HIS-3293 COSTA RICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND TROPICAL MEDICINE
4 credits (60 hours)
Costa Rica´s health care system is unique due to the fact that it´s socialized and has achieved excellent health indicators. The course focuses on the history and development of the public health care system within the context of the Costa Rican sociopolitical and economical situation. It also gives a strong emphasis on how the system actually works and points out not only the strongholds of the systems, but also it´s weak points. A third objective, of fundamental importance in order to understand this system, is the study of Costa Rica as a tropical country.  Students will learn about the prevention and transmission of relevant tropical diseases.

HHD-1020 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL THERAPY
4 credits (60 hours)
This course will introduce basic concepts of human anatomy, an overview of the most common injuries and illnesses that require physical therapy, and an introduction to the different tools and methods used to treat them.  The course will consist of lectures about the theoretical concepts, and also laboratory practice, which will allow the student a hands-on experience of the different techniques given during the lectures.   At the end of the course the student will have general knowledge on various areas of expertise, and on techniques such as massage therapy, electrotherapy, and therapeutic exercises, among others.

HHD- 1050 ALTERNATIVE HEALTH APPROCHES
4 credits (60hours)
This course will introduce basic concepts in complementary alternative medicine. Students will be able to explore, and evaluate alternatives approaches and philosophies to personal health and wellness. Some of the topics included are: Homeopathy, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Acupuncture, Herbal  and Nutritional Therapies, Massage, Chiropractic, Electromagnetic Therapy, Breathing Techniques and Exercises and others.

PSY-2200 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
3 credits (48hours)
The World Health Organization defines health as being “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Based on this definition, the concepts of health and illness have changed.  Nowadays, health care professionals have to tackle the health from a bio-psycho-social concept. For this reason, it is extremely important for health care professionals (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, just to mention some)   to have general information about Health Psychology, which studies how biology, behavior, and social context influence health and illness.   In this way, health care professionals can have an integral approach to the patients under their treatment.  This will discuss some of the most common topics related with Health Psychology and pertinent to practice in the health care professions.