Sociology of Health and Illness
UndergraduateTAS-HGA3392024
Course information for 2024 intake
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Sociology of Health and Illness
About this subject
Upon successful completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Explain key concepts, debates and theoretical approaches relating to the sociology of health and illness.
- Apply relevant sociological theories and empirical research findings when discussing contemporary health and illness issues.
- Articulate your own position on key debates about health and illness.
- Communicate your ideas in written forms, using appropriate sociological language and concepts.
- Studying Health and Illness sociologically
- The social production and distribution of health and illness: How do societies produce health and illness and how is it distributed?
- Social class and health
- Gender and health
- Experiencing Illness: Medicalisation
- Stigma, chronic illness and disability
- The consultation and the clinic
- The internet and social media/lay knowledge
- The social organisation of healthcare: Healthcare professions: occupations and professions and medical dominance
- Complementary and alternative medicine
- Public health
- Hospitals and institutions
- Healthcare spending and systems
This subject applies a critical sociological perspective to health, illness and medicine. Each year the subject will use topical examples to explore expert and public knowledges about health and illness, the social distribution and patterning of health and illness, inequalities in health, experiences of health and illness, the health professions and the politics of health care. Recent examples include vaccination, breastfeeding, alternative medicine, wellness influencers, professionalisation among allied health practitioners and political debates about private health insurance.
This subject is highly relevant for students interested in social research or work in sociology, social work, health and social policy related areas. The subject objectives are: (1) to familiarise students with key health related sociological theories and empirical research; (2) to introduce students to contemporary sociological debates about health and illness; and (3) to develop the skills of critical sociological analysis as applied to health and illness.
- Short Report (20%)
- Essay (40%)
- Take Home Exam (30%)
- Online Multiple Choice Quiz (10%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Others
Conditional requisite: 25 credit points at Introductory level or higher or admission into A1C - Diploma of Creative Arts and Health (TAS-CAH-DIP).
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Teaching Arrangement: Weekly online lectures or equivalent (1.5 hours) and weekly participation in discussion boards and online tutorial (1 hour).
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.
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