| CODE | SOC5010 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Social Policy and Health | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | A sociological introduction to theories and concepts relevant to social policy and healthcare. Different theories and concepts will be identified, elaborated upon, compared and contrasted within changing social, political and economic contexts. It also focuses on the policy development process on both the national and European level and stakeholder involvement in the development,implementation and evaluation of healthcare services. Study-unit Aims: The unit aims to introduce students to the sociology of social policy by focusing on respective theories and concepts and applying them to healthcare. It also aims to critically understand the practice of medicine in a comparative context by highlighting the relationship between political ideology, policy development and programme implementation. Different theories and concepts will be identified, elaborated upon, compared and contrasted within changing social, political and economic contexts. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - sociologically reflect and critically engage with health-related issues; - recognize the plurality of discourses, perspectives on healthcare policy; - recognize the plurality of contexts, opportunities, risks and challenges related to healthcare policy; - apply the study-unit material to analyze specific healthcare policy issues; - identify, apply and discuss the following, from a sociological perspective, in relation to social policy and healthcare: 1. The definition of social policy 2. Theoretical perspectives of social policy 3. Classifying welfare regimes 4. Ideas and culture in social policy 5. Social exclusion, new social risks and social investment 6. Globalization, the Europeanisation process and social policy 7. Health social movements (contested illnesses, patient empowerment, access to health care services) 8. The Health Profession: Conflicts in Mixed systems 9. The development, implementation and evaluation of Social and Health Care Policies and Services 10. Social Constructionism, Realism: The environment, health and social policy. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - sociologically reflect and critically engage with social policy-making in relation to healthcare; - recognize the plurality of pespectives, regimes and concepts related to social policy; - apply the course material to analyze specific social policy contexts and issues; - interpret and analyze key aspects of social policy-making processes; - appreciate the relationship between policy development and programme implementation. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: MAIN TEXTS - BÉLAND, D. and MAHON, R., 2023. Advanced introduction to Social Policy, 2nd Edition. Edward Elgar Publishing SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS - Clarke, J. (2001) Social Problems: Sociological Perspectives – In May et al: Understanding Social Problems – Issues in Social Policy. - Sutton P, (2004): The Environment – A Sociological Introduction – Chapter 1: Natural Environments: Polity - GLOBAL HEALTH OBSERVATORY. WHO. http://www.who.int/research-observatory/en/ - PILAR, G., McCARTHY, M., Measuring Health A Step In The Development Of City Health Profiles. Copenhagen : World Health Organization. - ILLICH, I., 1976. Limits to Medicine: Medical Nemesis: the expropriation of health. Calder & Boyars. - FELICE, R., 2011 Tackling the Surgical Maze – An Introduction to Clinical Methodology. Malta. Millers Distributors Ltd. - BROWN, P. & ZAVESTOSKI, S (Eds.) (2005) Social Movements in Health, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. - JOHNSTON, H (2014) What is a social movement? UK: Polity. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Ind Study, Seminar & Group Learning | ||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Michael Briguglio Mario Vassallo Mary Grace Vella |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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