GEG-30029 - Module Specification
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2021/22

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2021/22

Tackling health inequalities responds to two of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: good health and well-being and reduced inequalities. In the aftermath of the global covid-19 pandemic the magnitude of health inequalities in all societies has been exposed as a social and political priority. Health Inequalities will interrogate the main dimensions of inequalities in advanced global societies and compare different explanations for these. It will outline the main methods for measuring inequality and assess how the delivery of health care responds to the magnitude of inequalities.
You will have the opportunity to explore your own interests through the module, with assistance from the module leader. Assessment will be geared towards developing an understanding of how inequalities are analysed and interpreted in advanced societies and how evidence on inequality informs policy making. Assessments will support you to think critically about how societies can improve in these areas. These skills are valued by employers in the civil service; third sector and research.

The module aims to help students develop an understanding of the health inequalities in advanced societies. It will develop students¿ awareness of the challenges of meeting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and well-being) and 10 (reduced inequalities). The module will work alongside key themes in existing Geography and Environment courses such as ideas of inclusion, risk, sustainability and wellbeing. Developing these themes, students will be introduced to historical and contemporary health issues in the UK and worldwide. Inequalities in health will be considered in relation to place, class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and disability. These inequalities will be examined in relation to historical and contemporary health issues and practices (including the covid-19 pandemic). This will include a review of major UK studies of health inequalities (from the Black report to the Marmot review). Students will develop data analysis and policy interpretation skills to evaluate how health policy and service provision has tackled these issues by developing their own research proposal. Students can develop local and national ideas but will also be encouraged to draw from their other geographical studies and think internationally. This research proposal will mirror the style of many funding agencies (e.g. Wellcome Trust), thereby developing students¿ skills identifying topics and methodologies with relevance to international public health and policy.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Describe the main dimensions of health inequalities in advanced societies: 1,2
Analyse appropriate data to interpret heath inequalities and trends over time and place: 2
Assess the various explanations of health inequalities and how these have influenced national policies: 1
Identify a contemporary health inequality and integrate learning from the course to design a research proposal with a clear geographical focus: 1
Evaluate how current approaches to health service provision in the UK and globally respond to health inequalities: 1

Study hours

14 hours taught sessions
4 hours data analysis practical classes
2 hours group work seminars
2 hours research proposal workshops
65 hours preparing research proposal assignment
25 hours preparing data analysis assignment
38 hours taught session/seminar prep and follow-up

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment