Ageing in Society

Subject POPH90256 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Term 1, Parkville - Taught online/distance.
Pre-teaching Period Start 11-Jan-2016
Teaching Period 18-Jan-2016 to 13-Mar-2016
Assessment Period End 18-Mar-2016
Last date to Self-Enrol 12-Jan-2016
Census Date 05-Feb-2016
Last date to Withdraw without fail 26-Feb-2016


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 30 hours
Total Time Commitment:

170 hours

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website.

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Briony Dow

Contact

b.dow@nari.unimelb.edu.au

Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

OR

Currently enrolled students:

Future Students:

Subject Overview:

This subject aims to offer students a critical examination of the ways in which ageing is socially constructed. Students will learn about ageing from a range of perspectives, including life course, bio-medical, gender, cross cultural, consumer, historical and self-reflection. The subject will focus on how the prevailing social context shapes ideas, relationships, and practices with specific implications for older people. This subject will critically analyse all forms of ageism and how older people are portrayed in literature, media and government policy using case studies from Australia and other countries around the world. Students will be encouraged to reflect on what ageing means to them, how they would like to age and what the impact of an ageing population might mean for future policy development.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this subject, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an informed understanding of how social construction of ageing influences perceptions, policies and practices.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with a wide range of the key social issues in the field of ageing.
  • Critically analyse the contemporary discourse around ageing in context of a range of perspectives.
  • Identify and critically analyse a range of texts and perspectives on an issue of relevance to their own interest, expertise or practice.
Assessment:
  • Contribution to Online Participation throughout the teaching period (10%)
  • Reflective task including peer feedback due mid terms (30%)
  • Critical essay proposal (500 words) due second half of term (10%)
  • A critical essay (2500 words) due end of term (50%)
Prescribed Texts:

Students will have access to electronic copies of relevant readings.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Students will be provided with the opportunity to practice and reinforce:

  • High level written communication skills.
  • Apply research skills to make evidence-supported recommendations.
  • Advanced skills in reasoning, persuasion and effective argumentation.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with team members.
  • Ability to make connections between theoretical concepts and everyday practice.

Related Course(s): Graduate Certificate in Ageing
Graduate Certificate in Rehabilitation Science
Graduate Diploma in Ageing
Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Science
Master of Advanced Nursing
Master of Ageing
Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration (Enhanced)
Master of Public Health
Master of Rehabilitation Science
Specialist Certificate in Ageing
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: 100 Point Master of Public Policy and Management
150 Point Master of Public Policy and Management
200 Point Master of Public Policy and Management
Ageing

Download PDF version.