This course aims to provide a broad understanding of some of the principal discussions in medical sociology from the perspective of public health practice, with a particular focus on public health practice designed to respond to infectious disease. We will consider sociological and cultural research on the topics of medicalisation, public understandings of disease & contagion, risk, infectious disease surveillance and preparedness, empowerment & health equity as well as biosecurity & biodefense. In examining this research we will be identifying some of the different (and sometimes competing) theories of power, risk, globalisation and embodiment being employed by medical sociologists and anthropologists. We will be looking at public health debates over the prominence of infectious diseases in the global health agenda and asking what social science can contribute to these debates.