LIFESCI M174
Health Disparities
Description: (Same as Psychology M174.) Lecture, three hours. Examination of health disparities and ways in which societal responses to race and ethnicity in combination with variety of other factors create differential quality and access to healthcare resulting in poor health outcomes in racial/ethnic minorities. Basic foundation for critical thinking about assumptions that shape life sciences, medical research, clinical practice, and social and behavioral sciences as they relate to racial and ethnic minority populations and to teach students to integrate concepts of culture and health disparities into other social, biological, political, psychological, genetic, and clinical health interests. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
1 of 1
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2026 - I looked up this class before enrolling and still took the class. Part of me thinks I should've listened to the reviews, but I'm glad I took the class! Let me start off by saying that this class was definitely more challenging than I was expecting! **Lectures and Attendance:** Do NOT think that you will pass this class by just looking at slides because a lot of the slides are pictures and graphs with no explanation. With that being said, attendance is KEY to passing this class. Unfortunately, this class is not recorded, so if for some reason you have to miss, ask your peers for notes! There is no textbook, only assigned readings. One thing I found confusing was how this class focuses on health disparities and the importance of making healthcare more equitable and accessible to everyone, yet the class itself was not very accessible to students. Lectures were not recorded, exam reviews were not offered on Zoom or recorded, and there was no study guide provided. I found this ironic considering the whole point of the class was understanding disparities and barriers to access. I understand that attendance is important, but not every student is able to attend every lecture or exam review, and I wish there had been more resources available for those who couldn't. **Grading and Assignments:** - 8 weekly one-page assignments, lowest 2 dropped - 3 midterms, lowest 1 dropped - 1 final The weekly one-page assignments were not graded on completion, but on the TA seeing that you understood and mentioned ALL assigned readings. I got half a point taken off because I didn't mention one of the readings, even if that reading was connected to a video. So make sure you mention the reading/video when writing your paper or you will get points off. **Exams:** The lowest midterm is dropped, which helped me a lot because I relied on common sense and on doing the readings only for the first midterm. The exams consist of everything that is mentioned in readings, videos, and in lecture, so make sure you are paying attention closely in class. I was not able to attend the exam reviews, but I found them to be pointless because they were only to ask questions, and not a review of what the exam would consist of. The first midterm was worded so badly that the professor gave points for many of the questions because, in one question, 4 of the answers could be correct... what??? I highly suggest talking to the TA if you are unhappy with your exam, but also be prepared for her to ask you why you chose that answer and have material to back up your answer. Also, there were bonus questions on exams! For example, if the exam had 25 questions, it would be graded out of 23, giving you room to get extra points! **My Experience and Study Tips:** I got a C on my first midterm because I relied on common sense, but after studying the lectures, theories, concepts, readings, and videos, I was able to get an A on the remaining 3 exams. My technique was going to lecture, writing as many notes as I could on slides with no text, doing the assigned readings, and uploading the lecture slides to ChatGPT along with my notes and weekly papers to assign me long applied questions. Although this class felt scattered and definitely challenging, I would definitely take it again, the material was very interesting and I am happy I learned a lot. Also, the TA, Rosalizbeth, was great!!!!
Spring 2026 - I looked up this class before enrolling and still took the class. Part of me thinks I should've listened to the reviews, but I'm glad I took the class! Let me start off by saying that this class was definitely more challenging than I was expecting! **Lectures and Attendance:** Do NOT think that you will pass this class by just looking at slides because a lot of the slides are pictures and graphs with no explanation. With that being said, attendance is KEY to passing this class. Unfortunately, this class is not recorded, so if for some reason you have to miss, ask your peers for notes! There is no textbook, only assigned readings. One thing I found confusing was how this class focuses on health disparities and the importance of making healthcare more equitable and accessible to everyone, yet the class itself was not very accessible to students. Lectures were not recorded, exam reviews were not offered on Zoom or recorded, and there was no study guide provided. I found this ironic considering the whole point of the class was understanding disparities and barriers to access. I understand that attendance is important, but not every student is able to attend every lecture or exam review, and I wish there had been more resources available for those who couldn't. **Grading and Assignments:** - 8 weekly one-page assignments, lowest 2 dropped - 3 midterms, lowest 1 dropped - 1 final The weekly one-page assignments were not graded on completion, but on the TA seeing that you understood and mentioned ALL assigned readings. I got half a point taken off because I didn't mention one of the readings, even if that reading was connected to a video. So make sure you mention the reading/video when writing your paper or you will get points off. **Exams:** The lowest midterm is dropped, which helped me a lot because I relied on common sense and on doing the readings only for the first midterm. The exams consist of everything that is mentioned in readings, videos, and in lecture, so make sure you are paying attention closely in class. I was not able to attend the exam reviews, but I found them to be pointless because they were only to ask questions, and not a review of what the exam would consist of. The first midterm was worded so badly that the professor gave points for many of the questions because, in one question, 4 of the answers could be correct... what??? I highly suggest talking to the TA if you are unhappy with your exam, but also be prepared for her to ask you why you chose that answer and have material to back up your answer. Also, there were bonus questions on exams! For example, if the exam had 25 questions, it would be graded out of 23, giving you room to get extra points! **My Experience and Study Tips:** I got a C on my first midterm because I relied on common sense, but after studying the lectures, theories, concepts, readings, and videos, I was able to get an A on the remaining 3 exams. My technique was going to lecture, writing as many notes as I could on slides with no text, doing the assigned readings, and uploading the lecture slides to ChatGPT along with my notes and weekly papers to assign me long applied questions. Although this class felt scattered and definitely challenging, I would definitely take it again, the material was very interesting and I am happy I learned a lot. Also, the TA, Rosalizbeth, was great!!!!
1 of 1
