Adolescent Health

SBS 208 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

This course is designed as a broad introduction to adolescent health for future public health practitioners, including health care providers, mental health workers, educators, and others. Sessions cover major topics related to adolescent health, including youth homelessness, LGBTQ+ adolescents, media influences, mental health, nutrition, policy and advocacy, racism and health, school health, sexual health, substance use, and youth voices. In the course, adolescent development and health are understood by considering the multiple contexts within which an adolescent resides (e.g., family, school, community, society) and the different social positions an adolescent occupies (e.g., gender identity, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigrant status, ability status). The structure of the course combines lectures by guest speakers working in the field of adolescent health, and in-depth student-led discussions of assigned readings/media. The course focuses on adolescents in the United States, since adolescence is constructed differently across cultural contexts, with global implications explored as class experience and knowledge permit.