Social factors are critical to health. Access to health care and services are influenced by a variety of social, cultural, economic, and political forces.  Health practices, knowledge and disease patterns vary by gender, socioeconomic status, racial and ethnic group membership, and age.  In addition, unhealthy lifestyles, high risk behaviors, and hazardous residential and work environments pose serious threats to health.

The minor offers Pre-health professionals and other undergraduate students interested in health and health care services a needed background in the linkage between health and society. As such it better prepares students for entry into a variety of professional programs and careers including nursing, optometry, medicine, social work, medical sociology and psychology. It also builds on our department’s growing contribution to medical social science training, and promotes greater collaborative relations with health-related fields on campus.

Requirements

To complete the minor in medical sociology students must complete 3 semester hours from social diversity and inequality courses; 9 semester hours of core courses, 3 semester hours from courses in health-related issues and problems, and an additional 3 semester hours from a set of approved medical sociology electives. 

Students must complete one course on social diversity and inequality.

Students must complete the following core courses:
SOC 280 Health and Society
SOC 283 The Sociology of Mental Health
SOC 480 Medical Sociology

Students must also complete one course in health-related problems and issues and a medical sociology elective.

Students are strongly advised to refer to the UAB Undergraduate Catalog for additional information on the core curriculum, major, and minor requirements. Direct any questions to the SBS Advising Office located in HUC 318-1150, 975-0097.