This course is an exploration of the social, psychological, cultural, and individual experiences of death, grief, and loss. The study of the structure of the human response to death, dying, and bereavement in a socio-cultural, interpersonal, and personal context will be examined. Topics to be discussed will include development of perceptions of death, bereavement and grief over the life course; functions of the funeral; euthanasia and death-related ethical debates; and, suicide. Current sociological theories and empirical research regarding the study of death and dying will also be introduced and discussed. Attention will be given to appropriate coping strategies for dealing with death and for aiding others in the coping process.

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