Module: Sociology, Health & Illness

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Sociology, Health & Illness
Module Code	SOC1010 (ITS: NS280)
Faculty	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The module aims to introduce students to a critically informed sociological perspective on health and illness. It overviews the manners in which social arrangements influence health outcomes and the impact contemporary social processes have on health and illness. The module addresses topics such as the sick role and medicalisation; the factors behind class, gender, ethnic, and age health inequalities; the health consequences of globalisation, neoliberalism and the Anthropocene, and global health inequalities.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the relevance of sociology in the understanding of health and illness
2. Understand the major concepts and theoretical approaches in the sociology of health and illness
3. Explore the distribution of health outcomes along class, gender, class, ethnicity and age in a changing Ireland and the factors behind health inequalities along these lines
4. Explore the health consequences of globalisation and neoliberalism, as well as global health inequalities and the main factors behind them

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	101	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11545	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	Sabina Stan	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	n/a	60%	n/a
Formal Examination	n/a	40%	End-of-Semester

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

Sociology, health and healthcare

Being sick

Medicalisation

Ethnicity and health

Gender and health

Social class and health

Globalisation and its health consequences

Global health inequalities

Neoliberalism, healh risks and responsibility

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Hyde, Abbey, Maria Lohan and Orla McDonnell (eds.): 2004, Sociology for Health Professionals in Ireland, IPA, Dublin,
Turner, Bryan: 1995, Medical Power and Social Knowledge, Sage, London,
Petersen, Alan & Deborah Lupton: 1997, The New Public Health: Health and Self in the Age of Risk, Sage, London,
Oâ€™Sullivan, Sara (ed.): 2007, Contemporary Ireland. A Sociological Map, UCD Press, Dublin,
Conrad, P.: 2007, The Medicalisation of Society. On the Transformation of Human Conditions in Treatable Disorders, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore,
Graham, H.: 2007, Unequal Lives. Health and Socioeconomic Inequalities, Open University Press, Bergshire,
Harvey, D.: 2005, A Brief History of Neoliberalism, Oxford University Press, Oxford,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None