Taught By:
Frecia Gonzalez
Faculty Fellow
Department of Public Health
Belmont University
Read profile here.
Motivation to Teach Social Action:
Assistance in creating engaging course content.
Course Description:
This undergraduate course critically examines the top public health issues currently impacting communities across the United States in 2025, including the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, the mental health and overdose crisis, climate-related health threats, health inequities, and challenges to reproductive and maternal health. Students will explore the complex social, political, and environmental systems that shape these issues and identify the communities most affected.
Grounded in a social action framework, this course moves beyond analysis to emphasize civic responsibility and public health advocacy. Students will engage in hands-on projects, policy tracking, and community-based strategies aimed at promoting health equity and driving meaningful change. Through collaborative learning, stakeholder engagement, and applied public health tools, students will build the knowledge and skills to become agents of change within their local and national contexts.
