Unequal Origins: Pregnancy, Poverty and Child Health
FYSEMR 73L
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
The US has worse pregnancy and child outcomes than any other high-income country in the world. Is this because we spend less providing direct income support to families than other high-income countries? This seminar will discuss the intersection between maternal and child health outcomes and poverty in the United States through a medical, economic, political, and historical lens. Assignments will ask students to become familiar with and attempt to navigate available supports for pregnant people and their children in the United States.
Students will visit the Harvard Art Museums to observe how pregnancy and early childhood health and social supports for families with low incomes were conceptualized at the turn of the 20th century. Students will discuss elements of design and implementation of ongoing projects being conducted by Harvard faculty and collaborators to roll out and test direct cash support to pregnant or postpartum people.
Class Notes
First-Year Seminars are available only to first-year students. You may apply to both Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 First-Year Seminars via the FYS lottery between July 6 and August 6, 2026 at 11:59PM-midnight.
You may apply to as many seminars each term as you would like, but we recommend you apply to at least six in fall and three in spring.
As part of your application, you must provide a brief statement on why you are interested in each seminar. You will be notified of lottery results for both fall and spring seminars at 5 pm on August 11. If you are unsuccessful in the lottery, you may still join any seminar with open seats. A list of open seminars and instructions on next steps will be available on the First-Year Seminar Program website August 11 at 12 Noon.
Not Available for Cross Registration
