Module: Perspectives on Health

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Perspectives on Health
Module Code	HEA1000 (ITS: NS134)
Faculty	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

In this module, learners explore various arguments about health which orientates them to some key health issues subsequently encountered through their programme of study. Learners also focus upon the quality of health argumentation and how to judge the credibility of claims that are made about health matters. This contributes to their capacity for making scholarly arguments.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the principal elements in a well formed argument about health.
2. Describe some essential claims that are commonly made in accounts of health: as a matter of well-being; medical provenance; luck and choice; or justice.
3. Discuss these claims by reference to the quality of supporting arguments in terms of evidence, reasoning and response to counter-arguments.
4. Explore the practical, moral, social and political implications of various essential health claims.
5. Make a reasoned health argument which is informed by evidence and takes account of alternative viewpoints.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	16	Face to face/Synchronous contact
Tutorial	4	Engaging in discussion related to module content/requirements.
Independent Study	105	Asynchronous engagement with module tasks i.e. completion of online elements and preparation for assessment components.
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10774	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Neil Marshall	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group presentation	Group presentation on assigned topic relating to module content.	35%	As required
Assignment	Assignment relating to health argument aspects encountered on the module.	100%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Judging and making health arguments
The elements of a well-formed argument are explored by reference to what counts as a justified claim about health. The role of doubt in scholarship is emphasised along with matters of supporting evidence, explicit reasoning, and taking account of alternative viewpoints.

Health as a matter of well-being
The idea of health as a state of complete well-being is considered in terms of the origins and value.

Health as the provenance of medicine
The benefits of medicine are examined in terms of the health of populations and in the light of criticisms which emphasise medical iatrogenesis and narratives of suffering.

Health from cosmic luck and personal choices
The givenness of health status is explored along with arguments about its moral and social implications. This is compared with health accounts in which matters of personal choice and responsibility are emphasised.

Health from justice
The notion of inequality is examined along with ideas about the relations between social justice and health.

Models of Health & Wellness, Health promotion.

Cultural perceptions of health

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Cross, R and Woodall, J (Eds): 2024, Green & Tones′ Health Promotion: Planning & Strategies., Fifth, Sage, London.,
Scriven, A, Morgan, G, Woodall, J.: 2023, Ewles and Simnett's Promoting Health: A Practical Guide, 8th Ed., Elsevier,
Wills, J.: 2022, Foundations for Health Promotion, 5th Edition, Elsevier, London,UK., 978-070208506
CederstroÌˆm, C.: 2015, The wellness syndrome, Polity Press, Malden,
Marmot, M.: 2016, The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World, Bloomsbury, London., 978-140885797
Radley, A.: 2004, Making Sense of Illness: The Social Psychology of Health and Disease, 2nd Ed., Thousand Oaks : Sage, London,
Aveyard,H.: 2023, Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care: A Practical Guide, Open University Press, Oxford, 192,
Bambra, C.: 2016, Health divides: where you live can kill you, Policy Press, Bristol,
Galanti, G.: 2014, Caring for Patients from Different Cultures, 5th Edition, University of Pennsylvania Press, Pennsylvania, USA.,
Illich, I.: 1976, Limits to medicine, M. Boyars, London,
Wilkinson, R. & Pickett, K.: 2010, The spirit level: why equality is better for everyone, Penguin, London,
Wilkinson, I. & Kleinman, Arthur, A.: 2016, A passion for society: how we think about human suffering, University of California Press, Oakland,
Segall, S.: 2010, Health, luck, and justice, Princeton University Press, Princeton,
Smith, K., Bambra, C., Hill, S.: 2015, Health Inequalities: Critical Perspectives, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK., 978-019870335

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None