Course Content
Students completing this course will learn about the most pressing health issues facing African Americans. The course will provide a forum for students to consider root causes of health disparity in African descendants. Students will have an opportunity to explore strategies to remedy problems in public health and health care delivery systems.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the course students will be able to:
- List the major internationally declared health standards and compare these to key regional and national African American health trends.
- Cite resources and methods used for documenting and measuring health outcomes; and apply this to critical assessment of literature dealing with race, ethnicity and health.
- Recognize the health effects, in the African Diaspora, of dislocation, confinement and socioeconomic exclusion.
- Identify the social determinant of racial bias as a health risk.
- Discern the historic and current political and economic landscape of global Africa in relation to the health of African Americans.
- Describe effective practices, initiatives and policies that have promoted health in African descendants.
Receiving credit for the course is based on the following:
Attendance and Participation
Attendance and participation in discussion at all ten course sessions is required. Students are allowed 2 approved absences.
Students are required to turn in weekly reflections related to the content of each class session (assigned readings, video and/or class discussion). The reflection may be a brief paragraph to be entered into a drop box Catalyst Web Tool. Reflections can be a conversation tools between you and your instructor(s).
Students are required to complete a course evaluation.
Group Presentation
Working in teams, students are required to summarize a visit with an agency or organization supporting wellness in African descendents in Seattle; or an individual or family with ties to these efforts. The final class session will be 10 to 15 minute presentations from each team.
Examples of institutions include but are not limited to public bodies such as Seattle Public Schools, neighborhood religious organizations engaged in social justice works, organizations run by or serving African Diaspora communities, or other non-profit agencies serving African descendants. Students are asked to solicit the views of their contacts’ community needs, especially as it relates to the university and are encouraged to invite them to attend the final class presentations.
Reading and Resources
All readings and video content are accessible through the links embedded in the class syllabus on Catalyst Web Tools. Hyperlinks to resources ranging from local community initiatives and organizations, to charitable foundations, government and international agencies are also available on this Catalyst website. If you access these links outside of Catalyst, you must still be logged in with your UWNetID.
FOR COURSE REGISTRATION:
Contact:CEDI Office Center for Equity Diversity and Inclusion
ph: 206-685-2489 | fax: 206-543-9063
Center for Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
UW School of Medicine
1959 NE Pacific Street HSC A-300, Box 356340
Seattle, WA 98195
Link to course description in UW Catalog: FAMED 525