The aim of this course is to introduce students to the important sub-disciplinary field of the sociology of health and illness. The overall objective is to develop the students' analytical ability to examine the concepts of health and illness from a sociological perspective (perspectives), and critique the structures and processes involved in these within late modern Western society.

THEME I: NEW SOCIO-CULTURAL DIMENSIONS The sociology of the body/embodiment The sociology of risk THEME II: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & MEDICINE Theorising the relationship between science, technology and medicine Human Genetics and the redefinition of disease Reproductive genetics, predictive testing and the construction of risk New reproductive technologies: assisted reproduction and infertility THEME III: SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES ON MENTAL HEALTH & ILLNESS The social construction of mental illness Social models of mental health & illness Therapeutic and social meanings of the recovery concept THEME IV: THE MEANINGS AND EXPERIENCES OF HEALTH, ILLNESS & DEATH The social construction of health, illness & disease The experience of chronic illness Illness related stigma Death and dying THEME V: SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND HEALTH Social Class and health Gender and health Ethnicity and health THEME VI: MEDICINE, POWER AND AUTONOMY The professional dominance of medicine in healthcare Inter-professional relationships: power, knowledge and jurisdiction. Alternative and complementary medicine

In engaging with this module, students are expected to be able to: 1) Describe key substantive areas in the sociology of health and illness. 2) Demonstrate their understanding of key issues and themes within the sociology of health and illness. 3) Distinguish theoretical and empirical concerns within the sociology of health and illness at different levels of social analysis (ranging from everyday interactions to broader population patterns and trends in health and illness). 4) Evaluate theoretical and empirical concerns within the sociology of health and illness at different levels of social analysis. 5) Analyse the medicalisation of everyday life, including but also going beyond case studies explored in the module.

1) Elucidate the importance of placing health and illness within their social, cultural and political contexts for particular domains

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