410.679.60
Global Communication and Social Change

Location
East Baltimore
Term
2nd Term
Department
Health, Behavior and Society
Credit(s)
3
Academic Year
2017 - 2018
Instruction Method
TBD
Class Time(s)
This is a blended course. Over the course of the term, eight hours of classroom time will be replaced by outside-of-class work.
Wednesday, 1:30 - 3:20pm
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Carol Underwood
Contact Name
Carol Underwood
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

410.612.01 Sociological Perspectives

Description
Global communication plays a key role in bringing about changes in the world around us, whether with respect to changes in social norms, economic development or broad social change that affect public health. Yet, the effects of communication on health policy, health programming, and health practices are often overlooked. This course will encourage students to examine critically theories of communication, social change, and economic development and their application as related to public health.
Critically examines the intersection of theories of economic development, social change, and communication as applied to public health. Introduces the complex and dynamic role of global communication in the social determinants of health. Interrogates “development” discourses as applied to health communication in middle- and low-resource areas countries. Presents evaluations of communication interventions in low- and middle-resource nation-states. Investigates health communication endeavors abroad as well as in low-resource settings in the U.S.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Compare and contrast competing theories of social and economic development (or social change)
  2. Describe communication and/or sociological theories relevant to social change at various levels of the social ecological model
  3. Distinguish between social normative change and social change; articulate when they overlap
  4. Consider the diversity of peoples and cultures, the significance and impact of communication across social ecological levels in a global society, and how they affect health policies and health outcomes
  5. Describe the role of global communication in health interventions across social ecological levels
  6. Identify interventions at various levels of the social ecological model that are applicable to global communication and social change
  7. Identify and discuss future directions for global health communication
Instructor Consent
No consent required
Special Comments

This course blends traditional classroom time and outside-of-class activities with a corresponding reduction in class sessions. This class will meet once a week for two hours. Students are expected to spend one hour a week on class work in addition to regular homework.

Outside-of-class activities will include required attendance at four JHSPH events (seminars, discussion series, symposiums) over the course of the term. Instructor approval prior to attendance at selected events and a one-page summary of each event will be required.