Health Studies - The Nature of Health

About this course

This module presents health as an arena for debate by introducing students to a range of different health accounts. Each dimension of the biopsycho-social approach is examined to support a growing understanding of the necessity for a holistic and multidisciplinary response to health issues across the age range, for individuals, families and communities. Particular focus on health inequalities and social determinants of health support a broad understanding of the scope of the subject.

In addition the module develops generic study skills through extensive developmental feedback on formative written tasks using health theory as the basis of such work. It develops the ability to locate, collect, interpret, evaluate and use information to develop a coherent argument and to write in the appropriate style.

Course content

Discussion of a personal definition of health and the use of case studies introducing different ages, relationships and communities will allow study  and analysis of health and the experiences that may be responsible for shaping them.

Historical health perspectives and the emergence of different types of “official” accounts of health will be studied including biological, social, environmental and alternative health models as they apply across all ages.

After these strands have been introduced the module will then examine the rise of a more holistic “social model” of health in more depth. To strengthen comparisons of lay and professional accounts of health, the students will be introduced to different ways of measuring health both quantitative and qualitative and will analyse the advantages and disadvantages of measuring health as a positive or negative variable.

Entry requirements

Open to S6 pupils only. You must have 3 Highers at C pass or above and these must include one of the following: English; Modern Studies; History or RMPS. You will be invited to attend an interview with a member of College staff.

Course progression

While this module lends itself particularly to Health, Social Work and/ or Education based areas of work or study particularly it should also be viewed from a study skills perspective. Not only will pupils be readying themselves for first year university study they will also be learning how to learn online and this is very much a growing area of current higher education.