This course is designed to review theories and research examining stress and the role it plays in social disparities in health. The course will review basic concepts and models of stress as well as the mechanisms by which stress may influence health and explain social disparities. A key aspect of the class will be to consider the quality of the research on stress and health, and students will be required to evaluate methods and measures. The course builds on a basic understanding of society and health and of epidemiology.
Course Activities: Lectures, seminars: reaction papers, class presentations and discussion, a take-home final.
Course Prerequisite(s): SBS201 or SBS201s or EPI200 or EPI201

The SBS Doctoral Seminar is designed to provide students with an opportunity to connect across cohorts, explore topics covered in their doctoral-level coursework in more depth, develop and practice critical professional skills (e.g., grant writing, research development, science communication, CV/cover letter writing), and present their on-going research for feedback from their peers. A 50-minute seminar will be held every week.
Course Activities: Interactive discussions and presentations
Course Prerequisite(s): For SBS doctoral students only

A week-long summer short course exploring the linkages between emotional well-being and physical health, planned and hosted in partnership with University College London. The course provides a systematic and rigorous overview of the relationship between emotional well-being and physical health, drawing on a broad range of empirical methods and including careful consideration of measurement issues.

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Introduces methodology to explore fundamental concepts and theories useful in understanding social and behavioral determinants of health. The course emphasizes quantitative research and social science methods applied to public health research. Major attention is given to methodology from sociology and psychology in their application to public health problems.

The course introduces students to the theories and methods of social sciences in population health. Through weekly seminars and lectures, the course will cover: social epidemiological approaches to examining health disparities, behavioral science research methods, program planning and evaluation, ethnographic approaches, health communication, and community-based interventions.