Minor in Health, Well-being and Society (MDM) - Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Minor in Health, Well-being and Society

Overview

Growing recognition of the sociocultural dimensions of health, alongside the challenges of multicultural contexts like Singapore and the global rise of interdisciplinary health studies, underscores the need for systematic engagement with health beyond its biological basis. The objective of the proposed Minor in Health, Wellbeing, and Society is to integrate insights from the humanities, social sciences, and sciences to equip students with critical, interdisciplinary perspectives on health as a biocultural phenomenon, while broadening their academic and professional opportunities.

Student Learning Outcomes

Provide students with a strong foundation in understanding health and illness as fully biocultural phenomena, while developing critical thinking, data analysis, and communication skills.
Examine how patterns of health and illness vary over time and across populations.
Identify factors that contribute to variation in health between and within groups, including biology, culture, geography, poverty, and social inequality.

Academic Convenor

Dr Adelyn Lim

Requirements

Students must pass a minimum of five courses (20 Units) from the list of Minor in Health, Well-Being and Society courses, including:

AN2208 Biocultural Perspectives on Health and Wellbeing (compulsory course)
At least one course (4 Units) from each of the following categories
- Health in Asian Studies and the Humanities
- Health in the Social Sciences
- Health in the Sciences
A minimum of one course (4 Units) at Level-3000 and above

All courses read in fulfillment of the minor requirements should be graded. Courses taken on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis may not be counted towards the minor requirements. (Cohort 2013 and before)
Courses taken on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis may be counted towards the minor requirements. (Cohort 2014 and after)
Up to 8 units (40% of the unit requirements for a Minor) may be double counted and used to meet (i) the Minor requirement and (ii) another requirement, e.g., General Education (Cohort 2021 onwards), College (e.g., Common Curriculum), Faculty, Major, Second Major, Minor, Specialisation or other requirement, i.e., at least 12 units of the Minor must be distinct and not overlapping.
A minimum of 60% of the Minor requirements must be earned from courses read at NUS. Courses read at NUS include all courses taught, co-taught, supervised or co-supervised by NUS faculty member(s). These consist of graded courses or courses with an ‘S' or ‘CS' grade. The remaining units may be earned through credit transfers, advanced placement and exemptions, from courses deemed relevant to the particular Minor. For students on overseas exchange, unit transfer of up to 8 Units of relevant courses for the Minor may be accepted. (All cohorts)

Courses Offered

List of Health, Well-being and Society Minor Courses Offered in AY2026/2027
(courses for Semester 2 are subjected to changes)

Course Type

Compulsory Course

Health in Asian Studies and the Humanities Category

COURSE CODE/TITLE	OFFERED IN
GEC1044/GEH1070 Chinese Medicine: Theory and Practice	SEM 1
CH3294 Science and Medicine in China (in English)
SE3232 Death and Dying in Southeast Asia
SN2240 Disease Diplomacy: Global Health in Asia
TS3222 Applied Theatre
HY3252 From Tropical Medicine to Bioscience
PH2221 Medical Ethics	SEM 1
PH2241 Philosophy of Mind	SEM 1
PH3242 The Self
GEC1048* Death and Dying in the Human Experience	SEM 1
PH4212* Issues in Philosophy of Mind	SEM 1

Health in the Social Sciences Category

COURSE CODE/TITLE	OFFERED IN
HS2911 Social Media and Mental Health	SEM 1
NM4258 Health Communication	SEM 2
GE3249 Geographies of Life and Death	SEM 1
GE4241 Spatial Health	SEM 2
PL1101E Introduction to Psychology	SEM 1 & 2
PL3232/PL3102 Biological Psychology
PL3236/PL3106 Mental Health and Distress
SPH3403 Public Health Economics	SEM 1
SPH3501 Introduction to Public Health Communication	SEM 2
SC2211 Medical Sociology	SEM 1
SC2226 Sociology of Mental Health	SEM 2
SC3214 Sociology of Life Course and Ageing
SC4220 Aging and Health
SC4222 Body and Society
SC4223 Health and Social Behaviour
SC4881 Selected Topics in Health & Society
SW3217 Mental Health and Illness	SEM 1
GE4237* Environmental Pollution
PS3216* Global Health Governance and Politics	SEM 2
SW3222* Healthcare Issues and Policies

Health in the Sciences Category

COURSE CODE/TITLE	OFFERED IN
ENV2103 The Environment and Public Health	SEM 1
FST2201 Introduction to Human Nutrition	SEM 2
FST3202 Nutrition and Disease Prevention	SEM 1
FST3203 Vitamins & Minerals in Health & Diseases	SEM 1
FST3204 Nutrition Through the Life Cycle	SEM 2
FST3205 Current Topics in Health and Nutrition	SEM 2
HS2915 Beyond the Good and Evil of Drugs	SEM 2
HSI2014 Science, Medical Technology and Society	SEM 1
LSM3224 Human Physiology - Hormones and Health
GEC1011/GEH1043 Microbes which Changed Human History	SEM 2
LSM3225 Molecular Microbology in Human Diseases	SEM 2
NUR1113A Healthy Ageing and Well-being	SEM 1 & 2
NUR2124 Health Promotion in the Community	SEM 2
SPH2402 Public Health and Innovations for Ageing Populations	SEM 1
SPH3204 One Health: People, Animals and the Environment	SEM 1
SPH3404 Physical Activity For Better Population Health	SEM 2
HS2926* CRISPR: Saving Lives or Playing God?	SEM 1
HS2924*Building Mental Wellbeing and Resilience	SEM 1

Note:

*Newly added courses wef AY2025/26 Sem 2

Last updated: 13 July 2026

Courses Description

To view the courses description and timetable, please visit https://nusmods.com/courses.

FAQs

What is the purpose of reading the Minor in Health, Wellbeing and Society?

How do I declare a Minor in Health, Well-being and Society?

Do I still have to bid for courses?

Which account do I use when bidding for minor courses?

Can I S/U my minor courses?

When should I read the compulsory foundation course (AN2208 Biocultural Perspectives on Health and Wellbeing)?