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 Social and Political Science : Science, Technology and Innovation Studies

Undergraduate Course: History of Medicine 1 (STIS08001)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political 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
Summary******THIS COURSE WILL NOT RUN IN 2019-20 IT WILL BE OFFERED IN 2019-20 UNDER THE NEW NAME HISTORY OF WESTERN MEDICINE******

A general introduction to the history of medicine in Western society from the Ancient Greeks to the twentieth century. It will examine some of the different ways that doctors have thought about health and illness over the past two and a half thousand years and will raise general questions about the historical origins of modern scientific medicine, the role of experts in society, the extent and limits of applicability of scientific thinking, and the relationship between scientific research and public policy. Special attention will be paid to the way that different systems of medical knowledge, and the diagnostic and therapeutic practices associated with them, were adapted to the particular social and historical environments in which they developed.
Course description History of Medicine is a free-standing, 20-credit, level 1 half course run by the Science, Technology and Innovation Studies subject group of the School of Social and Political Sciences. It is available to all students studying in the College of Humanities and Social Science and in the College of Science and Engineering. History of Medicine 1 does not presume any prior knowledge, either of history or of medicine.

Indicative content:

TOPIC 1: ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN MEDICINE
TOPIC 2: MEDIEVAL TO RENAISSANCE MEDICINE
TOPIC 3: THE REFORMATION TO THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
TOPIC 4: EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY MEDICINE
TOPIC 5: NINETEENTH-CENTURY MEDICINE: SCIENCE, PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONALISATION
TOPIC 6: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDICINE
TOPIC 7: THE POLITICS OF MODERN MEDICINE

Graduate Attributes and Skills

Knowledge of key developments, issues and concepts in history of medicine.
Critical thinking and analytical skills.
Effective written and communication skills.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking History of Western Medicine (STIS08009)
Other requirements Available to all first and second year students
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Describe the main stages in the changing nature and social organisation of Western health care and healing practices, from the Ancient Greeks to the present day; 2. discuss the dominant ideas about health and illness, their causes and treatment, that have prevailed in Western medicine in different historical periods; 3. discuss how ideas about health and illness and the organisation of health care relate to the wider social and cultural context in which they are articulated; 4. critically evaluate the use of historical evidence in historical argument.
  2. Discuss the dominant ideas about health and illness, their causes and treatment, that have prevailed in Western medicine in different historical periods
  3. Discuss how ideas about health and illness and the organisation of health care relate to the wider social and cultural context in which they are articulated
  4. Critically evaluate the use of historical evidence in historical argument.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information 3 x 1 hour lectures
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Steve Sturdy
Tel: (0131 6)51 4741
Email: S.Sturdy@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Katarzyna Pietrzak
Tel: (0131 6)51 3162
Email: K.Pietrzak@ed.ac.uk
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