| CODE | SOC5026 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Health and Society | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit explores the intersection between health and society, with a particular focus on the wider determinants of health. The impact of contemporary social issues relevant to SIAs will be explored in relation to physical and mental health outcomes on a population-, community- and individual- level. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims to generate understanding of the factors that determine individual-, group- and population-level health outcomes. Social, cultural, political and environmental influences of health will be discussed to enable students to critically assess the impacts of projects and policies on people’s health and wellbeing. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: reflect and critically engage with the wider determinants of health and apply them to the context of social impact assessments. More specifically, students will gain understanding on: - definitions of health and wellbeing; - measures of population health and disease burden; - health inequalities, vulnerability and intersectionality; - communities, social capital and health; - employment, labour market and health; - urban planning, transport and health; - crime, violence and health; - health education, promotion and access to healthcare services; - role of social health movements, and. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - apply the course material critically in relation to examples of contemporary social issues during classroom discussions; - develop analytical skills for understanding the challenges of policy development and assessment; - demonstrate a critical and systematic understanding of theoretical and practical debates in sociology of health and health policy; - contribute effectively and confidently during focused group discussions, using logical arguments and applying the relevant theories; - present a well-researched and structured assignment using recognised citation and referencing methods effectively and consistently. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - MARMOT, M. and WILKINSON, R., (Ed.) 2007. Social determinants of health. Oxford: Oxford University Press. - THOMAS, R.K., 2021. Population Health and the Future of Healthcare. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing AG. - WHITE, K., 2016. An introduction to the sociology of health and illness. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage. Supplementary Readings: - O'MULLANE, M., (Ed.) 2013. Integrating health impact assessment with the policy process: lessons and experiences from around the world. - Oxford University Press. - RATCLIFF, K.S., 2017. The social determinants of health: Looking upstream. Cambridge, UK: Polity press. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualifications: Same prerequisites for MA in Social Impact Assessment | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Seminar and Tutorial | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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