Social Medicine Specialization
*Apply for Fall 2027
The UCLA Master of Social Science offers a Social Medicine Specialization in partnership with faculty from the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. The specialization combines rigorous training in social science research with focused study of how social conditions shape health and access to care.
Students examine health not only as a biological phenomenon, but also as an outcome of broader social forces. The specialization is designed for students interested in health-related careers or further professional study.
What Is Social Medicine?
Social medicine investigates the relationship between health and the social world. It considers how institutions and public policies influence health outcomes. It also examines how unequal distributions of power and resources produce health inequities. Students consider how research can contribute to more equitable health policy and practice.
An Integrated Nine-Month Curriculum
Students complete the full nine-month MaSS curriculum, including advanced training in qualitative and quantitative methods. Two required social medicine courses replace the two electives taken by students in the general MaSS program.
SOCIAL MEDICINE COURSES
In addition to the core courses, MaSS students in the social medicine specialization take these two courses with Semel Institute faculty.
SOC SC 405: Introduction to Social Medicine
This course introduces the interdisciplinary field of Social Medicine. It examines how health and disease outcomes are shaped by social, political, and economic forces, including racism, colonialism, gender inequality, labor exploitation, and environmental injustice. These forces, including language, culture, housing, immigration status, and income levels, are often referred to as “social determinants of health” and provide crucial insights into a patient’s health needs.
Students will read key texts in medical anthropology, social epidemiology, public health, and critical race theory, learning to analyze health not merely as biological but as deeply social. Key texts on theoretical frameworks will be paired with contemporary ethnographic pieces that demonstrate the application of these theories to understand social and ecological health problems. Students will also examine the importance of intersectional research and community engagement in mitigating health harms and designing effective health interventions.
SOC SC 406: Social Medicine in Practice
This course provides a hands-on exploration of multiple methodologies commonly used in the field of social medicine, focusing on the theory and practice of engaged research that addresses public health disparities and social inequality. Students will learn how to identify social problems, design testable and specific research questions, and apply qualitative or quantitative methods to real-world contexts pertinent to health and health care.
The course is structured as a practicum, where students move from an initial area of interest to a well-formed research question, ultimately designing and carrying out a feasible mini-project with impactful results. By treating their own positionality as data and engaging with research ethics, students will develop a toolkit to interpret meaningful experiences of research participants and effect change.
Opportunities Beyond the Classroom
Students may participate in the Semel Institute’s Social Medicine Lecture Series and Ethnography Workshop. These forums offer opportunities to engage with faculty and field leaders. Students may also present research in progress. Learn more: socialmedicine.semel.ucla.edu
Who Should Apply?
The specialization is well suited for students who want to understand the social dimensions of health while developing strong research skills. It may be especially relevant to applicants pursuing health-related careers or further professional study. Prior clinical training is not required.
How to Apply
Applicants apply through the standard UCLA Master of Social Science admissions process. Applicants seeking admission to the Social Medicine Specialization should identify their interest in the specialization and explain its connection to their goals in the Statement of Purpose.
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