University of Galway

Course Module Information

Course Modules

Semester 1 | Credits: 5

In this module students will engage in sociological understandings of health and illness with an emphasis on the social/political/economic/cultural factors that affect conceptualisation and lived-out experience of health and illness. The study of health and illness will cover the individual, societal and institutional levels with particular exploration of intersections between health, gender, sexuality, religion and human rights.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. demonstrate an understanding of sociological theories on health and illness.
  2. converse in perspectives on mental health, disability and chronic illness.
  3. recognise the effect that social structures have on attitudes towards health and illness and health behaviours through the life course.
  4. critically evaluate implications of social inequalities on health outcomes.
  5. contextualise prevalence of infectious and chronic diseases within global developments.
  6. demonstrate critical appraisal of intersections between health and human rights; women's health and social determinants of health; and global health and economies of care.
Assessments
  • Written Assessment (100%)
Teachers
Reading List
  1. "The Sociology of Health and Medicine" by Ellen Annandale
    ISBN: 9780745634623.
    Publisher: Polity
  2. "The Sociology of Health and Illness" by Sarah Nettleton
    ISBN: 9781509512744.
    Publisher: Polity
The above information outlines module SP2116: "Sociology of Health" and is valid from 2021 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.