THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Geography

Undergraduate Course: The Geography of Health (GEGR10105)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe module provides a theoretical background to the geographical study of health. The content of the course will broadly reflect the research profile of the Centre for Research on Environment Society and Health (CRESH www.cresh.org.uk) and large parts of the course will be team-taught to reflect our collaborative working practices. The course addresses health inequalities and does so whilst employing a socio-ecological framework which acknowledges the importance of social, physical, economic and political environments in shaping health, health behaviours and health outcomes. This course will demonstrate to students how geographical techniques can be applied in related disciplines, such as epidemiology and public health. The course will involve invited lectures from public health professionals. The course will also include a one day field excursion to the Wester Hailes Health Agency in Edinburgh.

***PLEASE NOTE FIELD COURSE LOCATIONS MAY CHANGE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, INCLUDING SECURITY RISKS, INCREASED COSTS OR INABILITY TO ACCESS FIELD LOCATIONS. ANY CHANGES TO THE MAIN DESTINATION OF THE FIELD TRIP WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE***

Replaces: GEGR10061 The Geography of Health and Health Care
Course description Syllabus (covers broad areas to be discussed)
1. Introduction: What is Health Geography
2. Health Inequalities : Social and spatial
3. Theorising Health Inequalities
4. Environmental Justice and health
5. Place, space and risky behaviours
6. Scotland's Health
7. Austerity and Health
8. Field Trip to Wester Hailes
9. Policy and Action
10. Moving beyond the behavioural turn: The way forward
11. Summary, revision & exam papers

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  47
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Class Assessment: One class essay (2,000 words)
One group project and presentation on a specialist health topic

Degree Assessment: One essay on a specialist topic (2,000 words)(40%)
One two hour examination (2 questions)(60%)
Overall mark for the course (ie coursework and examinations) of at least 40 to pass.
Feedback Students will have the opportunity to write a class essay or class essay plan. Feedback on these will be given in one to one meetings with the course organiser. In class, feedback will be given on class discussions and feedback will be given on the degree essay. The course organiser will have weekly office hours and students are encouraged to go along to these with any queries.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. identify and define the main geographical concepts related to the study of health
  2. evaluate the wider determinants of health and health inequalities
  3. examine how geographical analysis can contribute to a greateer understanding of the variations in health outcomes
  4. develop skills in interpreting health data and geographical information about health
Reading List
Curtis, S. (2004). Health and Inequality: Geographical Perspectives London: Sage Publications Chapter 1 'Introducing geographical perspectives on health and inequality'

Gatrell, A. (2002). Geographies of Health: An Introduction Oxford: Blackwells.

Smith, S. J. and D. Easterlow (2005). "The strange geography of health inequalities." Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 30(2): 173-190.

Cummins, S., S. Curtis, et al. (2007). "Understanding and representing 'place' in health research: A relational approach." Social Science & Medicine 65(9): 1825-1838.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Niamh Shortt
Tel: (0131 6)51 7130
Email: Niamh.Shortt@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Kirsty Allan
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: Kirsty.Allan@ed.ac.uk
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