4 Year Nursing Degree Programme (BSc Cur)

NU1S06 -The Sociology of Health and Illness (5 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to

• Define Sociology
  
• Discuss Sociological theorists and theory
  
• Discuss how Sociology may be relevant to nursing practice
  
• Critically explore how social factors such as class, ethnicity and gender affect health and lifespan
  
• Critically explore how Sociology challenges biomedical understandings of health
  
• Apply a range of skills relating to effective team-working, project management and presentation

Module Learning Aims

To introduce the student to the discipline of sociology and to explore how sociology contributes to an
understanding of health and illness. Students will also have an opportunity to develop reading,
team-working, project management and presentation skills.

• Theme 1 Introduction to Sociology
• Theme 2 The Social Patterning of Health and Illness
• Theme 3 Biomedical and Sociological Understandings

Recommended Reading List

Essential Reading

• Cleary, A. & Treacy, M. P. (eds) (1997) The Sociology of Health and Illness in Ireland. Dublin: University College Dublin Press.
  
• Giddens, A. (2006) Sociology 5th ed. Cambridge: Polity.
  
• Hyde, A., Lohan, M., McDonnell, O. (2004) Sociology for Health Professionals in Ireland. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration.
  
• Share, P. Tovey H & Corcoran P. A Sociology of Ireland Third Edition. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan Ltd.
  

* Additional readings will be given for each unit of learning.