This course provides an opportunity for students to delve further into key topics including social inequalities and their potential impact on health, with emphasis on marginalized and stigmatized populations; the role of resource allocation in health care; public health programming and the role of the State in public health; the health care system as a social institution; and how the health care system interfaces with populations, communities, and individuals through key decision making processes and communications.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Understand the basic underpinnings of social inequities, including the identification of vulnerable and stigmatized sub-populations, and the interaction with health.
2. Describe the role of the State (Country) in Public Health.
3. Discuss and summarize the roles of Public Health, and the Health Care Systems in addressing health, disease, and illness in the community and population levels.

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time).

Week 1: Unit 1 – Sociological Perspectives of Health, Public Health, and Health Care

Week 2: Unit 2 – Social Inequities in Health within and between Countries

Week 3: Unit 3 – Vulnerable Populations, Stigma, and Health Outcomes

Week 4: Unit 4 – Etiology of Disease: Introduction to Epidemiology

Week 5: Unit 5 – Health Information and Health Analysis

Week 6: Unit 6 – Surveillance and Control of Risks and Threats

Week 7: Unit 7 – Introduction to Health Economics

Week 8: Unit 8 – Public Health Strategy Development

Week 9: Unit 9 – Course Review and Final Exam

Learning Guide

The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.

Unit 1: Sociological Perspectives of Health, Public Health, and Health Care

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 2: Social Inequities in Health within and between Countries

• Peer assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 3: Vulnerable Populations, Stigma, and Health Outcomes

• Peer assess Unit 2 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 4: Etiology of Disease: Introduction to Epidemiology

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 5: Health Information and Health Analysis

• Peer assess Unit 4 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 6: Surveillance and Control of Risks and Threats

• Peer assess Unit 5 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 7: Introduction to Health Economics

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 8: Public Health Strategy Development

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Read the Unit 9 Learning Guide carefully for instructions on the Final Exam
• Take the Review Quiz
• Complete and submit the anonymous Course Evaluation

Unit 9: Course Review and Final Exam

• Read the Learning Guide and take the Review Quiz, if you haven’t already done so
• Prepare for, take, and submit the Final Exam
  • The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time); exact dates, times, and other details will be provided accordingly by your instructor