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Year:

SOCY321 Sociology of Health and Illness

Updated: 03 November 2011
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Off Campus
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
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) Cary Bennett (cbenne30@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit introduces students to major issues and perspectives in the sociology of health and illness. Sociological perspectives examine the social context of health and illness and how social, cultural and political interventions influence health. The unit explores major theoretical perspectives in health sociology; the influence of class, gender and ethnicity on health; global and rural health problems; health promotion, community health services, among other topics.

Prescribed Material
Mandatory
Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology
ISBN: 9780195562811
Germov, J., Oxford University Press. 4th ed. 2009
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Recommended Material
Optional
Text(s):

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

Health Sociology: An Australian Perspective
ISBN: 9781741032369
Gray, D.E., Pearson Education 1st ed. 2005
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
The New Public Health
ISBN: 9780195550467
Baum, F., OUP 3rd ed. 2008
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
The Sociology of Healthcare
ISBN: 9781405858496
Clarke, A., Pearson. 2nd ed. 2010
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Social Causes of Health and Disease
ISBN: 9780745635880
Cockerham, W.C., Polity Press 2007
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
The Sociology of Health and Illness
ISBN: 9780745628288
Nettleton, S., Polity Press. 2nd ed. 2006
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
The New Medical Sociology: Social Forms of Health and Illness
ISBN: 9780393975055
Turner, B., Norton. 2004
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Society, Culture and Health: An Introduction to Sociology for Nurses
ISBN: 9780195574623
Willis, K. and Elmer, S., Oxford University Press. 2nd ed. 2011
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Health and Globalization
ISBN: 9780745645131
Cockerham, G. B. and Cockerham, W. C., Polity Press. 2010
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Medical Sociology
ISBN: 9780205054183
Cockerham, W.C., Prentice Hall. 12th ed. 2012
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Understanding the Sociology of Health: An Introduction
ISBN: 9781412936231
Barry, A.M. and Yuill, C., Sage. 2nd ed. 2008
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
An Introduction to the Sociology of Health and Illness
ISBN: 9781412918794
White., K., Sage Publications 2nd ed. 2009
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , 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
Essay 50% 3000
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-3 GA: 1-4 and 6
Final Examination 2 hrs 50%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-3 GA: 1, 2 and 3

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 health sociology;
  2. exhibit a working knowledge of the sociological approach to health and illness;
  3. apply these conceptual tools to analyse health inequalities associated with class, race/ethnicity and gender.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge of the sociology of health and illness will be taught through lectures and tutorials and through discussions held on the Blackboard site. Knowledge will be assessed in both assessment tasks.
True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students will be taught communication skills through written and oral feedback on their participation in face-to-face and online course activities. Students will learn and practise valuable communication skills during participation in tutorials and online discussion with other students and the unit coordinator. Students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas and referencing in the essay assignment task. Assessment of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas will also occur in the exam.
True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Consideration of cross-cultural approaches to health and illness is a major focus of the unit and students capacity to understand how a broad range of cultural understandings have impacted on current knowledge and theory will form part of the assessment in the unit.
True True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be taught, and directed, to relevant sociological literature and how to assess its validity. In the essay, students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas and referencing.
True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Topics cover comparative cultural, historical and theoretical approaches to the social understanding of health and illness and students will draw from their own experience in order to contribute to discussions in the tutorials and on the Blackboard site. Through completing the assessments, students will be provided with the necessary life-long skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, and will be useful in any research position.
True True
6 Problem Solving
Successful completion of essays and tutorial questions requires the acquisition, development and application of problem-solving skills. Essay assessment criteria will include the ability to deconstruct the essay question and to integrate theory and literature into their answer.
True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Topic content in this unit addresses issues of social role responsibility and professional practice related to the unit. Reflecting on social responsibility is therefore embedded in course content.
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
   

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