Field Studies in Public Health: CFS 392-0: Chicago Field Studies

Field Studies in Public Health: CFS 392-0

"...The CFS Public health class has allowed me to ruminate on the implications of public health through a social, political, and economic perspective. We have had lively debates regarding the ethics of mandating vaccinations and have explored the evolution of public health careers in the 20th century. This course has made me understand that public health careers are multidimensional, and allowed me to contemplate the possibility of working in this sector in the future." -Lisa Chen, FSPH Fall 2016 intern at Cures Within Reach

Course Type: Variable Credit (1-4 units)

For Weinberg students who started at Northwestern before Summer 2023, this course will count one credit toward Weinberg Distribution Requirement for Area III: Social and Behavioral Sciences.

For Weinberg students who started at Northwestern in or after Summer 2023 (including transfer students), this course currently does not count toward any Foundational Disciplines or WCAS requirements. For students in other NU schools, please talk with your academic advisor to see if this or other CFS classes count towards any requirements for you.

Course Description

Do diseases like Covid-19 actually see race? What does history tell us about the public’s health and how can we predict the future based on where we have been? This course will provide an introduction to the field of Public Health and focus on promoting health equity. Students will explore the global and local history of Public Health as well as its intersection with race and racism, housing, poverty and violence. Using theory alongside the practical experience of their internships, they will unpack the complexities of Public Health and gain an understanding of the potential roles they can play within the field.

Instructor: Jessica Puri

Types of Internships that relate to the Field Studies in Public Health course:

Health & Medicine