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308.842.98
SS/R: A Transdisciplinary Systems Approach to Addressing Social Determinates of Health inequities

Location
Barcelona, Spain
Term
2nd Term
Department
Health Policy and Management
Credit(s)
3
Academic Year
2017 - 2018
Instruction Method
TBD
Start Date
Thursday, November 23, 2017
End Date
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Class Time(s)
Th, F, Sa, 8:30am - 6:00pm
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
One Year Only
Next Offered
Only offered in 2017
Description
Although there is abundant literature on the analysis of SDHI, most research approaches are based on limited risk factor analyses and other reductionistic linear behavioral and biological perspectives. The advance of ‘complexity science’ and ‘systems thinking’ across a broad range of practices and tools (e.g., system dynamics, network analysis, and agent-based modeling) allows one to consider the causes and solutions for complex challenges such as obesity and addiction, which follow complex systems characteristics such as nonlinearity, feedback loops, or chaotic behavior.
Introduces a novel transdisciplinary approach on Social Determinants of Health Inequities (SDHI). Provides an in-depth understanding of macro, meso and micro levels, all of which generate health inequities. Prepares students to examine the changes, causes, and potential policies to address systemic public health and equity-related subjects and the complex interactions between biology, behaviors, society and politics. Integrates a broad range of disciplines, ‘systems thinking’ practices, and methodological pluralism. Reviews research advances, including explanatory case studies and the evaluation of policies and interventions to reduce health inequities.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and critically analyze some limitations of mainstream Public Health Research
  2. Review causalities in SDHI research identifying a complex systems thinking approach across a broad range of disciplines and tools
  3. Describe the usefulness of a complex systems research paradigm for the monitoring, implementation, and evaluation of policies to reduce health inequities
  4. Describe key issues on SDHI (e.g., politics, social class, precariousness, geography) under a transdisciplinary systemic research approach
Enrollment Restriction
undergraduate and interdivisional students are not permitted in this section
Special Comments

This course will be offered for 3 days in Barcelona. Students must physically be in Barcelona to participate. Students are required to complete readings prior to the start of the course in order to participate in active debates and will be contacted prior to the start of class to identify a topic in which they will take the lead and to identify the topic of the final paper. The final paper due on Dec 19, 2017.