PHLT 502 - Social and Behavioral Science in Public Health (3)

This is a required core course for the M.P.H. and is intended to provide students in public health a solid grounding in social/behavioral theory and its application to health promotion programs. Students will examine factors that influence behavior, the relationship between behavior and selected health issues, and survey theoretical perspectives from psychology, social psychology, sociology, communications, community and organizational mobilization, political economy, and anthropology that offer explanations of human behavior. Review approaches for applying theory, and examine types of health promotion programs that have sought to apply these theories in communities, schools, workplaces, global health efforts, mass media/communications programs, with high risk populations, and in the effort to eliminate health disparities. There are no prerequisites. Offered: Spring.