Society and Health
SBS 201
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
The course surveys the social determinants of health: socioeconomic status, structural racism, income inequality, neighborhood contexts, psychosocial work environment, social networks and social capital. The sessions introduce theories linking each social determinant to population health outcomes, measurement issues, and threats to causal inference. Sessions include discussion of different methods used in social epidemiology to understand causal processes, including econometric methods, multi-level regression and the use of natural experiments.
Course Activities: Short written assignments, class discussion, final examination.
Course Note: Requirement for HSB-45, HSB-65, SBS-SM1, and PHS-SBS students. All enrolled students must also enroll in a required lab section.
Class Notes
THIS CLASS HAS PRIORITY ENROLLMENT
Priority Wave Groups
Wave 1 | MPH45-HSB, MPH65-HSB, SM1 SBS, PHD PHS SBS
Wave 2 | PHD PHS NUT & Wave 1
Wave 3 | Open Enrollment
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Priority Wave Timing
Wave 1 | 8/13/2026 11:00 AM - 8/23/2026 11:59 PM
Wave 2 | 8/24/2026 12:00 AM - 8/26/2026 11:59 PM
Wave 3 | 8/27/2026 12:00 AM Enrollment Deadline (varies by session)
Any student who does not meet the Wave 1 or Wave 2 criteria can add themselves to the waitlist (if enrollment requirements are met) at any time during the enrollment period. At the beginning of each priority wave, students on the waitlist who meet the Wave’s criteria will be automatically enrolled into any remaining seats in the course (pending no time conflicts)
**Cross-Registrants and Non-Degree Students will be enrolled on a space available basis after the enrollment deadline for the course
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
