Requirements for the Health & Societies Major
HSOC MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
CORE COURSES (4 cu)
1. Required Foundational Course (1 cu) HSOC 010 (Health & Societies: Global Perspectives) There is no substitute for this course.
2. Methodology Course ( 1 cu):
HSOC 100 (Introduction to Sociological Methods)
OR
HSOC 111 (The Health of Populations)
3-4. Core Disciplines (2 cu)
TWO of these courses are required
HSOC 002 (Medicine in History)
HSOC 275 (Medical Sociology)
HSOC 238 (Medical Anthropology)
5-7. DEPARTMENT ELECTIVES (3 cu)
THREE courses offered under HSOC or STSC (this includes courses cross-listed from other departments as HSOC or STSC).
8-13. FIELD OF CONCENTRATION (6 cu):
SIX approved courses in ONE of these fields (follow links to see the list of pre-approved courses for each concentration - other courses may be added by Petition.)
Bioethics and Society
Disease and Society
Environment and Health
Gender and Health
Health Care Markets and Finance
Health Policy and Law
International Health
Public Health
14. CAPSTONE RESEARCH REQUIREMENT (1 cu) : Successful completion of any 400-level HSOC or STSC course in spring of junior year or fall of senior year
GUIDELINES AND INFORMATION
1. Core Courses: There are no substitutions for HSOC 010, the methodology course, or the core disciplines.
2. Department electives consist of all courses designated as STSC or HSOC (this includes any course cross-listed from another department as STSC or HSOC).
3. In-Major Concentration
If a student wants to include a course in his or her concentration that is not on the list of pre-approved courses, then they must submit a Petition and syllabus to explain why they want to take the course and how the course fits into their concentration. Petitions can be submitted to Dr. Greene during or after the semester.
Any course that is pre-approved as a core course or for a specific sector of the in-major concentration may also be used as an elective and does not need to be petitioned.
NOTE: If there is a course that used to be on the pre-approved list, but is no longer, and that a student has already taken, it still counts toward the concentration.
4. Course permits
Follow this link to information about course permits.
5. Study abroad
Up to two courses a semester may be counted toward the in-major concentration from study-abroad programs. Courses must be submitted via the XCat system.
6. Transfer credits
Credits from other institutions may be counted toward the HSOC major at the discretion of the Director and Undergraduate Coordinator. Transfer courses must be submitted via the XCat system. AP credits may not be counted toward the HSOC major.
7. Capstone Research Requirement
This requirement is fulfilled by successful completion of any 400-level HSOC or STSC course during spring of junior year or fall of senior year. Students may take as many 400-level courses as they wish, but only a 400-level course taken during one of those two semesters fulfills the Capstone Research REquirement.
8. Honors in the HSOC Major
Honors is earned by writing a senior thesis. The process consists of taking HSOC 420 in spring of junior year (which fulfills the capstone requirement) and completing the thesis during the fall term senior year (this semester's work is credited as HSOC 498, Honors Thesis, on the transcript.) Click on the link for more information on the requirements for honors and the process of writing a senior thesis in the HSOC major.
