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 | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The module provides a theoretical and empirical background to the geographical study of health. The course will cover the historical development of public health, themes related to environmental justice and health, social justice and health inequalities, public policy and the commercial determinants of health. Students will critically evaluate literature and are encouraged to develop knowledge in a specialist area, both through class debates and individual essays. Furthermore students are encouraged to actively engage with material outside of academia, in particular there will be a focus on knowledge translation and public policy. |
| 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 |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is open to 3rd and 4th year students. This course is open to all university students, but priority will be given to students on the Geography Degree Programmes. Students from other programmes may be able to join if there is space. Please contact geoset.ug.drummond@ed.ac.uk to check availability. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 26,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
170 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Rapid Evidence Review (40%):
- AI-Assisted Editing: AI tools may be used for identifying ideas, planning, and improving the clarity of your writing, but not for content generation. AI use must be acknowledged in your submission.
- Coursework Extensions: Extensions are permitted for this assessment. Please review the guidance on the Registry Services website and apply via MyEd.
- Extra Time Learning Adjustments: Students with Extra Time Learning Adjustments may request additional time for this assessment. Applications should be made using the Extra Time Learning Adjustment (ETA) tool, available via the Disability Support page in MyEd.
Group Presentation (20%):
- AI-Assisted Editing: AI tools may be used for identifying ideas, planning, and improving the clarity of your writing, but not for content generation. AI use must be acknowledged in your submission.
- Coursework Extensions: Extensions are not permitted for this assessment due to its group-based format.
- Extra Time Learning Adjustments: Extra Time Learning Adjustments are not permitted for this assessment due to its group-based format.
Essay (40%):
- AI-Assisted Editing: AI tools may be used for identifying ideas, planning, and improving the clarity of your writing, but not for content generation. AI use must be acknowledged in your submission.
- Coursework Extensions: Extensions are permitted for this assessment. Please review the guidance on the Registry Services website and apply via MyEd.
- Extra Time Learning Adjustments: Students with Extra Time Learning Adjustments may request additional time for this assessment. Applications should be made using the Extra Time Learning Adjustment (ETA) tool, available via the Disability Support page in MyEd.
Course Pass Requirements:
Students must attain an overall mark of 40% (or above) in order to pass the course. |
| Feedback |
Students will receive feedback at multiple points during the course. They will receive feedback on the Rapid Evidence Review and group feedback on presentation themes (planning stage) and presentations. Feedback on the essay will be in three stages: 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 will also be given on class discussions. We use Padlet in this course and student comments also receive feedback. |
| 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 |
| Special Arrangements |
This course is open to 3rd and 4th year students. This course is open to all university students, but priority will be given to students on the Geography Degree Programmes. Students from other programmes may be able to join if there is space. Please contact geoset.ug.drummond@ed.ac.uk to check availability. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Niamh Shortt
Tel: (0131 6)51 7130
Email: Niamh.Shortt@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Rachael Scott
Tel:
Email: Rachael.Scott@ed.ac.uk |
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