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SOCY321 Sociology of Health and Medicine

Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 2 Off Campus C - Internet access required
Armidale Semester 2 On Campus C - Internet access required
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites 12cp at 100 level in SOCY or candidature in BBiomedSc or BSc
Co-requisites None
Restrictions SOCY221
Notes None
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) John Scott (jscott6@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

The objective of this unit is to introduce the student to some of the major issues and perspectives associated with the field of medical sociology. The main topics to be covered in this unit are: sociological perspectives on health and illness; the sociology of mental illness; the sociology of death and dying; and cross-cultural approaches to illness and healing.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Health Sociology: An Australian Perspective
ISBN: 9781741032369
Gray, D.E., Pearson Education 1st ed. 2005
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 50% 2000-2500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-3 GA: 1, 2 and 4
Final Examination 2 hrs 50%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-3 GA: 1, 2 and 4

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. identify the major issues and perspectives associated with the field of medical sociology;
  2. exhibit a working knowledge of the sociological approach to illness;
  3. apply these conceptual tools to analyse health and illness from this perspective.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
The knowledge of the discipline will be taught through lectures and podcasts. Students will be introduced to some of the major issues and perspectives associated with the field of medical sociology. It will be assessed in both assessments. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas, and referencing. Students will practice their communication skills through completing the assessment tasks (written through essays). 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Consideration of cross-cultural approaches to illness and healing is amajor focus of this unit. 		True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be taught, and directed, to relevant sociological literature and how to assess its validity. Students will be assessed (through the essay) on their ability to identify relevant literature, and on their ability to critically analyse the literature. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Through completing the assessments, students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. 		True
6 Problem Solving
Students will be assessed on their ability to deconstruct the essay question and to integrate theory and literature into their answer. 		True
7 Social Responsibility
Students will be taught about their professional responsibilities as a researcher to provide balanced and accurate research. 		True
8 Team Work
The unit encourages students to work collaboratively on unit content through Blackboard discussion for all students and class participation by on-campus students. 		True True
   

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