Undergraduate Programs
We examine issues of health, social care, welfare, new technologies and accommodation. The department’s strength is based on our interdisciplinarity. Faculty members have backgrounds in economics, human geography, political science, social gerontology, and sociology. These disciplines are the multiple lenses from which we view health and aging.
The Department of Health, Aging and Society offers a number of undergraduate degrees that can be combined with other areas of study.
Highlighted Undergraduate Courses
HLTHAGE 2L03 – Drugs, Sex, and Alcohol: Society and its Addictions
This course analyzes the place of addictions in modern society. Taking an interdisciplinary perspective, it examines both the social factors that help shape addictive behaviours, as well as those that construct our notions of addiction and dependency.
HLTHAGE 2K03 – Selected Topics in Health and Society
This course will provide an exploration of selected topics in Health and Society. Topics may vary from year to year. This year’s topic is Sex and Well-being. This hybrid course explores how individual and contextual factors affect our sex lives. The over-arching aim of the course is to demonstrate 1) how our sex lives affect our wellbeing, and 2) how we can foster sexual health. Students will examine these and other questions from various theoretical perspectives, with an emphasis on quantitative research and psychological theories. 3 hours; one term Prerequisite(s): Registration in Level II or above.
HLTHAGE 3T03 – Health and Incarceration
This course examines the health and well-being of incarcerated individuals, including youth in conflict with the law and the incarcerated elderly. Topics include health, safety and security; access to and quality of health care, palliative and end-of-life care; stigma and incarceration; the health and safety of correctional services human resource staff; media portrayals of the incarcerated; and, health impacts of incarceration on families of the incarcerated.
HLTHAGE 3AB3 – Kindred Species: Animals, Health and Society
This course explores key topics and concepts at the intersection of animals and health. One Health is used as a guiding concept to explore topics such as the public health risks posed to humans by animals; the intersection between health care for human and animals; and the animal interventions and assisted activities that are currently popular for advancing human health. Three hours (lectures and discussion); one term Prerequisite(s): Registration in Level II or above
My health studies courses have certainly expanded my worldview on a personal and academic level. Not only have I gained a deeper understanding over how closely our health is connected to our location in society, both biographically and geographically, I have been supplied with numerous reference points that highlight the significance of these relationships locally and globally, specifically in connection to our health and well-being. I feel well prepared to pursue any area of interest that pertains to health and/or healthcare related issues.