Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of General Studies in Health and Society

Health and Society is an interdisciplinary major focused on the social context of health. The curriculum provides an interdisciplinary understanding of the role of social factors in health, such as housing, economics, and local environments (i.e., social determinants of health), while facilitating the development of transferable professional skills emphasized in a liberal arts education, including critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, adaptability, ethics, and social responsibility. The central goal of the Health and Society major is to train students for careers that emphasize the socio-demographic, cultural, political, historical, and ethical contexts that underlie health behaviors, healthcare practices, and health policies by providing the knowledge and skills necessary to critically evaluate and inform strategies that address health at local, state, and national levels.

Health-related careers frequently require a team effort, incorporating multiple viewpoints and approaches. To prepare students for this, the Health and Society major engages students with a wide range of perspectives on health, including those from anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology. By intentionally integrating the conceptual frameworks, analytical tools, and data approaches from each discipline, the Health and Society curriculum provides graduates with a rich toolkit to tackle real-world challenges. With this interdisciplinary training, graduates can effectively communicate and collaborate with multiple stakeholders, approach problems creatively, facilitate collaborations across sectors, and foster innovation by blending ideas from different fields.

The knowledge and transferable skills students gain in this major can be applied in a variety of contexts and professions and offer the flexibility to explore different fields and career paths within and beyond the healthcare industry. Students with a BA/BGS in Health and Society will be ready for employment or further training in health services research, healthcare management and administration, public health, or health policy, and often pursue careers in the healthcare and health insurance fields, in both non-clinical and (with additional education and training) clinical positions. Additional areas of employment include non-profit organizations, government, public and social services, and international development.