Understanding Health

What is health?  This module will cover the main ideas and influences involved in studying health – including important historical, philosophical and theoretical debates.  As you consider different understandings of health, you’ll critically evaluate the dominant bio-medical model, examining its implications at both individual and population levels.

What does the module cover?

Gain a critical understanding of health concepts, and discuss historical and philosophical ideas and debates around the concepts of health, the body and medicine.  Explore the significance and influence of different dimensions of health in relation to individual and population health. And, examine social theories and models used to understand health.  Finally, you’ll gain practical skills in critical writing, discussion, debate, and presenting issues relevant to the basic concepts of health.

More Information

Module Code:

HS1050

Key topics include:

The problematic concept of health explored through mapping out the historical, philosophical, sociological and cultural influences on health and conceptualizations of health
Contested definitions of health drawing upon historical and philosophical assumptions that underpin current understandings of health
The dominance of the bio-medical model and its implications for understanding the multi-dimensional nature of health at both individual and population levels.
Different theoretical approaches used to examine issues of discrimination and inequality

Pre-requisites

None

Number of credits & study time

20 credits / 200 hours

Assessment

In addition to completing a number of formative assessments as part of your coursework that you forward to your tutor, you’ll need to complete two summative assessments:

Powerpoint presentation with a short write-up    40%
(1000 words)

Essay demonstrating an understanding of key topics in health  60%
(2000 words)