (cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, randomized trials), identify threats to validity (bias, confounding, effect modification), and communicate findings clearly to non-technical audiences. No coding is required.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 3900 Intermediate Independent Study

The Public Health & Society intermediate independent study course is available to undergraduate students who wish to explore a topic of their choosing while enhancing their self-directed research skills. Under the supervision of a faculty advisor, students investigate their selected subject and complete a project or paper that has been pre-approved. Working with their advisor, students will draft a study plan, establish objectives, and meet to discuss progress and receive feedback. This course offers variable graded or Pass/Fail credit of 1-3 units and is repeatable with a maximum of 6 graded units counting toward the PH&S major (with permission of DUS).

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4000 APEX: Advanced Practical Experience in Public Health Seminar

This Advanced Practical EXperience in Public Health (APEX) course bridges the gap between public health theory and skills, providing students with the practical knowledge and experience needed for real-world public health engagement. Students will enhance their skills and knowledge through activities such as community-based research, developing health interventions, assessing community health needs, and program evaluation. Students may also collaborate with community-based organizations to address public health challenges, preparing them for the realities of public health practice. APEX consists of two linked classes. A 1-credit once-a-week seminar and a 3-credit internship course consisting of at least 140 hours of work with a partner organization, institution, lab, or approved public health-related enterprise. Courses must be taken concurrently.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4001 APEX: Advanced Practical Experience in Public Health Internship

Through this structured, mentored, and evaluated experience, students put classroom learning into action by working on meaningful projects with local organizations, agencies or faculty research labs that address real-world public health challenges. APEX placements engage directly with the social determinants of health—including housing stability, access to education, employment opportunities, neighborhood safety, food security, healthcare access, and community support systems. Many projects are grounded in advancing equity and justice, giving students the chance to examine how structural barriers and systemic inequities influence health outcomes across communities. The APEX experience offers substantial value for students both academically and professionally. Beyond fulfilling program requirements, the APEX provides a pathway for students to apply and deepen their knowledge, cultivate new skills, and explore the intersections between public health, social justice, and community wellbeing. Students also build meaningful connections with organizations and professionals who are working to promote health equity, gaining networks and insights that will guide their academic journeys and future careers.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4002 APEX: Advanced Practical Experience in Public Health Seminar—Study Abroad

This Advanced Practical EXperience in Public Health Study Abroad (APEX SA) course bridges the gap between public health theory and skills, providing students who study abroad the opportunity to reflect on the practical knowledge and experience needed for real-world public health engagement. Students who are enrolled in one of the approved Study Abroad Programs and complete an internship or other, approved community engaged public health work will enhance their skills and knowledge through reflection on their abroad activities to better prepare them for the realities of public health practice. APEX SA requires that students participate in the pre-departure training, regular reflection writing while abroad, and the 1- credit once-a-week seminar the semester after the study abroad experience

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4010 Topics in Public Health & Society

Topics in Public Health & Society, the topics will change each semester.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4011 Water and Health in the Colonial and Postcolonial World

Water supplies are becoming scarcer globally due to climate change. We use clean water- fresh and salt - in a variety of ways that provide comfort, stability, and health, making it one of the most valuable commodities on Earth. While countries in Global North are beginning to see more frequent and lengthier droughts, those in the Latin America, Africa, and South Asia have long struggled over how to distribute and use their clean water supplies. This class will examine how colonialism and its far-reaching effects have created an environment of scarce water supplies in many areas of the world. Water access is difficult to achieve, but for much of the Global South, the colonial period helped craft the problems we see today. This class will ask what colonial and postcolonial technologies' construction and use teach us about equitable clean water distribution, how social and cultural identities influence water supplies and use, and why water has been such an important element- and commodity- in our world , especially where Europeans settled and marginalized local populations.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC, SC, WI EN: S

Typical periods offered: Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4012 Global Hunger, Malnutrition , and Obesity

This course critically examines global and local paradigms of food production, nutrition, and health through an interdisciplinary lens. We begin by analyzing the dominant "feed the world" model rooted in the Green Revolution and industrial agriculture. Drawing on work by Glenn Stone and others, we explore the social and ecological shortcomings of this model and the promise of agroecological alternatives—often developed by Indigenous and smallholder farmers themselves.We then shift our focus to the politics of food and health in the United States. Through readings by Julie Guthman, Natalie Boero, and Gyorgy Scrinis, we interrogate how fatphobia, the concept of an "obesity epidemic," and reductive nutritionist ideologies have shaped American food and health discourse—often in ways that reinforce social inequality and benefit corporate interests. Finally, we investigate how these paradigms travel globally, with a focus on Guatemala, Malawi, the Philippines, Ghana, and West Papua. We consider how global development projects and interventions (e.g., GMOs, nutrition education) interact with local foodways and sociopolitical dynamics. Through this, students will come to understand that hunger and malnutrition are often political problems—rooted in inequality, dispossession, and systemic violence—rather than simply technical ones. Throughout the course, students will develop their analytical and writing skills through a series of drafts and final papers, culminating in a reflection on their evolving understanding of food systems and justice.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC, SC, WI EN: S

Typical periods offered: Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4020 Topics in Public Health & Society

Topics Course, varies semester by semster

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4030 Topics in Public Health & Society

Topics in Public Health & Society, the topics will change each semester

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4120 Public Health and Medicine: Health Decision Making

In this course, students will explore the complex landscape of health decision making with an emphasis on decision making within the healthcare system. We will discuss how our cognitive and psychological biases influence our decisions, how numeracy and health literacy affect our choices, and how we can use effective communication strategies within and outside healthcare settings to support health decisions. Drawing from case studies in public health, medicine, and scholarly literature, we will consider a number of issues related to medical diagnoses and treatment, and the comprehension and communication of uncertainty in the context of delivering person-centered health messages and person-centered care.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC EN: S

Typical periods offered: Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4900 Advanced Independent Study

The Public Health & Society advanced independent study course is available to advanced undergraduate students who wish to engage in self-directed learning focused on a specialized topic of their choosing. Under the supervision of a faculty advisor, students apply developed research skills to investigate their selected subject and complete a project or paper that has been pre-approved. Working closely with their advisor, students will devise a study plan, establish objectives, and regularly meet to discuss progress and receive feedback. This course offers variable graded or Pass/Fail credit of 1-3 units and is repeatable with a maximum of 6 graded units counting toward the PH&S major (with permission of DUS).

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4910 Advanced Directed Research in Public Health & Society

This Advanced Directed Research course level is typically taken by juniors or seniors or by advanced freshmen and sophomores. The expectations of a 4000-level directed research project will be greater than those of a 2000 level directed research. Student participation in research activities should include higher-level participation, including completing literature reviews, running complex assays, or similar work. The student is expected to be proficient in the appropriate research techniques of a lab, familiar with relevant literatures surrounding the project, and capable of working with minimal supervision. There should be some form of final evaluation or project, but an independent research project is not necessary. May be taken for 1-3 credit hours, 1-2 recommended. Students must enroll in a specific section with a faculty member and receive approval from the department.

Credit 1-3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring

PUBHLTHSOC 4998 Senior Honors Thesis I: Research Development and Prospectus

This is the first course in the two-semester Senior Honors sequence in Public Health and Society. Students develop independent research skills by formulating a significant research question, conducting a comprehensive literature review, designing an appropriate methodology and producing a formal research prospectus. The course emphasizes critical thinking, scholarly writing, and integration of public health theory with societal contexts.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC

Typical periods offered: Fall

PUBHLTHSOC 4999 Senior Honors Thesis II: Research Execution and Defense

This is the second course in the two-semester Senior Honors sequence in Public Health and Society. Building on the approved prospectus developed in PUBHLTHSOC 4998, students collect and analyze data, write results and discussion chapters, and complete a substantial thesis (50-80 pages). The course provides structured support through writing workshops, peer review, and faculty feedback as students work independently on their research. The course emphasizes analytical depth, iterative revision, and translation of research for diverse audiences, culminating in a presentation at an
undergraduate research symposium.

Credit 3 units. A&S IQ: SSC

Typical periods offered: Spring