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

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

In the aftermath of the global covid-19 pandemic the magnitude of health inequalities in all societies has been exposed. This module will interrogate the main dimensions of inequalities in societies and compare different explanations for these. The module will draw from key ideas with the broad field of Health Geographies but also cover ideas and concepts from the Sociology of Health and Illness, Public Health, and Health and Environment among others.
You will have the opportunity to explore your own interests throughout the module, with assistance from the module leader. Assessments will support you to think critically about how societies can reduce health inequalities. 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 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: 1,2
Explain how health inequalities are created and maintained by various social, economic and cultural processes: 1,2
Analyse qualitative and quantitative data to interpret heath inequalities: 2
Identify a contemporary health inequality and integrate learning from the course to design a research proposal with a clear geographical focus: 1

Study hours

Active learning hours:
22 hours teaching session
11 hours structured engagement with online resources
Independent study hours:
10 hours guided independent study (based on teaching sessions and online resources)
35 hours preparation for assignment 1
45 hours preparation for assignment 2
27 hours independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment