BA in Health: Science, Society, and Policy

The Health: Science, Society and Policy program, which draws on a considerable range and depth of expertise in the College of Arts and Sciences and The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, is designed to: Expand students' understanding of the biological, behavioral, social, and environmental factors that promote health or cause illness. Introduce students to the political, economic, legal, public-health, and organizational dimensions of health care systems in the United States and throughout the world. Provide students with hands-on experience in either an internship (in a health-care delivery, public health or advocacy organization), a laboratory (studying the biological basis of health, behavior, or disease), or a field-based research project (investigating aspects of health or illness in a social context). Provide students with the opportunity to integrate their academic coursework and supervised fieldwork or laboratory experiences across a number of health-related disciplines through a team-taught, capstone seminar. This major draws upon courses in the social sciences, life sciences, and the fields of policy, law, and management, and is especially appropriate for students preparing for careers or further study in health and medicine as well as students who want to examine the issues and concerns of this important sector in society. The major can be completed with either a BA or the more science-intensive BS degree. The minor in HSSP is designed to provide an introduction to interdisciplinary study of health and medicine and to supplement a student's major(s). Learning Goals Health: Science, Society and Policy (HSSP) is an interdisciplinary undergraduate major that focuses on health, health care, and health policy. Launched in 2003, HSSP is a unique program that draws from three of the major strengths of Brandeis: the life sciences, the social sciences, and the health policy expertise of the Heller School. HSSP students undertake four core courses: a core Science, a core Society course, a core Policy course, and HSSP 100b - Introduction to Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Population Health, an important perspective rarely offered to undergraduates. In addition to the capstone for majors, the required hands on experience (HOE) enables HSSP majors to engage academic material experientially in a setting related to either health or health care. HSSP majors may fulfill their HOE with a health-related summer or semester internship, a field or lab based research project, a senior thesis, through a study abroad program, or a Justice Brandeis Semester. There are few programs like HSSP in the country; the emphasis is studying multiple perspectives on health and health care. Many HSSP graduates go on to graduate or professional school in medicine, public health, nursing, health administration, physical therapy, health law, and other health related fields. In pursuing the major, students can choose a BA version or the more science intensive BS. In both cases, students take four core courses, a hands on experience, and a senior capstone course. Additionally, BA majors have a choice of several electives, while BS majors must complete a series of basic science courses as well as a couple of electives. HSSP courses emphasize social science perspectives about health and illness, others that examine health policy issues, and courses that present scientific views of disease and treatment.