Social Analysis in Health 2

This subject is not offered in 2013.

120 hours

This subject can be taken concurrently

None

None

505-508 Key Concepts in Social Health

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.

This subject builds on the understandings developed in the Social Analysis in Health 1 subject through the application of social science theory to the analysis of the global rise in human life expectancy over the past two hundred years. We will explore the various contributions of public health and biomedical interventions over time and place, but we will also examine the more complex interactions between race, class and gender and the impact of economic and political factors in population health outcomes. Students will learn how to draw on key theories to better understand and respond to health challenges in economically developing and developed countries.

At the completion of this subject, students should be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Apply different theoretical approaches from the social sciences to health practice.
• Critically analyse population health issues using a range of social science theories
• Critically analyse the relationship between the theoretical bases of social science and health policy and health care practice
• Understand the potential and limitations of social science theories to understanding key population health challenges
• Critically examine the ways in which social understandings of health and illness shape responses to population health challenges.

Weekly personal journal (20%)

Two class literature discussions (500 words each) during semester (20%)

One 3000 word research essay due at the end of semester (60%)

James C Riley, Rising Life Expectancy (CUP 2001)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Upon completion of this subject a student should have:

• Advanced written and oral communication skills
• Advanced skills in cross-disciplinary analysis
• Advanced skills in reading critically within and across a range of academic disciplines
• Advanced skills in critical analysis of academic theories.