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SP10194: The social context of death, dying and bereavement

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 5
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Semester 1
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 25%, ES 75%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites: This unit is only available to students on the Foundation Degree in Funeral Services.
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:

* To introduce students to a range of perspectives on dying, death, bereavement rituals and afterlife beliefs;
* To introduce theories, methods and data associated with these perspectives;
* To introduce students to critiques of these perspectives.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit students will be able to:
* Describe and assess the usefulness for practice of a range of perspectives on death, dying and bereavement; ;
* Describe and assess the different theories used to explain these perspectives;
* Describe and assess the types of evidence used to assist in understanding different perspectives;
* Describe the social and religious contexts of death and dying in the UK.

Skills:

* To think creatively and analytically;
* To evaluate arguments and research;
* To consider research evidence as well as a variety of other information;
* To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding;
* To recognise how working with issues around mortality impacts on our sense of self identity and the way we view others.

Content:
Students are introduced to the major issues and trends associated with death, dying and bereavement in Western societies:
* The changing nature of death in society
* Death, denial and diversity
* Demographic trends in mortality
* Death 'out of time'
* Religion and spirituality
* The medicalisation of dying
* The institutional management of dying
* The concept of the 'good death'
* Traditional models of grief
* The notion of 'continuing bonds'
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

SP10194 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.