Health and Societies: Bioethics and Society, BA
The Health and Societies (HSOC) major examines health and medicine in social context, equipping students with the critical faculties and multidisciplinary skills that will prepare them for careers in public health, health services, and a variety of other arenas. The program is built on the foundation of three core disciplines: anthropology, history, and sociology. Methods and courses from other disciplines and fields—including epidemiology, political science, business/economics, law, environmental studies, and bioethics—supplement the core disciplines and provide majors with the variety of skills necessary to grasp the forces that have shaped our contemporary health landscapes. The Health and Societies graduate is a "multilingual" scholar and citizen, fluent in the methods and perspectives of several social science disciplines--- theoretically informed but practically minded, with a global outlook and local experience.
The minimum total course units for graduation in this major is 34. Double majors may entail more course units.
For more information: https://hss.sas.upenn.edu/undergraduate/health-societies-major
For information about the General Education requirements, please visit the College of Arts & Sciences Curriculum page.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| College General Education Requirements and Free Electives | ||
| Foundational Approaches + Sectors1 + Free Electives | 20 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Foundation Requirement | ||
| HSOC 010 | Health and Societies | 1 |
| or HSOC 145 | Comparative Medicine | |
| Quantitative Methods | ||
| HSOC/SOCI 100 | Sociological Research Methods 2 | 1 |
| or HSOC/SOCI 111 | Health of Populations. | |
| Core Discipline | ||
| HSOC 002 | Medicine in History | 1 |
| or HSOC 150 | American Health Policy | |
| or HSOC 112 | The Peoples Health | |
| HSOC 238 | Introduction to Medical Anthropology | 1 |
| or HSOC 275 | Medical Sociology | |
| HSOC or STSC Electives | ||
| Select 3 HSOC or STSC Electives | 3 | |
| Bioethics & Society Concentration | ||
| Select 1 Core Discipline course | 1 | |
| Select 1 Core Course | 1 | |
| Select 1 Philosophical & Religious Foundations course | 1 | |
| Select 1 Social & Institutional Contexts course | 1 | |
| Select 1 Technologies, Practices & Practitioners course | 1 | |
| Select 1 Law, Politics & Public Policy course | 1 | |
| Capstone Research Requirement | ||
| Select 1 400-level HSOC or STSC Research Seminar | 1 | |
| Total Course Units | 34 | |
| 1 | You may count no more than one course toward both a Major and a Sector requirement. For Exceptions, check the Policy Statement. |
| 2 | HSOC 100 Sociological Research Methods is cross listed with SOCI 100 Sociological Research Methods and HSOC 111 Health of Populations. is cross listed with SOCI 111 Health of Populations. |
Honors
Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.6 in the major and 3.3 overall.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| HSOC 420 | Research Seminar Health and Society | 1 |
| HSOC 498 | Honors Thesis | 1 |
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2020 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.