Course Details in 2023/24 Session

Module Title	LI Sociology of Health and Illness
School	School of Social Policy
Department	Soc Policy, Sociology & Crimin
Module Code	08 37890
Module Lead	Justin Wearing (interim – lead TBC)
Level	Intermediate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-22 hours Seminar-10 hours Guided independent study-168 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module investigates the sociological dimensions of health and illness. The module encompasses a broad range of topics, which may include changing concepts of health and wellbeing; the social context and consequences of illness; the lived experience of ill health and disability; the rise and expansion of medicine as a major social institution in contemporary societies and the organisation and delivery of healthcare in formal and informal settings. Beyond this, students will explore other dimensions of health and illness – for example: the roles of and relationship between patients, professionals and policymakers, the influence of broader interest groups such as the media, science and technology and the transnational pharmaceutical industry. Substantive topics may include health inequalities; medicalisation and the social construction of illness; citizenship, welfare and health; medicine as an institution of social control; the politics of disability; new medical technologies and the ‘cyborg’ body; the lived experience of chronic illness; and global health issues.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Identify and critically assess the conceptual developments and debates in the sociology of health and illness Evaluate the influence of sociological factors in the definition, causation and response to ill health and disability Demonstrate awareness of different perspectives on the role, function and influence of medicine and healthcare in contemporary societies Understand and comment on the contested nature of health, illness, the body and medical knowledge
Assessment	37890-01 : Summative 1: Online Exam (50%) : Coursework (50%) 37890-02 : Summative 2: Essay (50%) : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	1 hour MCQ Canvas quiz (50%) and 2000 word Essay (50%)
Other
Reading List