SOC 477. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH, HEALING AND ILLNESS
Western New Mexico University
SOC 477
Fall 2011
Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00-12:15 pm
Phelps Dodge 244
Instructor: Dr. Liza Kuecker
Phone: 538-6204
Office: 224 Phelps Dodge
Email: kueckerl@wnmu.edu
Office Hours: 11:00-12:00 Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday
2:00-3:00 Tuesday/Thursday, and by appointment.
Course Description. In this course we will examine the fields of health and medicine
from sociological perspectives. Topics include: the relationship between sociology and
health/healthcare, traditional healing, the rise of scientific medicine, social and physical
environmental impacts on health, healthcare providers and their relationships with
patients and with each other, health care policy, and issues in bioethics.
This course is designed as a Writing Intensive Course.
Course Readings.
Weitz, Rose. 2010. The Sociology of Health, Illness and Health Care:
A Critical Approach, 5e. Belmont CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Avila, Elena with Joy Parker. 1999. Woman Who Glows in the Dark. New York:
Penguin Books.
Cockerham, William C. 2006. Society of Risk-Takers: Living Life on the Edge.
New York: Worth Publishers.
Alvord, Lori Arviso, M.D. and Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt 1999. The Scalpel and the
Silver Bear: The First Navajo Woman Surgeon Combines Western Medicine and
Traditional Healing. New York: Bantam Books.
Course Objectives. Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
1. explain how the application of sociological perspectives leads to greater
understanding of health, healing and illness.
2. describe how social forces promote patterns of health and illness.
3. compare and contrast the patterns of health and illness in developed nations with
those of developing nations.
4. identify all health care providers utilized by patients in the United States.
5. formulate solutions, or social policy recommendations to address the current
problems in health care delivery in the United States.
6. present critical analyses of the bioethical issues examined in this class.
Instructional Methods and Attendance Policy: In teaching this course, there will be
lecture, but more time will be devoted to class discussion. Come to class prepared to
discuss the assigned reading for that day. Attendance is important as the participation of
everyone is critical to the success of the course. You learn from the instructor and your
peers. Cell phones are to be off and put away during class. Lecture will include
material that will supplement the reading, so it is important to take notes. If you miss a
class, it is your responsibility to get copies of handouts and lecture notes. You are
permitted a maximum of three absences, for whatever reason. More than three absences
may result in being dropped from the class.
Communication Policy Statement Regarding Official Email: WNMU’s policy
requires that all official communication-including changes in assignments and gradeswill be sent to your wnmu.edu email address. It is very important that you access your
Mustang Express email periodically to check correspondence from the University. If you
receive most of your email at a different address, you can forward your messages
from Mustang Express to your other address.
Disability Services at Western New Mexico University: Services for students with
disabilities are provided through the Academic Support Center’s Disability Services
Office, temporarily located in the MeCHA Building. Some examples of the assistance
provided are: audio materials for the blind or dyslexic, note takers, readers, campus
guides, audio recorders, a quiet testing area, and undergraduate academic tutors. In order
to qualify for these services, documentation must be provided by qualified professionals
on an annual basis, Disability Services forms are available in the Academic Support
Center. The Disability Services Office, in conjunction with the Academic Support
Center, serves as Western New Mexico University’s liaison for students with disabilities.
The Academic Support Center’s Disability Services Office can be contacted by phone at
575.538.6400 or email at atdss@wnmu.edu.
Evaluation Criteria:
Two essay examinations, take home format. 50%
Two book critiques
30%
Two video reaction papers
10%
Attendance and participation
10%
(including the disability project)
The exams, book critiques and other course assignments are due on the dates
specified. I will not accept late work unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Grading Scale: Students who earn 90% of the total possible points will receive the
grade of “A”; 80% of total possible points will earn a “B”. 70% a “C” and so forth.
Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures: Each student shall observe standards of
honesty and integrity in academic work as defined in the WNMU catalog. Violations of
academic integrity include “any behavior that misrepresents or falsifies a student’s
knowledge, skills or ability with the goal of unjustified or illegitimate evaluation or gain”
(WNMU Faculty Handbook, 2008). Generally violations of the academic integrity
include cheating and plagiarism. Refer to the Student Catalog pages 60-61 for
definitions. Any cheating or plagiarism on course requirements will result in a 0 for that
particular assignment.
Course Outline. I reserve the right to amend the course schedule to meet the needs of
the class.
Week One
August 16-18
Introduction to the Course
Weitz, Chapter 1,2
The Social Sources of Illness
Week Two
August 23-26
The Social Sources of Illness (continued)
Weitz, Chapter 2
Start reading Cockerham’s Society of Risk Takers
Week Three
August 30-September 1
Cockerham’s Society of Risk Takers
Week 4
September 6-8
The Social Distribution of Illness in the United States
Weitz, Chapter 3
Week 5
September 13-15
Illness and Death in Developing Nations
Weitz, Chapter 4
Video: AIDS in Africa
Week 6
September 20-22
The Social Meanings of Illness
Weitz, Chapter 5
Video: The Medicated Child
Week 7
September 27-29
The Experience of Disability, Chronic Pain, and Chronic Illness
Class Exercise: Disability Project
Weitz, Chapter 6
Exam #1. Distributed and explained.
Week 8
October 4-6
The Sociology of Mental Illness
Weitz, Chapter 6
Exam #1. Due on Thursday, October 6th.
Week 9
October 11-13
Health Care in the United States: Current Status and the Need for Reform. What Can
We Learn from Other Countries?
Weitz, Chapters 8 and 9.
Video: Sick Around the World
Week 10
October 18-20
Health Care Settings and Technologies
Weitz, Chapter 10
Be reading Alvord’s The Scalpel and the Silver Bear for discussion next week
Week 11
October 25-27
The Profession of Medicine
Weitz, Chapter 11.
Book critique of The Scalpel and the Silver Bear due on Thursday, October 27th.
Week 12
November 1-3
Other Mainstream, Alternative, and Traditional Health Care Providers
Weitz, Chapter 12
Be reading Avila’s Woman Who Glows in the Dark.
Week 13
November 8-10
Alternative Health Care Providers (continued)
Book critique of Woman Who Glows in the Dark. due on Thursday, November 10th.
Week 14
November 15-17
Issues in Bioethics
Weitz, Chapter 13.
Week 15
November 22-24
Thanksgiving Recess: No Classes This Week.
Week 16
November 29-December 1
Bioethics (continued)
Exam #2. Distributed and explained.
Final Exam Time: Thursday, December 8 at 10 am.