HM 550 - Cultural Competence: Working Effectively with Diverse Populations

3.00 credits.

This course explores the influence of culture on healthcare decision-making and behaviors in minority populations in the United States. Through interdisciplinary analysis, students will examine the differences between Big C Culture and Little C culture and the ways they manifest for both the medical establishment and minority populations. Students will practice methods of cross-cultural communication designed to engage patients in open healthcare discussions based on a variety of models available. The course will foster critical thinking about how cultural beliefs and constructs shape worldviews and encourage students to integrate these understandings into their clinical practice.