PSYCTRY 185Introduction to Social Medicine
Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences · 4 units · Undergraduate upper division (100-199)
Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of social medicine. Examination of how health and disease outcomes are shaped by social, political, and economic forces—including racism, colonialism, gender inequality, labor exploitation, and environmental injustice. These forces, including language, culture, housing, immigration status and income levels, are often referred as social determinants of health and provide crucial insights into a patient’s health needs. Reading of key texts in medical anthropology, social epidemiology, public health, and critical race theory to learn to analyze health not merely as biological but as deeply social. Key texts on theoretical frameworks are paired with contemporary ethnographic pieces that demonstrate the application of these theories to understand social and ecological health problems. Examination of the importance of intersectional research and community engagement in mitigating health harms and designing effective health interventions.
Letter grading.
When it runs
Not on the schedule for any of Fall 2025 through Spring 2027. UCLA publishes only that window, so this does not mean the course is gone — check the official listing.
Requisites
UCLA lists no requisites for this course.
Requires
Everything that has to come before this course, not just the courses named in the requisite above.
Nothing — this is an entry point.
Unlocks
What this course is a requisite for, and what those courses lead to in turn.
No course in the catalog lists this as a requisite.