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Description: |
This course examines the intersection of religion/spirituality and public health, locally, globally and nationally. Extensive evidence-based research has shown that religion and spirituality have a significant impact on the health of individuals. More recently, researchers have found that religion/spirituality is a social determinant of public health, making it a factor that public health practitioners should consider when approaching public health challenges such as responses to pandemics, gun violence, women’s reproductive health, or entrenched political conflicts. We survey the research establishing the connection between religion and health/mental health and spend time analyzing a variety of case studies illustrating how they have intersected in real world scenarios. This is a community engaged course. Students will be assigned to a local community partner to help with projects at that organization throughout the semester. This course is part of the Religion and Society Cluster, and the Medicine in Context (Public Health) cluster. It also counts as an elective for the health, behavior, and society (HBS) program. |