This course will provide a theoretical, cultural and economic rationale for the role of tobacco smoking related to the overall health of US populations in the United States and abroad. This course will examine trends in tobacco smoking from the 1960's to present day and how social and political forces have both directly and indirectly undermined the current public health agenda-to reduce, minimize, and eventually eradicate tobacco related chronic disease and death worldwide. Students will acquire the necessary tools to identify the scientific literature on smoking and disease through traditional published literature, tobacco websites, and national data sets.