Social Sciences of Health

This multidisciplinary program is for students who want to explore health-related issues using the analytical lenses offered by the six disciplines that comprise the social sciences at the University — criminology, economics, political studies, psychology, social work and sociology. Indeed, each contributes to enriching students' understanding of the complex social factors that affect health.

Research on the “social determinants of health,” for instance, has shed light on the complex factors that can determine the health of populations. Professors from each discipline draw from a wealth of social-science research that reveals key insights into why some people are healthier than others, and what contributes to health improvement. In addition, the program encourages students to engage in critical dialogue about the social, economic, political, psychological and cultural dimensions of health.

This complementary minor is only offered as a second program and as part of an honours or general 4-year degree.