HMS 2935 - ILLNESS AND DEATH IN AMERICA

credits: 3.0
Crosslisted/Same As: AMS 2935
Crosslisted/Same As (2): NSG 2935
AMS 2935-HMS 2935-NSG 2935. This course explores the ways in which illness and death are represented in American culture, and how American attitudes towards illness, death, and grieving reflect boarder cultural issues. Particular attention will be paid to the politics and business of illness and death; the rituals associated with illness, death and grieving and the cultural construction of ways of getting sick and dying in America. Objectives: A) To introduce students to the specific cultural history of a profound and, it would seem, entirely “natural” experience; B) To consider the ways in which political, economic, and social factors influence not only how we think about illness and death, but how we go about navigating those experiences to consider both the mainstream and counter-cultural ways in which Americans approach these experiences. Method of Instruction: Lecture, video, class discussion, student reports, and guest speakers. Method of Evaluation: Several short written assignments (two to three pages) to evaluate understanding of the lectures and assigned readings. Two research projects based on topics covered will account for the majority of the grade. Meets *WEP Distribution Requirement.