THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Health in Social Science : Nursing Studies

Undergraduate Course: What is Health?: Society, Culture and Health 1 (NUST08020)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Health in Social Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course develops students to understand the dynamic and contextual meaning of health and wellbeing within a complex and globalizing world. Political, sociological and ethical conceptualisations of health and wellbeing will be explored to understand the current health and policy contexts for individual, families and communities. The range of environmental, social, political and individual factors that influence health and wellbeing are explored within the context of contemporary society to examine how health inequalities are produced, replicated and reinforced.
Course description This undergraduate course aims to develop in students an understanding of health and wellbeing that is beyond the mere absence of disease and to apply it to the health and wellbeing of people in local communities, families and individuals. This course is a compulsory course for Bachelor of Nursing with Honours (Adult) students and it is anticipated that this course will be of interest to students from a range of different programmes as an outside course.

This course will be taught over 10 weeks and will consist of 10x2hour classroom sessions and 5x2 hour academic study skills workshops. These workshops will consist of 12-15 students, where students are given a topic to study each fortnight and to discuss in groups with the guidance of a tutor.

This course will be taught as face-to-face delivery by a range of experts from within the School of Health in Social Science and also external health and social care practitioners. Students are expected to engage with learning through group discussions, lectures and by reading relevant scholarly literature.
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 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 166 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Summative Assessment (with percentage weightings)
Essay (100%) 3,000 - 3,500 words

The focus of the essay will require students to draw on knowledge demonstrating achievement across the LOs for this course.
Additionally, students will demonstrate developing academic skills in finding, retrieving and synthesizing information, integrating theory with research-based evidence to develop writing skills in an academic format.
Feedback Formative Assessment and Feedback
The formative assessment is a short, written piece (250-400 words).
This will enable students to develop academic skills in finding, retrieving and synthesizing information, in referencing and will to allow students to become familiar with writing in an academic setting.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Explain how personal, social and cultural beliefs and values influence health and wellbeing;
  2. Describe a range of sociological, ethical and political theories that underpin health and wellbeing;
  3. Describe the social, political, economic and individual factors that influence health inequalities in high-income countries;
  4. Discuss a range of health improvement strategies at global, national, local and individual level to improve health and wellbeing and will understand the important role health and social care practitioners have in promoting health and wellbeing;
  5. Explain how stigma and discrimination influence health and wellbeing.
Reading List
Blaxter, M. (2010) Health. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Barry, A.M. and Yuill, C. (2012) Understanding the sociology of health and illness. Los Angeles: Sage.

Bonner, A., (2018) Social determinants of health: an interdisciplinary approach to social inequality and wellbeing. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Students will work on, develop and evidence the following:
- Ability to understand the ways that health and wellbeing are contextually situated, drawing on relevant theory in the field of sociology and health;
- Review and gain knowledge about social scientific theories of health and wellbeing;
- Present written work formally using research-based evidence to support their discussion;
- Use a range of ICT applications to support assessments and in-class work;
- Exercise autonomy and initiative in course activities and assessment.
KeywordsHealth,wellbeing,social care,sociology,marginalization,health inequalities,health improvement
Contacts
Course organiserDr Fiona Cuthill
Tel: (0131 6)50 3888
Email: Fiona.Cuthill@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Morven Sutherland
Tel: (0131 6)51 3972
Email: Morven.Sutherland@ed.ac.uk
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