SHN7002 - Context, Controversy and Consensus in Health and Wellbeing

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Show advanced knowledge and understanding of core sociological and psychological concepts and theoretical approaches in health and wellbeing, nationally and globally.
Debate the role of the individual, social structures and policies, and to evaluate a range of sociological perspectives on individuals' experiences of health and wellbeing.
Critically appraise controversial and opposing responses to national and international contemporary health issues such as obesity, nutrition, communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Examine global comparisons in health perspectives and individual relationships with health.
Evaluate the effectiveness of a range of national and international health policies related to lifestyle and contemporary health issues.

Content:

This module will review the core topics in the sociology and psychology of health and wellbeing. It will explore various definitions of wellbeing, and social explanations for health inequalities based on social class, ethnicity, gender and age. It will assess the historical changes and definitions of what it means to be healthy. This module will unpack some of the key health issues in contemporary society. It will critically assess the moving target that is 'health behaviour' and contextualise this psychologically, sociologically and globally. It will examine and critique policy responses to population health and wellbeing management nationally and internationally.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be delivered using a mixture of face-to-face intensive lectures and seminars, supported with e-learning tasks and synchronous e-learning seminars. Student learning will be supported and evaluated through completion of interactive forums, web based seminars and individual and group tutorials.

Lecture and workshops
Hours: 2
Intended group size: Cohort

Online learning tasks
Hours: 50 (5 hours per week x 10 weeks)
Intended Group size: 1

Individual Tutorials
Hours: 1

Guided Independent Study
Hours: 144

Further details relating to assessment
The essay will explore a contemporary health and wellbeing issue and evaluate policy related responses. The portfolio of reflections on learning will create an incentive for learning forum and synchronous e-learning contributions to be formally reflected in the module assessment.

Assessment:

001 Portfolio; 1,000 words; throughout semester 1 25%
002 Essay; 3,000 words; end of semester 1 75%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Martin Barwood
Level - 7
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7PGS1

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