Course Syllabus

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

HCM 708: Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health

Academic Year 2017-18 Course Syllabus 

Instructor

Monica L. Wang, ScD, MS
Assistant Professor
Department of Community Health Sciences
Boston University School of Public Health

Instructor
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Co-chair
Obesity and Eating Disorders Special Interest Group
Society of Behavioral Medicine

E-mail: Mlwang@bu.edu

Course Syllabus.pdf

Course Focus

The aim of this course is to introduce the core concepts of social and behavioral determinants and how they influence the health of individuals, communities, and populations.

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Describe how various social and behavioral determinants impact population health.
• Critique the validity of behavioral and social science research.
• Apply the prevention paradox to a range of public health issues.
• Identify ways to measure socioeconomic status and discuss how and why income, education, occupation and wealth are associated with health.
• Explain the history, context, and mechanisms/pathways leading to health disparities.
• Discuss how neighborhood characteristics influence population health.
• Apply the work/stress model to health outcomes.
• Define social networks, social support, and social capital and describe how these constructs are associated with health.
• Compare theories of health behavior and analyze their applicability to different types of health problems and populations.
• Formulate social and behavioral change interventions that are appropriate and responsive to the social and cultural context.
• Develop logic models and evaluation plans for public health programs or policies.
• Develop program and policy implementation skills, including communication, advocacy, and media engagement.

Course Organization, Format, and Requirements

Class format consists of online modules and on-site seminars led by the instructor. The purpose of the on-site seminars is to apply concepts covered in the online modules to cases and discuss concepts within the context of clinician-led health care organizations. 

Online modules following course introduction

1. Prevention Paradox
2. Socioeconomic Status and Health
3. Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities
4. Neighborhoods and Health
5. Job Stress and Health
6. Social Support, Social Networks, and Social Capital
7. Health Behavior Change: Challenges and Theories

Take-home module

8. Public Health Interventions & Evaluation (readings and homework assignment)

On-site Seminars

1. Course Introduction
2. Intervention Design
3. Logic Models
4. Evaluation Design
5. Guest presentation; wrap-up

Final Course Grade Distribution

Final Course Grades will be distributed as follows:

Blog Post Reflections

All responses for the blog posts should be posted online and use a short essay response format (i.e., complete sentences, paragraph form, no bullet points). Limit to 250-500 words. Introduction and conclusion paragraphs not needed. Studies and resources discussed should be referenced accordingly.

Expectations

• Submit all assignments online via the course website.
• Read assignments before the online module/onsite class, view module/attend class, and participate in discussions.
• Turn in assignments on the specified due date, unless prior permission is granted from the instructor. Late assignments will be penalized half a letter grade (e.g., 5 points) per day late.
• As detailed in the Harvard T.H. Chan Student Handbook, students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty. 

Course Timeline