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Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


SP20097: Sociology of health and illness

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 2
Click here for further information Assessment: EX 100%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take SP10043 and take SP10044
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
This option is intended to introduce students to the way in which sociologists have thought about health and illness. 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. question the role of medicine in the modern world and problematise the concepts of 'health' and 'illness';
3. be aware of inequalities in health, particularly in relation to 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; the medicalisation of everyday life; Progress, medicine and its critique; Social and global inequalities; Alternative medicine and the organic; Syndromes; Shaping the body; Ageing; Tragedy and the 'meaning' of death; Public health in an age of anxious individualism.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

SP20097 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB01 : BSc (hons) Social Policy and Administration (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB01 : BSc (hons) Social Policy and Administration (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AFB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AKB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4

NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.