GEG-40028 - Module Specification
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

GEG-30023
GEG-30029
GEG-40010

Description for 2024/25

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 and explain the main dimensions of health inequalities in societies: 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 health inequalities: 2
Identify a contemporary health inequality and integrate learning from the course to design a research proposal with a clear geographical focus: 1
Propose theoretically informed public health solutions to health inequalities in different social, cultural and national contexts: 1
Reflect on the process of data analysis and to appreciate how health inequalities are understood subjectively in different contexts: 1,2

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