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HSCI 358 Racism and Health

This course focuses on the role of racism in the creation and perpetuation of poor health outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on analysis, utilizing critical theory, of the manner in which the history of scientific racism is embedded in current health care clinical practice. The biological responses to the experience of racism will be explored. Racism in healthcare research, the role of structural racism in homelessness and its effects on health, and engagement in anti-racist, activist scholarship to achieve health equity are addressed.

Special information

Prerequisites: 30 credits of lower division undergraduate coursework.
4 Undergraduate credits

Effective May 2, 2023 to present

Meets graduation requirements for

Learning outcomes

General

  • Students will be able to describe the history of scientific racism embedded in the current healthcare system and clinical practice.
  • Students will be able to analyze their own attitudes and beliefs about racism related to health and healthcare.
  • Utilizing critical theory, students will be able to analyze the role that racism plays in lack of healthcare access and poor clinical outcomes.
  • Students will be able to analyze the effects of racism on human biological function.
  • Students will be able to develop a purposive, anti-racist, social action plan that works towards health equity and liberation.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum

Goal 7: Human Diversity

  • Understand the development of and the changing meanings of group identities in the United States' history and culture.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the individual and institutional dynamics of unequal power relations between groups in contemporary society.
  • Analyze their own attitudes, behaviors, concepts and beliefs regarding diversity, racism, and bigotry.
  • Describe and discuss the experience and contributions (political, social, economic, etc.) of the many groups that shape American society and culture, in particular those groups that have suffered discrimination and exclusion.
  • Demonstrate communication skills necessary for living and working effectively in a society with great population diversity.