Studying at York
Health and Illness - SOC00067I
- Department: Sociology
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
- See module specification for other years: 2024-25
Module summary
The module will highlight the social determinants of health inequalities and how the organization of healthcare has developed over time at a global level and how the role of medical professionals has changed along with an appreciation of decision making in health care provision.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2023-24 |
Module aims
How do we make sense of experiences of health and illness and the place of medicine in society? In this module you will develop an insight into sociological concepts and theoretical perspectives relevant to understanding health, illness, medicine and healing. You will compare and contrast social and medical models of disease, health and illness and appreciate the contested and culturally specific understandings. The module will highlight the social determinants of health inequalities and how the organization of healthcare has developed over time at a global level and how the role of medical professionals has changed along with an appreciation of decision making in health care provision.
Module learning outcomes
Articulate and apply core sociological concepts and theories of health and illness
Demonstrate in-depth understanding of sociological research concerning significant aspects of healthcare including social and biomedical models of health outcomes
Evaluate research concerning ‘lay beliefs’ and illness experience in global contexts
Analyse how different social and political influences shapes the type of health care that is available to populations globally
Demonstrate critical thinking and data analysis in written formats
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
For formative work - Core Concept - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessment provides practice for the summative task, which is in line with MLO 1 &5.
For summative work - Essay - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with MLO 1-5. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well, and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.
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