About the Program
Health & Societies is an interdisciplinary major that studies health practices,knowledge and systems in their social context. Students gain an understanding of the ways in which political systems, economic institutions, social practices and cultural values shape and are shaped by ideas about health and health care. Health & Societies is part of the Department of History and Sociology of Science, which has two interdisciplinary undergraduate majors. The other is Science, Technology and Society (STSC).
Combining the freedom of an individualized major with the coherence of a core curriculum, the major is organized around a core of seven (7) courses that provide the foundational knowledge and methodology, and an in-major concentration of six (6) courses tailored to individual student interests and drawn from across the university. HSOC students take courses in many departments, including Anthropology, Political Science, Sociology, Philosophy, Economics, History, African Studies and other regional studies departments. Every student also does a research project in a capstone course.
What can you do with an HSOC major? What can’t you do? HSOC majors go on to professional school in business, law and medicine, graduate programs in public health, public policy and administration, and social science, and jobs in business, government, and international health. As one of our majors put it, HSOC allows you to “study the big picture” to "understand real issues for a real world.”
FAQs ABOUT THE HSOC MAJOR
What are the requirements for the HSOC major?
HSOC is a fourteen credit major. Students in the HSOC program take four core courses, three in-department electives, six interdisciplinary courses in a field of concentration, and a research seminar. HSOC majors must have 34 total credits for graduation.
What is a field of concentration?
A field of concentration is an interest area. There are eight HSOC concentrations, each reflecting a focused interest within the larger field of Health & Societies. Each concentration consists of six courses. Some concentrations have a required core course, and other concentrations have categories which must be fulfilled. The lists of pre-approved courses for each concentration can be found by following the links below.
Bioethics and Society
Disease and Society
Environment and Health
Gender and Health
Health Policy and Law
Health Care Markets and Finance
International Health
Public Health
HSOC is a flexible major. You may easily petition to include courses other than these pre-approved ones, if those courses contribute to your concentration. So, take advantage of the petitioning process.
How do I become a Health & Societies (HSOC) major?
Go to the page "Becoming a Major" by following the link.
What if I am not ready to declare a major but have questions about HSOC? How do I get academic advising?
Dr. Barnes, the program director (e-mail) or Dr. Greene, the undergraduate coordinator (e-mail) will be happy to meet with you. You may also contact members of the HSOC Student Advisory Board.
What if I am on registration hold and what does it mean?
Any sophomores who have not declared a major by the time of Advanced Registration in the spring are put on registration hold until they do declare a major. This means that they cannot register for courses. As soon as sophomores declare a major, they are removed from registration hold (unless they are on for other reasons).
Can I double -major in HSOC and something else?
Yes. Many HSOC majors successfully double major in another program as well. However, you dp have to plan carefully. The ability to double major depends on how many credits you need to complete both majors, how many semesters you have before graduation, and how many courses will double count between the two majors. The College requires double majors complete at least 18 separate courses between the two majors.
It is important to remember that its not necessary to double major! What is most important is that you get the most out of your primary major and out of your undergraduate education, and that you do not sacrifice that to the challenges of fulfilling two sets of major requirements.
What are some common majors that overlap with Health and Societies?
Common double majors are Sociology, Anthropology, Urban Studies, Economics, Gender Studies, Environmental Studies, Political Science, Philosophy, English, History, and area studies majors such as African Studies, Latin American Studies, South Asian Studies, etc.
Can I minor in HSOC?
No, we do not offer a minor in Health and Societies.
Can I study abroad if I am an HSOC major?
Yes. We encourage HSOC majors to plan a semester abroad, and many do. Some (but not all) select programs with courses similar to the Health and Societies program. Since studying abroad takes some careful planning be sure to discuss it with Dr. Barnes or Dr. Greene. Check the Penn Abroad website for more information.
Do my pre-med courses count toward the HSOC major?
Sometimes. Many HSOC majors are pre-med. Some pre-med courses may count toward the in-major concentration. Approval is handled on a case-by-case basis.
Go to the Pre-Med website in Career Services for information about pre-med requirements and advising.
Can I get transfer credit for a summer course at another university?
Sometimes. If you wish to take a course at another university, you must petition the department at Penn that has a course most closely matching the course you are planning to take. Read the section "credit away" on the College website.
Do CGS courses count toward the HSOC major?
Yes. Appropriate courses in CGS may be used to fulfill HSOC requirements.
Can I take more HSOC courses than the major requires?
Yes. You may take as many HSOC courses as you wish.
Can I do independent study projects as part of the HSOC major?
Yes. Download the Independent Study Permission Form for further information.
Is research an important part of the HSOC major?
Yes. All HSOC majors take a research seminar in the spring of junior year or fall of senior year to fulfill their Capstone Research Requirement. Some may wish to continue and write a senior thesis for honors during the first half of the senior year. STSC majors are encouraged to explore other opportunities for research, such as internships and publication.
What is the Capstone Research Requirement?
This is a requirement that you take a 400-level HSOC or STSC course during spring of junior year or fall of senior year. The only courses that count for the capstone requirement are 400-level courses taken during one of these two semesters. Courses taken before or after these two semesters do not count fulfill the requirement.
Visit the Capstone page for more information.
I want to do a research project by taking an internship. Can I get credit for this as part of my major?
Yes. You can do it as an independent study, in which case you must fill out an independent study form and submit it to Dr. Greene. Or, if you do the project after the middle of junior year, you may use the research from the internship to fulfill your Capstone research requirement if you meet the conditions listed on the Capstone page.
What if I want to write a senior thesis- what are the requirements for graduating with honors in HSOC?
To graduate with honors, an HSOC major enroll in HSOC 420 during spring of junior year, research and write over the summer, and complete the senior thesis during the fall of senior year. See Senior Thesis for department requirements. The senior thesis process begins in fall of your junior year as you formulate a tentative project and talk with potential advisors. To see who wrote a senior thesis in 2008-2009 and a list of their topics, download this list:
2009 Senior Symposium Schedule and Senior Thesis Titles
How do I participate in HSOC events, meet other HSOC majors, and get advice on internships, summer jobs, and careers?
Become involved with the HSOC SAB. The HSOC Student Advisory Board sponsors programs on topics of interest to HSOC majors, and is a source of information for majors on courses, careers and internships.
What courses should I take next semester?
Check to see what core requirements you still need to fulfill, and whether those courses are being offered next semester. HSOC 010 is only offered in the spring, HSOC 111, HSOC 002, HSOC 275, HSOC 238 are only offered in the fall. HSOC 100 is offered most semesters. Check to see what core and category requirements you have in your concentration, what courses you need to fulfill them, and what semester those courses are offered. Then review the list of department offerings and courses in other departments to see what new courses might apply towards your concentration.
What if there are courses I want to take that are not on the approved list for the concentration?
Submit a petition to have a course count toward your concentration. If the course fits in with the other courses you are taking for your concentration, then it most likely will be approved. Students should petition courses the semester they are taking the course. Download the petition form and submit it to Dr. Greene or Dr. Barnes.
What if I want to do an independent study?
In order to do an independent study, download the Independent Study Permission Form and get if filled out.
What about internships related to HSOC?
Check the "Opportunities" link on this website -- the HSOC SAB has compliled a database of internships to get you started. Also, we strongly suggest you contact Career Services.
What if I am interested in submatriculation?
Submatriculation is part of the graduate program of the Department of History and Sociology of Science, the parent department of the Health and Societies major.
Submatriculation permits a student to earn a combined B.A.-M.A. in
four years. This joins a B.A. in HSOC with a M.A. in the History and Sociology of Science (HSSC). To earn a combined degree in four years, undergraduates must complete all normal requirements for graduation at Penn, and all
requirements for submatriculation in SAS.
To be considered for submatriculation, a student must demonstrate readiness for graduate work no later than the beginning of the junior year, and be sponsored by a faculty member with whom they have done substantial work. Admission to submatriculation is on a case-by-case basis by vote of the full HSSC faculty.
