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SP20097: The sociology of health and healthcare today

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2015/6
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (100%) (EX 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this module you must take SP10043
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
This option is intended to introduce students to the way in which sociologists have thought about health and illness, and healthcare policy responses. A central theme of this unit is the social construction of more subjectively defined 'ill health' and the central role that health plays in contemporary social consciousness.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit students should:
1. be familiar with sociological issues around health and illness
2. critically assess healthcare policy and practice
3. question the role of medicine in the modern world and problematise the concepts of 'health' and 'illness'.
4. be aware of inequalities in health, particularly in relation so social class, gender, age and ethnicity.

Skills:

* To think creatively and analytically.
* To communicate an argument.
* To evaluate others' arguments and research.
* To learn independently and be able to assess own learning needs (i.e. identify strengths and improve weaknesses in methods of learning and studying).
* To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information.
* To gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources (i.e. library, web-based, archives etc.).
* To select appropriate and relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge.
* To analyse and evaluate innovative practices in students' relevant degree discipline.
* To explore a variety of relationships and environments relevant to learning and practising within the context of the students' degree discipline.
* To effectively and efficiently apply principles of sociological/social policy analysis within a variety of environments.
* To develop study & learning skills (note taking, avoiding plagiarism, using the library, gathering and using information, constructing a bibliography, referencing)
* To develop inter-personal and communication skills
* To develop revision and examination skills
* Time-management and administrative skills
* Presentation skills and verbal communication (i.e. seminar and tutorial contributions)
* To lead others confidently and competently
* To solve problems in a variety of situations.
* To prioritise workloads, and utilise long- and short-term planning skills.

Content:
Definitions of health and illness; biomedicine and the medicalisation of everyday life; professional power; Social and global inequalities; complementary and alternative medicine; ageing and the body; the 'meaning' of death; public health; healthcare policy and practice; biomedical ethics.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

SP20097 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB14 : BSc(Hons) Applied Social Studies (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AFB14 : BSc(Hons) Applied Social Studies (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2015/16 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2016/17 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2015/16.
* 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.