Enrolments for this year have closed for 2023.
View information for 2024 course intakeUndergraduate | LTU-PHE101 | 2023
Social Determinants of Health
Course information for 2023 intake
View information for 2024 course intakeExplore how access to healthcare influences how people interpret, understand and respond to health, wellbeing and illness. Examine how education, race, class, gender and culture guides people’s decision making and expectations of well-being.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Social Determinants of Health
About this subject
- Examine how social and cultural factors shape and determine people's experience of health and illness in different parts of the world;
- Compare health and illness outcomes experienced by groups from different social and cultural contexts and explain why differences occur;
- Discuss the interactions between health and illness, social perceptions of disease, culture and other societal structures and institutions;
- Research and use different types of data and information to understand and explain health and illness issues within diverse social and cultural contexts; and
- Collaborate with peers to examine the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians using the social determinants of health.
- Introduction to the Social Determinants of Health.
- Health as a social construct.
- Health and culture.
- Health and media.
- Education as a social determinant of health.
- Employment as a social determinant of health.
- Health care system and social determinants of health.
- The social determinants on a global scale.
- Health throughout the life course.
- Stigma and discrimination and social determinants of health.
- Social justice and social determinants of health.
- Gender and social determinants of health.
- The economics of the social determinants of health and health inequalities.
- Health and the living environment.
In this subject, you will examine the ways health, well-being and illness are experienced, understood, and responded to by people as social beings who participate in various groups, organisations, communities, and societies. Critical factors such as education, social class, gender, ethnicity and culture will be explored to examine how social practices, positions, and processes influence access to and use of resources supportive of health and well-being. Theories and frameworks will be examined and assessed so that you can develop an ability to become aware of and interpret various life concerns, both personally and professionally, and gain a more nuanced awareness of the dynamics operating between the personal and public domains.
- Speaking Task (3 minutes; 500 word equivalent) (15%)
- Group Report (2000 words, 500 words per student) (20%)
- Individual Report (1250 word equivalent) (35%)
- 3 Online Tests worth 10% each (30% total, 1500 word equivalent) (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 17
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 18
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- LAT-HUN-DEG-2023 - Bachelor of Food and Nutrition
Others
Students must be admitted in HBFN.
Past La Trobe University students who have previously completed PHE1SDH (Social Determinants of Health) are ineligible to enrol in this subject.
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - This subject is available through Open Universities Australia (OUA) and the course is restricted for enrolment. Single subject enrolments for restricted subjects are not available at OUA, please see https://www.latrobe.edu.au/study/apply/pathways/single-subject-entry for further information Students who successfully complete two from the four open enrolment subjects (HBS101, DTN101, CHM101, PHE102) may apply under the Academic Eligibility category for admission to the restricted Bachelor of Food and Nutrition. You must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition to be eligible to enrol in all other non-open access subjects offered in the degree. A good internet connection is required due to the online delivery.
Study load
0.125 EFTSL
This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Student feedback
10 student respondents between 28 Nov - 11 Dec 2022.
100%of students felt the study load was manageable
100%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Undergraduate
LAT-HUN-DEG