Spring 2026 Critical Disability Studies Course Offerings

• ENGL 222: Introduction to Critical Disability Studies*
  TuTh 10-11:15AM, Physics 107, Drew Holladay
  
  This course introduces students to the field, core concepts, and methods that comprise critical disability studies, providing an interdisciplinary overview of the events, people, concepts, and issues at the center of the disability rights movement and its related academic communities. Following the slogan "Nothing About Us Without Us," course materials (whether academic or popular) have been written by people with disabilities who connect their creative work to education, politics, and everyday life. Students learn about disability justice frameworks that show how able-bodied supremacy has been formed in relation to other systems of domination and exploitation. The class works collaboratively and creatively to build understanding of disability experience and to challenge societal ableism and injustice.

• GLBL 410: I'm a Cyborg but That's Ok**
  M 4:30-7PM, Online, Tania Lizarazo
  
  This class uses the figure of the cyborg to interrogate the ways in which cultured identity is constructed through media the role of technology in defining humanness in an increasingly digital world. It focuses on the processes of globalization and the connections between local and global contexts of struggle inform lived experiences of identity, including race, gender, sexuality, class and ability. Recommended Course Preparation: GLBL 100 or MLL 230

• IS 303: Fundamentals of Human-Computer Interaction***
  Tu 1-2:15PM, Multiple Discussion Sections, Fine Arts 306, Yasmine Kotturi
  
  This course provides a survey of human factors and human computer interaction relevant to the design and use of information systems. It describes the contributions of information systems, computer science, psychology, sociology and engineering to human-computer interaction. Emphasis is placed on human factors theories, human information processing concepts, interaction design approaches and usability evaluation methods. Application areas and current research are also reviewed. Prerequisite: IS 202, IS 300, or IS 300H with a grade of 'C' or better.

Electives:

• ANCS 375: Ancient Medicine
  MW 2:30-3:45PM, Sondheim 114, Molly Jones-Lewis
  
  History of the development of medicine and medical theory in the ancient Mediterranean basin, focusing on the period spanning the 5th century BCE to 2nd century CE (Hippocratic Corpus to Galen). Course material covers how and why theories about the human body arose and vied for dominance; students will explore the ancient roots of professionalism, pharmacy, surgery, gynecology, ethics, public health, hygiene, and medical law. Recommended Course Preparation : ANCS 201 or ANCS 202

• ANTH 312: Medical Anthropology
  Tu 4:30-7PM, Online, Dori Beeler
  
  This course explores human health and illness in cultural and social context. This course will introduce a range of concerns and approaches within medical anthropology, introducing key concepts and methods. It will examine how people in different places and positions experience illness, suffering, healing, and their bodies more generally and the roles played by cultural, social, political, economic, legal, and technological factors. This course will also explore how research within this field is conducted, analyzed, written about, and translated into policy. Prerequisite: ENGL 100 and (ANTH 211 or SOCY 101) with a grade of 'C' or better.
  
  
• AGNG 200: Multiple Lecture Sections
  
  Based in the life-course perspective, this course blends academic analysis of human aging in social context with more experiential learning, including exposure to literature on older adults, awareness exercises about aging in the news and talking with older adults in and out of class to debunk common myths and stereotypes regarding aging and older adults. Academic content is broadly social, in terms of understanding family and community contexts of aging, the individual experience of aging including productivity, spirituality and typical engagement, normal changes and diseases common in physical and psychological health, and a focus on how society views aging. Finally, students will be encouraged to identify themselves as aging individuals, on a trajectory toward later life. Prerequisite: ENGL 100 with a grade of 'C' or better.

• PBHL 350: Public Health Ethics
  TuTh 11:30-12:45PM, Physics 201, Andrea Kalfoglou
  
  This course serves to introduce central concepts and key issues in public health ethics. Students will learn various proposed frameworks for analyzing ethical issues in public health, and how public health ethics differs from traditional medical ethics. Students will use a case-based approach to analyze ethical issues in public health, and practice applying the frameworks to real and fictitious cases through class discussions and written assignments. Recommended Course Preparation: HAPP/SOCY 354; PHIL 350; PHIL/HAPP 355. Prerequisite: PBHL 100 with a grade of 'C' or better.

• PBHL 355: Public Health Justice and Advocacy
  TuTh 10-11:15AM, Physics 201, Andrea Kalfoglou
  
  Skills related to advocacy for health justice can be applied in a variety of disciplines. This course covers contextual theories, U.S. social movement insights, and legal system drawbacks that impede health justice. Students will build an understanding of government limitations in public health, detrimental legal doctrines, and the absence of human rights focus. They will also discuss inequalities and health disparities among marginalized groups. The course analyzes a holistic health justice agenda and ongoing initiatives. Students will apply their knowledge to advocate for equitable health policies, synthesizing their understanding of health justice. Recommended Preparation: PBHL 354. Prerequisite: PBHL 100 with a grade of 'C' or better.
  
  
• SOCY 351: Sociology of Health, Illness, and Medicine
  W 7:10-9:40PM, ILSB 116A, Karon Phillips (Shady Grove Section Also Offered)
  
  This course explores how health, illness, and the field of medicine are shaped by social and cultural forces. It examines the changing role of physicians and other providers; medicine as a social institution; the nature of healthcare organizations; and the experience of health and illness. Special attention is given to the doctor-patient relationship, and factors that shape individuals' interactions with their health providers, as well as analyzing the role of persistent sociocultural inequalities across health and health care. Recommended Preparation: SOCY 101 or ANTH 211.
  
  
• SOCY 330: Deviance in Contemporary Society
  MW 10-11:15AM, Sondheim 101, Hakim Zainiddinov
  
  An analysis of deviant activities, including crime, sexual deviation and mental illness. Sociological explanations of these phenomena and the strengths and weaknesses of these explanations. Examinations of the legal system and other social control mechanisms. Recommended Preparation: SOCY 101, ANTH 211, or permission of the instructor.
  
  
• PSYC 305: Children with Exceptionalities
  M 4:30-7PM, Online, Julie Grossman
  
  This course will examine development and behavior of various types of children with exceptionalities. Consideration is given to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactive disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders, communication, language, and speech disorders, children who have special gifts and talents, are deaf or hard of hearing, are visually impaired, and children with physical disabilities, health impairments, and multiple disabilities. Prerequisite: PSYC 100 and (PSYC 200 or PSYC 306) with a grade of 'C' or better.