Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2006/07

SP50155 Grief and bereavement

Credits: 6

Level: Masters

Semester: 2

Assessment: ES100

Requisites:

Aims: To enable students to:
* Develop a critical understanding of the complexity and diversity of grief experiences
* Develop a critical understanding of the way in which the experience of bereavement is socially and culturally shaped
* Understand and reflect critically upon the implications of bereavement for individuals and society.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to:
* Identify and critically evaluate traditional models and frameworks developed for understanding grief and bereavement
* Identify and critically evaluate recent sociological research into grief and bereavement
* Analyse the implications of contemporary understandings of grief for policy, practice and experience.
Skills:

* Develop skills to reflect critically on the suitability of diverse approaches for investigating and analysing problems.
* Systematically synthesise information from a variety of academic perspectives for a relevant understanding of theoretical and practical approaches.
* Analyse and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of distinct academic and professional perspectives.
* Identify and access relevant information sources.
* Communicate complex issues and perspectives effectively.
* Develop skills of time management, workload prioritisation and related planning skills.
* Develop good writing and presentation skills.
Content:
1. The psychologisation and emotionalisation of grief
2. The medicalisation and professionalisation of bereavement
3. Restoring grief's sociological dimension
4. The relationship between grief and mourning
5. The place of the dead in the lives of the living
6. Support for bereaved people
7. Social and cultural diversity of bereavement
8. Gender and ethnicity
9. Grief in the media
10. The relationship between lay and professional understandings.

University | Catalogues for 2006/07