Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - HSCI 340 D100

Social Determinants of Health (3)

Class Number: 3498

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    60 units and two HSCI 200-level courses with a minimum grade of C-, one of which may be taken concurrently.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Social determinants of health and health inequities. Explores how and why the social advantages and disadvantages that people experience - based on their social position(s) and social circumstances - determine their health status and overall well-being.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course provides students with theoretical and methodological tools to explore and address issues of social justice and equity in health. We consider how social structures and systems of inequality translate to social advantage and disadvantage, and ultimately impact health outcomes. This course draws on numerous theoretical approaches and specific frameworks including intersectionality and ecological approaches to health. Methodologically, we will explore the skills, knowledges and dispositions necessary to work toward health equity. Students will learn how to identify and explain health issues pertaining to equity and promote solutions at policy and other levels. The course emphasizes collaboration with communities and centring of community knowledge about health as central to health equity.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Connect systems of inequality to stratification in society resulting in poor health outcomes for some and protection for others
  • Link upstream social structures to exploitative processes and the maintenance of unearned privilege
  • Identify multiple theoretical approaches to health equity and describe their values and limits
  • Apply theoretical approaches to reframe deficit-based approaches to health and health inequities
  • Reflect on your social location, biases and responsibility and how these impact your work promoting health equity
  • Explain issues pertaining to health equity and strategize how to best share this knowledge with others

Grading

  • Class participation 10%
  • Journal entries (x 5 over the term) 40%
  • Group project outline 20%
  • Final group project report & slide deck 30%

NOTES:

Assignments include: (1) weekly class prep, (2) participation in class, (3) journaling, and (4) a semester long group project.

REQUIREMENTS:

In-person class attendance will be mandatory and there will be no online option for this class. Students who are unable to attend class will not be able to pass and are encourage to take HSCI 340 in another semester.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

In an effort to make this class affordable and accessible, students will not have to purchase any specific materials for this class. They will need an electronic device and SFU login to access our Canvas site and the SFU Library.

REQUIRED READING:

All materials for this class will be available over the web and SFU library website.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.