Health and Society Certificate
If you are a UW-Parkside hoping to pursue a career in the “helping profession", this certificate will provide you with additional options to pursue careers in the health care industry.
The 15 credit Health and Society certificate will provide you with an excellent opportunity to study questions of physical and mental health, health behaviors and practices, and health care institutions, in an integrated way—primarily through a social and cultural lens, spanning both national and global contexts. The health care industry career path is so wide that you decide to offer your skills as community health educators, consultants to data specialists, substance abuse programmer, rehabilitation and prevention counselor, social services and school’s youth and parent aide.
Required Courses
Introduction to Sociology | SOCA 101 | 3 credits
Examines social relations, social organization and social systems through the study of process, structure, and function.
Public Health | SOCA 376 | 3 credits
Investigates the health status of populations and the social, political, economic, and environmental factors that influence health, disease, and illness in populations. Focuses on historical patterns, current challenges, and alternatives for future change.
Students must earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.000 and a minimum grade of C-minus in each course to earn the certificate.
Elective Courses
Select two elective courses from the selection below (6 credits)
Social Issues in Substance Use | SOCA 216 | 3 credits
An overview of theory and research on substance abuse including legal (alcohol, tobacco) and controlled substances. The focus is on differences in patterns of chemical use within historical, cultural and class contexts.
Sociological Social Psychology | SOCA 320 | 3 credits Examines the role of larger society in constructing and defining our day-to-day interactions and the relationship between group structures and processes, particularly issues of social inequality.
Sociology of Mental Illness | SOCA 332 | 3 credits Examines mental illness as a social role/social label in terms of institutional and sociocultural factors.
Society & Environment | SOCA 379 | 3 credits
Examines environmental philosophies, movements, attitudes, and issues from a sociological perspective. Considers a diverse, multicultural array of approaches.
Students must earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.000 and a minimum grade of C-minus in each course to earn the certificate.
Practicum
A praticum is required for this certificate. (3 credits)
Internship in Sociology* | SOCA 492 | 3 credits
Provides opportunity for community work experience with emphasis on job preparation skills, i.e., resume writing, networking, interviewing.
Social Welfare as a Social Institution | SOCA 380 | 3 credits
Delves into American social work emphasizing recent changes in organization and methods. Includes issues of subcultures and minorities in social welfare institutions.
*All SOCA 492 internships have to be geared towards the area of the certificate. Students who already have experience in any field may receive credit for the practicum category of the certificates but after submitting the necessary documentation and approval by the department.
Students must earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.000 and a minimum grade of C-minus in each course to earn the certificate.
PROGRAM CONTACT INFO
Laura Khoury | 262-595-2590 | khoury@uwp.edu
