AZA3717 - Medical sociology - 2019

Medical sociology examines social aspects of medicine. The unit features health from an African perspective. Students will gain an understanding of professional knowledge and the power associated with that knowledge and the way it is exercised. Areas examined will include risk assessment and management; public and private health and health promotion; HIV/AIDS and sexual health and the influence of the media and the internet on health related matters. The unit will embed these learning objectives in the African context introducing students to African interpretations of health, illness and medicine. The unit will appeal to students wanting to engage with social perspectives on health and illness from a globalised and localised perspective.

All students completing this unit will be able to:

1. Identify, describe and analyse key perspectives in social inquiry as it applies to health and illness in contemporary society.
2. Critically evaluate social aspects of health and illness as they effect individuals, communities and nation states.
3. Apply critical perspectives to contemporary issues in health and illness matters.
4. Identify implications for public health policy.

   In addition, students taking the unit at level three will be able to:

5. Understand critical difference in public and private approaches to health and illness issues.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Sociology - South Africa