Unit Outline

This unit applies a critical sociological perspective to health, illness and medicine. Each year the unit 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 unit is highly relevant for students interested in health and social policy related areas. The unit 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.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Explain key concepts, debates and theoretical approaches relating to the sociology of health and illness.
2	Apply relevant sociological theories and empirical research findings to contemporary health and illness issues in a Tasmanian, national and international context.
3	Evaluate sociological approaches and research and articulate your own position on key debates about health and illness.
4	Communicate your ideas in written and oral forms, using appropriate sociological language and concepts.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	25 credit points at Introductory level or higher or admission into A1C - Diploma of Creative Arts and Health

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Have reduced the number of topics covered to enable more in-depth analysis.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Participation	See the MyLO site for the due date	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Short Report	Week 6	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Conceptual Analysis Task	Week 9	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Recorded Presentation	Week 13	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Participation

Task Description:

Your participation in this unit is assessed in two ways.

Part One (10%): Leading a Discussion. By the end of Week 1, you must sign up to lead a tutorial presentation (on-campus students) or discussion on MyLO (online students) that relates clearly to the content of one of the assigned weekly readings and the weekly topic.
Part Two (5%) Student Engagement: On-campus students engagement in workshop activities. Online students one of the following options.
Either replying to five discussion board posts from other students (one mark for each reply). Note that to receive a mark, your reply must be in the same week as the post to which you are responding.

Or engagement in at least five online tutorials.

Task Length:

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Recognise and explain how sociological perspectives can be applied to give insight into contemporary health and illness issues.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Short Report

Task Description:

Write a short report on the social distribution of health and illness and health inequality. Further details will be provided in Mylo.

Task Length:

1000 words.

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explanation and Application: Explain and apply relevant concepts to an example. Describe and interpret health data to demonstrate understanding of the patterning of health and illness and health inequality.	LO1, LO2
2	Structure, Expression and Referencing: Adhere to specified formatting for the report. Produce a written assignment that is logically argued and structured, concise, and conforms to academic standards including referencing.	LO4
3	Sources: Uses appropriate sociological, sources, government health and demographic data and relevant empirical research. Includes at least two articles from the specified sociological journals and cite from the AIHW and/or ABS	LO2, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Conceptual Analysis Task

Task Description:

Review two sociological sources selected from a list provided and then complete the following tasks: Explain the key argument and concepts presented in the sources. Apply the arguments and concepts that you have identified to analyse the social processes underlying a contemporary health and illness example. Evaluate the merits and limitations of the sociological perspective you have used for analysing the example and consider the potential implications of your analysis. More details will be provided in mylo.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explanation and Application: Explain relevant concepts, debates and theoretical approaches and apply these to a contemporary health and illness issue.	LO1, LO2
2	Evaluation and Discussion: Articulate your own position on key debates about health and illness by reflecting on the merits and limitations of the concepts you have applied to the example and the implications of your sociological analysis.	LO3
3	Structure, Expression and Referencing: Produce a written assignment that is logically argued and structured, concise, and conforms to academic standards including referencing.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Recorded Presentation

Task Description:

Record and submit a 10-minute (maximum) powerpoint-supported oral presentation with accompanying slide pack that includes notes. The presentation will provide a sociologically informed discussion of the social factors underlying a contemporary health care issue related to health care and health care systems. More details will be provided in mylo.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain and Apply: Demonstrate your understanding and provide sociological insight into social factors that contribute to a health care related issue.	LO1, LO2
2	Articulate your position on key debates: Discuss the merits and limitations of using a sociological perspective to analyse a health care related issue and reflect on the potential implications of your analysis for addressing the health care issue.	LO3
3	Produce a recorded oral presentation (with accompanying slides that include notes) that is logically argued and structured, concise, and conforms to academic standards.	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.