Social & Cultural Perspec in Public Hlth

Subject 505-109 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Classroom
For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: One 1-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per week
Total Time Commitment: In addition to the stated contact hours, students are expected to spend at least 8 hours of private study per week.
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 Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Contact

Dr Bruce Rumbold, School of Public Health, LaTrobe University

School of Population Health, University of Melbourne

Subject Overview:

In this unit, students explore the multi-disciplinary partnerships between public health and the social science disciplines including sociology and anthropology with particular attention to the ways in which cultural beliefs and practices shape population risks for both infectious and non-infectious diseases and how social factors such as social status, ethnicity and gender impact on health inequalities. Thus this unit will provide students with a solid grounding in understanding the different ways in which the social sciences contribute to public health theory and practice.

Objectives: At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
  • Describe the way key social science disciplines inform understandings of health
  • Describe social science influences on public health theory, method and practice
  • Explain how cultural and social factors shape population health and public
  • health interventions
  • Critically appraise public health literature in terms of social and cultural content
Assessment:

Unstructured Reflective Journal of 2,000 words (40%) Two 1,500-word projects (30% each)

Prescribed Texts: A manual of readings will be distributed at the beginning of the subject.
Recommended Texts:

None

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au
Notes: This subject is a Master of Public Health Consortium subject.

Related Course(s): Master of Public Health

Download PDF version.