COURSE INFORMATION
Health and Social Behavior

EMH 218d. Environmental and Social Risk Factors for Psychiatric Disorders (Departments of Epidemiology, Health and Social Behavior and Maternal and Child Health)
Dr. S. Buka, Dr. L. Berkman, Dr. J. Murphy
1.25 credits
Lectures. One 2-hour session each week.

Reviews the major environmental and social risks for psychiatric disorders of children, youth and adults. Lectures will address current theories of gene-environmental interaction for psychiatric illness, and both biological and psychosocial mechanisms linking environmental risks with psychiatric disorders. Topics include prenatal complications; childhood trauma; social networks and social support; critical life events; culture, ethnicity and religion; social class; and community influences. Major epidemiologic studies of these topics are presented. This course is in the psychiatric epidemiology track.
Course Activities: Class discussion, final paper.

EPH 286t. Implementing Prevention (Department of Epidemiology and Department of Health and Social Behavior)
Dr. G. Colditz, Dr. K Emmons
2.5 credits
Lectures, case studies. Five 2-hour sessions each week.

This course will cover issues ranging from the evidence underlying prevention recommendations to theory and practice of implementing prevention. First, we will examine the sources of evidence and how they are sythesized to inform recommendations for prevention. This will include a brief review of methods for research synthesis and the classification scheme used by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Strategies for prevention that address population-wide change in risk will be considered including action by health care providers, regulatory change, and individual and community changes. The theories underlying behavior change will be reviewed and examples of ongoing prevention interventions will be discussed. Risk assessment and risk communication will be addressed and examples from cancer and cardiovascular disease will be used for class assignments. Finally, students will review a prevention strategy of their own choice and outline a plan for action.
Course Note: Ordinal grading only.

HMP 200c. Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Public Health (Department of Health and Social Behavior, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Department of Population and International Health)
Dr. L. Kubzansky, Dr. S. Buka
2.5 credits
Lectures, seminars. Two 1-hour sessions and one 2-hour lab each week.

Introduces methodology to explore fundamental social and behavioral science concepts and theories useful in understanding social influences on health status. The course emphasizes quantitative and qualitative research methods in social sciences applied to observational and intervention-oriented studies. Major attention is given to the theoretical and conceptual frameworks from sociology and psychology in their application to public health problems.
Course Activities: One synthesis paper (5-8 pages); discussions; one exam.
Course Note: Departmental requirement for the Department of Health and Social Behavior; specifically geared to HSB students in the MPH and other professional master's degree programs.

HSB 201a. Society and Health
Dr. I. Kawachi
2.5 credits
Lectures, seminars, case studies. Two 2-hour sessions and one 1.5-hour lab each week.

Analyzes major social variables that affect population health: poverty, social class, gender, race, family, community, work, behavioral risks, and coping resources. Examines health consequences of social and economic policies, and the potential role of specific social interventions. Reviews empirical and theoretical literature on mechanisms and processes that mediate between social factors and their health effects, and discusses alternative models for advancing public health.
Course Activities: Short written assignments, class discussion, final term paper, final examination.
Course Note: Departmental requirement for the Department of Health and Social Behavior.

HSB201s. Society and Health
Dr. L. Berkman
2.5 credits
Lectures, case studies. Five 2-hour sessions each week.

Analyzes major social variables that affect population health: poverty, social class, gender, race, family, community, work, behavioral risks, and coping resources. Examines health consequences of social and economic policies, and the potential role of specific social interventions. Reviews empirical and theoretical literature on mechanisms and processes that mediate between social factors and their health effects, and discusses alternative models for advancing public health.
Course Activities: Short written assignments, class discussion, final term paper, final examination.
Course Note: Departmental requirement for the Department of Health and Social Behavior.

HSB 204b. Communication in Health Care Settings
Dr. L. Daltroy
2.5 credits
Seminars. Two 2-hour sessions each week.

This course will focus on theory and practice of health communication in the clinical encounter: doctor-patient communication, patient education, adherence to medical regimen, cognition and behavioral skills in chronic disease co-management, informed consent, and psychoeducational preparation for surgery.
Course Activities: Brief papers on readings, class discussions, role play, one presentation, one optional paper for extra credit.
Course Note: Clinician or social sciences background recommended; enrollment limited to 18 students; signature of instructor required.

HSB 212cd. Developing Radio Communications
Dr. B. Austin (P), Dr. L. Berkman (S)
2.5 credits
Lectures, seminars. One 2-hour session each week.

Covers the development and use of radio communications in public health. Participants create an original, broadcast quality radio commercial, moving from background research to scripting and final production.
Course Activities: One trip to a Boston recording studio; one trip to a Boston radio station. One-hour individual session at the recording studio with a professional announcer to produce the radio commercial.
Course Note: Preference given to students in the Department of Health and Social Behavior; enrollment limited to 15 students; signature of instructor required.

HSB 214c. Health Literacy (Cross-listed at GSE)
Dr. R. Rudd
2.5 credits
To be given 2000-2001; offered alternate years.
Seminar, practicum. Two 2-hour sessions each week.

Focuses on the linkages between health and literacy and between health and adult education theory and methods. Participants hone skills assessing literacy demands in health communications. Structured fieldwork includes observation studies, interviews, small projects.
Course Note: Instructor's signature required; no auditors; ordinal grading option only.

HSB 215ab. History, Politics, and Public Health: Theories of Disease Distribution Across Time and Culture
Dr. N. Krieger
5 credits
Lectures, seminars. One 3-hour session each week.

This course will focus on social and scientific contexts, content, and implications of diverse theories of disease causation, both past and present. Theories covered range from ancient Greek, Chinese, Indian, African, Latin American and American Indian theories to miasma, contagion, germ theory, biomedical model, lifestyle, social production of disease, and ecosocial theory. The course will consider how these theories shape questions people ask about -- and explanations and interventions they offer for--patterns of health, disease, and well being in their societies. The goal is for students to develop a historical and critical perspective concerning current theories of disease causation, and to incorporate this perspective into their public health research and projects.
Course Activities: Brief reaction papers on reading each week, class participation, one group project (textbook survey), one final paper.
Course Note: Enrollment limited to 25 students, with preference given to doctoral students in HSB; signature of instructor required.

HSB 221cd. Psychosocial Theories of Health and Health Behavior
Dr. K. Emmons, Dr. L. Daltroy
5 credits
Lectures, seminars. One 3-hour session each week.

This is a doctoral-level course, designed to provide students with a conceptual grounding in theoretical approaches to health and health behavior. This course emphasizes the use of psycho-social theories in health-related research and includes an examination of Health Beliefs Model, Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behavior, Social Learning Theory, the Transtheoretical Model, Prospect Theory/risk communication, control theory, social support, and social networks. Heuristic models designed to integrate these theoretical perspectives will be addressed.
Course Activities: Assigned readings, class participation, two papers, weekly concept papers, small individual presentations.
Course Note: HSB 201a required; enrollment is primarily for doctoral students and is limited to 15 students in total; master's students need instructors' permission; signature of instructor required

HSB 225d. Health and Social Policy in the Workplace
Dr. J. Heymann
2.5 credits
Seminars. Two 1.5-hour sessions each week.

The course explores how health and social policies mediate whether work has a positive or negative effect on the health and welfare of individuals, families, and communities. Topic areas covered will include, among others: work by those with chronic health conditions, injuries, or diseases, work by those with learning or developmental disabilities, work-family policies, welfare to work polices, safe workplace policies, and health interventions at workplaces. Stages from policy development to the politics of implementation will be discussed.
Course Note: Enrollment limited to 25 students

HSB229e. The Future of Health Communication: New Media and Emerging Technologies
Mr. B. Glassman, Dr. K. Emmons
1.25 credits
Five 3 « sessions for one week.

Every day an average of five new Internet-connected devices are announced; more and more of them are wireless. Where will the high-quality health knowledge come from? How will we meet the health information needs of people with Web-connected car radios and cell-phones with browsers, while keeping in touch with people who must walk a mile for a pay phone? How can we predict and even shape the evolution of the technologies we will use to reach those at risk? How can we hold anyone's attention in a world of individually tailored, high-speed virtual reality? What will the health information consumers of 2010 require of us?

This class will pose and address these questions, in the context of key public health problems. Participants will learn to detect and understand the earliest signals from the creators of new technologies, to forge partnerships with technology innovators, to develop, package and store information in ways that will make it optimally accessible by many kinds of devices, and to design and build their own innovative delivery systems where necessary

Course Activities: Class participation, leading an in-class discussion.
Course Note: Minimum enrollment of 5 students required.

HSB 231c. Community Intervention Research Methods
Dr. G. Sorensen, Dr. J. Allen
2.5 credits
Lectures. Seminars. One 3-hour session each week.

This course is designed to provide students skills in intervention research design and methodology. The course will review phases of research for community studies; applying theoretical models to intervention and evaluation design; linking study design to intervention planning; community linkages to intervention research planning and implementation; community-originated research and participatory research methods; qualitative/formative research; evaluation design issues for intervention research; measurement of outcomes. Students will also develop skills in critiquing community intervention studies.
Course Activities: Assigned readings, class participation, term paper.
Course Note: Graduate course in program design or program planning required (e.g. HSB227cd, HSB202a, or MCM215cd); enrollment limited to 20 students; signature of instructor required.

HSB 233ab. HSB Department Proseminar
Dr. R. Rudd, Dr. B. Kennedy
2.5 credits
Seminar. One 2- hour session each week for the ab period.

The course focuses on the research and projects of the facult in HSB. Readings and presentations offer an overview of assumptions, theories, and methods. Presentations will focus on case examples of programs designed to address health and social behavioral issues. Student groups will be responsible for structuring discussion for a particular session and all participants will submit reflection papers.
Course Activities: Assigned readings, participation in class discussion, reading portfolio, report.
Course Note: Enrollment limited to HSB students, signature of instructor required, ordinal grading option only.

HSB 235c. Social Epidemiology
Dr. L. Berkman
2.5 credits
Lectures, seminars. One 3-hour session each week.

The course will focus on understanding the social determinants of health. Readings and discussion center on understanding the theories, measurement and empirical evidence related to specific social conditions and experiences such as socioeconomic position, discrimination, social networks and support, work conditions, ecological level neighborhood and community social conditions, and social and economic policies. Biological and psychological mechanisms by which social conditions influence health will be discussed. The course builds on a basic understanding of society and health and of epidemiology. Students will be required to present in class and evaluate methods and measures.
Course Activities: Assigned readings; class presentations and discussions; term paper.
Course Note: Enrollment limited to 20 students; HSB 201a, EPI200a (or EPI201a), EPI202b and HSB215ab required.

HSB 240ab. Social and Behavioral Research Methods, Part I
Dr. S. Gortmaker
5 credits
Seminars. Two 2-hour sessions each week.

Provides a broad overview of social and behavioral research methodology, including experimental, quasi-experimental and non-experimental research design, measurement, sampling, data collection, and testing causal theories. By case studies, methodological readings, discussion, written assignments, and data analytic homework students learn to conduct social and behavioral research and more applied program evaluations. Homework includes analytic work with observational and experimental studies and development of new measures.
Course Activities: Assigned readings, class participation, homework, reflections, two papers.
Course Note: BIO 210cd, BIO 211cd or BIO 213ab or equivalent required; enrollment limited to 20; a multivariate statistics course strongly recommended; course primarily for doctoral students.

HSB 241cd. Social and Behavioral Research Methods, Part II
Dr. S. Cole (P), Dr. L. Berkman (S)
5 credits
Seminars. Two 2-hour sessions each week.

This course is divided into two sections. The "c" period is designed to integrate methods training by providing students an opportunity to manage and analyze data in the “real world.” Using data drawn from several sources, students will employ basic data management strategies and multivariate analytic techniques used commonly in research. Topics covered include data management and preparation, scale construction, working with complex sampling designs, and multivariate modeling using both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. This course will be a seminar and will emphasize hands-on participation, and group problem solving. During the "d" period students will develop a research protocol following an NIH format. Major attention is given to developing research hypotheses, proposing precise methods including describing the sample, measures, study design, and analytic techniques. Field methods, budgets and budget justifications will be written. Each proposal will then be reviewed by a group of expert faculty following the format of an NIH site visit.
Course Activities: Data management and analysis projects, research protocol preparation and class participation including presentations.
Course Note: HSB 240ab required; previously offered HSB 230cd fulfills prerequisite; minimum enrollment of 5 students required; course primarily for doctoral students

HSB 250c. Inequality and Health
Dr. I. Kawachi, Dr. B. Kennedy
2.5 credits
Lectures, seminars. Two 2-hour session each week.

Socioeconomic inequalities in health are large, widespread and persistent. The aims of this course are: to review the major theories of social stratification - from economic, political, and sociologic perspectives; to examine the epidemiologic evidence on social class, gender, and racial disparities in health and illness; and to develop an inter-disciplinary approach to analyze the problem of inequality.
Course Note: Enrollment limited to 25 students; signature of instructor required; preference given to doctoral students.

HSB 269ab. Doctoral Seminar on Health and Social Behavior
Dr. S. Gortmaker
1.25 credits
Seminars. One 1-hour session each week.

Overview of the major research questions pursued by doctoral students in health and social behavior. Requirement for all 1st year HSB doctoral students.
Course Activities: Doctoral student participants lead seminars, discussing their research ideas and plans, including their theoretical perspective.
Course Note: Pass/Fail only; signature of instructor required indicating suitable background if student is not a doctoral student in the Department of Health and Social Behavior.

HSB 270cd. Doctoral Seminar on Health and Social Behavior
Dr. S. Gortmaker
1.25 credits
Seminars. One 1-hour session each week.

Overview of the major questions pursued by doctoral students in health and social behavior. Requirement for all 1st year HSB doctoral students.
Course Activities: Doctoral student participants lead seminars, discussing their research ideas and plans, including their theoretical perspective.
Course Note: Pass/Fail only; signature of instructor required indicating suitable background if student is not a doctoral student in the Department of Health and Social Behavior.

HSB 292c. Policy Analysis Methods for Public Health
Dr. D. Acevedo-Garcia
2.5 credits
Lectures, seminars. Two 2-hour sessions each week.

This course is targeted towards students who plan to work in policy roles upon graduation. The goal of the course is to build the skills necessary to critically interpret the results and recommendations of health research that examine policy questions or have policy implications. The course will focus on providing an introduction to the following policy analysis methods: decision analysis, economic analysis (e.g. cost-benefit), application of statistical approaches (e.g. regression analysis) to policy questions, and application of qualitative approaches (e.g. case studies) to policy questions. The course will also offer a brief introduction to policy advocacy methods. Assignments will include critical reviews of the methods and policy recommendations of various research papers and policy reports with a focus on identifying methodological problems and unsound policy recommendations. Examples will be drawn from research on the health effects of social policies (e.g. housing) and public health policies (e.g. tobacco control, alcohol use regulations).
Course Activities: Assigned reading, class participation.
Course Note: Enrollment limited to 30 students; signature of instructor required.

HSB293d. Place, Migration and Health
Dr. D. Acevedo-Garcia
2.5 credits
Lecture, seminars. Two 2-hour session each week.

This course will examine the health effects of US policies that influence where people live (e.g. housing, and residential desegregation policies), and how they move from one place to another (e.g. transportation, immigration and immigrant policies). The course will cover both the substantive aspects of the relevant policies and the empirical evidence on the health effects of those policies.

Course Activities: Assigned readings, class participation, two short papers.
Course Note: Enrollment limited to 25 students; signature of instructor required.

HSB 295d. Health and Social Policy Doctoral Seminar
Dr. J. Heymann
2.5 credits
Seminars. One 3-hour session each week.

For social research to more positively affect people's lives, researchers need to better understand how research gets translated into action. The goal of this course is to help doctoral students wrestle with how the design and implementation of their own research influences its utility. This seminar will examine successes and failures in the translation of research to programs and policy and apply these lessons to students' own research.

Students will be assigned readings on the translation of research into policies and programs. Each student will work on their own research projects, which they will present to the class.

Course Activities: Assigned readings, individual research project presentations, class participation, paper.
Course note: Enrollment limited to 25 students; Instructor's signature required; course best taken after doctoral exams.

HSB 300a,b,c,d,e,s. Independent Study
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

An opportunity for independent study is offered for interested and qualified students or small groups of students. Arrangements must be made with individual faculty members and are limited by the amount of faculty time available. These programs are open to all students who wish to go beyond the content of the regular courses.
Course Note: Completed independent study contract is required at the time of registration; maximum of 5 credits per independent study topic; pass/fail only; signature of instructor required.

HSB 301a,b,c,d,e,s. Tutorial
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

Course Note: Completed study contract is required at the time of registration; maximum of 5 credits per topic; pass/fail only; signature of instructor required.

HSB 350a,b,c,d,e,s. Research
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral candidates who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied research in the department.
Course Note: Pass/Fail only; maximum of 20 credits; signature of instructor required.

HSB 400 a,b,c,d,e,s. Research
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral candidates who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied research in the department.
Course Note: Pass/Fail only; maximum of 20 credits; signature of instructor required.

MCS 210ab. Personality and Cognitive Development: Application to Public Health (Department of Maternal and Child Health and the Department of Health and Social Behavior)
Dr. D. Kindlon
2.5 credits
Lectures. One 2-hour session each week.

Basic principles of child development are examined within a public health frame of reference. Emphasis is placed on the understanding of the theories of Bronfenbrenner, Skinner, Erickson and others, especially as they relate to understanding interventions for public health problems, including behavior problems and non-organic mental retardation.
Course Activities: Class discussion, class presentation, term paper.

PSB 205c.Diaster Management (formerly HSB 217cd)
Dr. J. Leaning
2.5 credits
Lectures. One 2-hour session each week.

Designed for physicians or public health officers who may be charged with responsibility for on-the-scene, immediate acute intervention during disasters. The focus will be on decision-making under stress, examining U.S. and international case studies within the theoretical framework of disaster planning, response, and assessment.
Course Activities: Requirements include readings from syllabus and short list of required tests as well as a final paper.

WGH 200c. Women, Gender and Health (Departments of Health and Social Behavior, Population and International Health, Maternal and Child Health and Epidemiology)

Dr. N. Krieger, Dr. S. Gruskin

2.5 credits

Seminars. One 3-hour session each week.

This course will focus on constructions of gender and sex and their implications for understanding determinants of population health and creating healthy public policy. It will consider how different frameworks of addressing gender and biological sex shape questions asked and explanations and interventions offered for societal patterns of health, disease, and well-being. The course will demonstrate ways of conceptualizing gender in relation to biology and health using case examples pertaining to breast cancer, smoking, cumulative trauma disorders of hands and wrists, HIV/AIDS, violence, access to health services, sexual health, reproductive health, and population policy. In all these cases, issues of gender will be related to other social determinants of health, including social class, racism, and other forms of inequality. Implications of diverse approaches will be debated, as part of developing useful strategies for improving physical, mental, and social well-being.

Course Note: Enrollment limited to 25 students; signature of instructor required; no auditors.

Last modified:·03/30/2001 14:57:43

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