Undergraduate Course: The Geography of Health (GEGR10138)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The 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 will focus on health inequalities and pay particular attention to tobacco and alcohol environments. |
| Course description |
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.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% Coursework:
50% Essay (2,000 words)
50% Rapid Evidence Review (2,000 words)
Degree Assessment: One essay on a specialist topic (2,000 words) (50%)
One rapid evidence review from a list of topics (50%)
Overall mark for the course (i.e. coursework and examinations) of at least 40 to pass.
Assessment deadlines:
Essay: Week 6
Rapid Evidence Review: Week 11 |
| Feedback |
Students will choose their essay titles and receive feedback on these. They will then develop an essay plan which will also receive feedback, before finally submitting the degree essay. In class feedback (using Collaborate for 2020/21) will also be given on class discussions and feedback will be given on the degree essay. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the relationship between the environment and human health, with a particular focus on non-communicable diseases.
- Have an understanding of the knowledge translation process from empirical academic studies to public health policy.
- Develop a critical understanding of health inequalities, with a particular focus on socioeconomic inequalities in health.
- Have an understanding of the broader determinants of health.
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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 |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Niamh Shortt
Tel: (0131 6)51 7130
Email: Niamh.Shortt@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Carry Arnold
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: Carry.Arnold@ed.ac.uk |
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