THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Social Policy

Undergraduate Course: Population Health and Health Policy (SCPL10029)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course examines concepts and debates relating to public health, health inequalities and health policy in a global context. It enables students to understand the policy making process, to analyse the roles of key health policy actors, and to consider the relationship between evidence and policy in relation to health.

Public health emphasizes the dual objectives of population health improvement and the reduction of health inequalities; yet there is a lack of consensus over the principal determinants of health, appropriate policy approaches for achieving these goals, and effective strategies for engaging in the making of public policy. This course will introduce students to key concepts and principles in public health and policy analysis, exploring the role of public policy in meeting population health objectives. It offers a problem-focused and multi-disciplinary approach that draws on public health medicine, epidemiology, political science, public administration, sociology and political theory, with a normative focus on health equity a central theme throughout the course. Students will be provided with a conceptual framework within which to analyse the making of health policy, focusing on the varying distribution of power among different actors and stakeholders. Key theories of the state will be introduced, including its various functions in relation to population health, and we will explore changes in health policy associated with the 'hollowing out' of the state via the increased role of markets, civil society, and international agencies. The course offers different approaches to understanding the policy process, looking at why some health issues obtain a privileged position within the policy agenda and why others are denied access to it, and emphasising the importance of understanding obstacles to effective implementation.
Course description Academic description:

This course examines concepts and debates relating to public health, health inequalities and health policy in a global context. It enables students to understand the policy making process, to analyse the roles of key health policy actors, and to consider the relationship between evidence and policy in relation to health.

Public health emphasises the dual objectives of population health improvement and the reduction of health inequalities; yet there is a lack of consensus over the principal determinants of health, appropriate policy approaches for achieving these goals, and effective strategies for engaging in the making of public policy. This course will introduce students to key concepts and principles in public health and policy analysis, exploring the role of public policy in meeting population health objectives. It offers a problem-focused and multi-disciplinary approach that draws on public health medicine, epidemiology, political science, public administration, sociology and political theory, with a normative focus on health equity a central theme throughout the course.

Outline content:

Understanding health ( including health, public health, global health);
Understanding health policy (including definitions, policy processes)
Power in policy-making
Health inequalities and their social determinants
Individual responsibility and state intervention
The nation state and globalisation (including state capacity, policy transfer)
Engaging with commercial actors to enhance health governance
The role of civil society in health policy
Introducing evidence-based policy-making
Violence as a health policy issue

Student learning experience:

The course will be taught by a combination of weekly lectures and small-group seminars, with the latter including a mix of face-to-face sessions and online discussion (using Learn discussion boards). In general, each topic will be introduced via a 50 minute lecture and explored in greater depth during small-group seminars. Students will be expected to complete essential readings before participating in seminars, and will have the opportunity to participate in a small-group presentation to the rest of the seminar class.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This is a challenging course and students undertaking this course should either be studying on a BMedSci or have completed at least two years of undergraduate study in the School of Social and Political Science. All other students interested in the course should contact the course organiser before enrolling.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should be at a level commensurate with Edinburgh University Year 3 or Year 4 students.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  55
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 10, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 18, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 168 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Assessment will be based on two components:

1) Blog: Students will complete a written assignment involving a focused response to a specific question/set of questions (30%).

2) Written essay of 2500-3000 words (70%).

Feedback Assessment will be based on a 2500-3000 word essay (70%) and a written blog (30%). Essay questions will be released a month before the due date, with students choosing one from a range of options. The aim of the essay is to demonstrate your understanding of key concepts and debates introduced during the course, drawing on relevant theory, evidence and argument to develop an analytical response to a specific question.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand the range of factors that influence health at a population level, and consider the relevance of these for contemporary public policy
  2. Be familiar with key conceptual frameworks for analysing health policy as well as their critiques, and able to apply these to specific examples of health policy development
  3. Understand the role of the state, of market actors and of civil society organisations within the policy process
  4. Understand the dual public health goals of improving health and reducing health inequalities; be aware of key conceptual and methodological issues in measuring health and social position; and be able to interpret and appraise information on health and health inequalities
  5. Understand the role of scientific evidence in policy-making and be familiar with competing models of the relationship between research and policy
Reading List
Key Texts
Buse K, Mays N and Walt G (2012). Making Health Policy (2nd ed). London: Open University Press.
Blank R and Buray V. (2010) Comparative Health Policy 3rd edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Crinson I (2009) Health Policy: A Critical Perspective. London: Sage.
Graham H (2007). Unequal Lives: Health and socioeconomic inequalities. Maidenhead; Open University Press.
Sim F and McKee M (eds) (2011). Issues in public health (2nd ed). Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Beaglehole R, Bonita R (2004). Public health at the crossroads (2nd ed). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Keywordspublic health,global health,health policy health inequalities
Contacts
Course organiserDr Amrit Virk
Tel: (0131 6)50 4282
Email: A.Virk@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr James Heitler
Tel:
Email: jheitler@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information