BSHS 0403 - Cultural Competency across the Health Sciences

This course uses a historical perspective to explore multicultural models and beliefs of health, illness, and treatments or therapies. The intent is to deepen the students’ understanding of the scientific, sociocultural, philosophical, psychological, and spiritual foundations of conventional and unconventional healing systems and the various approaches to prevention, health promotion, healing, and maintenance of well-being. The alternative approaches to health care are seen as complementary to the biomedical model as they blend body/mind/spirit, science, tradition, and cross-cultural avenues of diagnosis, treatment, and acceptance of healthcare. 

Learners will become familiar with the historical stages in the evolution of medical practices in various cultures; the underlying philosophical concepts, ideas, principles, and therapeutic practices surrounding these multicultural healing systems; and the impact that beliefs, culture, social, and ethnic systems have on health promotion, the prevention of health problems, and the treatment of disease. The impact of cultural values and ethnicity on understanding health and illness, and the utilization of healthcare services will be explored. Concepts and definitions of culture, ethnicity, traditional health beliefs, and health and illness will be discussed.