Health and Social Justice: A model for creating an interdisciplinary, student-driven course

Health as Social Justice (HSJ), GH507/NRSG686, is a student-initiated, student-driven Masters level course at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Originally offered in 1996, the course was collaboratively developed by students and faculty in response to student demand for a course examining the interrelationship of public health and social justice. HSJ is cross-listed among theology, public health, and nursing schools, creating an interdisciplinary approach which fosters idea-sharing and common understanding. Course content and learning outcomes for HSJ are modified to reflect each class's unique learning objectives. Each semester, students develop course expectations, agree upon community norms, and explore definitions of health, social justice, and health as social justice. The participatory learning style of HSJ fosters a deeper and richer learning than would have been garnered through a traditional lecture format. For example, students identify qualities and characteristics of leadership which are best able to effect health as social justice. A series of assignments designed to build capability, confidence, cooperation, and reflection empowers students to recognize and enhance personal leadership qualities. Students have the opportunity to critically evaluate social justice issues and to propose policy recommendations for those issues, enabling them to recognize their unique ability and efficacy in promoting health as social justice. Course grading and evaluation is based upon critical self-analysis and reflection as well as objective academic outcomes. By modeling aspects of social justice in the classroom setting, students develop a more thorough understanding of justice and acquire individual skills and the efficacy to promote justice locally and globally.