COMHLT 20

Course Description

This course examines violence as a public health issue in the United States (U.S.) and across the globe. We will cover a range of topics, including definitions and characteristics of various forms of violence; prevalence, determinants and health outcomes/correlates of violence; violence-related policy and advocacy initiatives and violence prevention efforts (including education, behavior change, gender-transformative, and restorative justice approaches). We will also discuss responses to violence and learn about services and programs available for survivors. Discussions, readings, and lectures will use a social-ecological model to understand the nature of violence and how to design appropriate responses. The interdisciplinary nature of efforts to prevent and reduce violence will be emphasized, and the underlying focus of the course will rest on understanding the public health approach to violence prevention and control.