“HIV is still intrinsically linked with somehow you having done something wrong, because it’s sexually transmitted. I think that we assume that it’s our fault that we got it. That’s the self-judgement of it. If I didn’t have sex, I wouldn’t have HIV, fact.”
—anonymous living with HIV (HIV Stigma Index UK, 2015)

Welcome to Tackling Barriers to HIV Prevention! This class aims to equip undergraduate students with knowledge of the HIV/AIDS epidemic locally and globally, show how stereotypes, cultural norms, and power structures have contributed to the intense stigma around the disease, and offer ideas about how to begin to break down barriers to HIV treatment. The class will also provide opportunities for students to engage with and understand services available in the local community.

Learning Goals:
1. Students will develop their ability to come up with solutions to real-life problems
2. Students will come away with a renewed perspective on the HIV/AIDS discourse

Course Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites for this course besides a strong willingness to learn.

Course Requirements:
No course text or materials are required for the class. All material will be presented online or in a printed worksheet. If access to online resources is a problem, contact us!

In order to prepare for class each week, there will be a short reading/video accompanied by an online worksheet due before the beginning of class. The set of questions will be based on the assigned reading and will provide additional insight into the concepts that we will discuss during the subsequent week.

We are very open and willing to tailor classes to the interests of the students—this may result in tweaking the semester schedule a little bit!

Attendance Policy:
It is expected for students to attend all class sessions. As this is a workshop-based course, class attendance is a crucial part of your experience. Absences with advanced notice may be excused by the facilitators.

*We will work with you! If you are concerned with other circumstances that may impact participation, send us an email.