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Sociology of Health & Illness - SOC00011I

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Sarah Nettleton
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22
B Spring Term 2021-22

Module aims

  • To introduce theoretical perspectives within the sociology of health and illness and to apply them to selected health related issues.
  • To appreciate the socially constructed nature of medical knowledge and medical practice
  • To be aware of the relationship between and explanations for the social differences and inequalities in health, illness and disease

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module students will have acquired:

  • A critical understanding of concepts central to the sociology of health and illness, namely: the biomedical and social models, medicalisation, professionalisation, surveillance and risk
  • An in-depth appreciation of some contemporary issues such as: new reproductive technologies, illness narratives, and clinical work

Indicative assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Visiting Student Assessment
Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Visiting Student Assessment
Essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Information currently unavailable

Indicative reading

Annandale, E. (1998) The Sociology of Health and Medicine Cambridge, Polity Press

Blaxter, M. (2004) Health, Cambridge, Polity Press

Brown, N. and Webster, A. J. (2004) New Medical Technologies and Society: Reordering Life Cambridge, Polity Press

Cockerham, W. (2009) The New Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology London, Wiley-Blackwell

Gabe, J. and Monaghan, L.. (2013) Key Concepts in Medical Sociology London, Sage. Second edition.

Kelleher, D., Gabe J. & Williams, G. (eds) (2006) Challenging Medicine.London: Routledge. Second edition.

Nettleton, S. (2013) The Sociology of Health and Illness (d ed.) Cambridge, Polity Press. Third edition.

Lupton, D. (2012) Medicine as culture illness, disease and the body in western societies. London, Sage. Third edition


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.