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SOC 382: SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
FALL TERM 2020
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. L. Strohschein
EMAIL: [email protected] COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines how health, illness, disease and healing are related to social structure and social processes. We will investigate how the social organization of Canadian society influences, not only the type and distribution of disease and illness, but also how the health care system responds to these contingencies. The course is divided into five sections where we discuss in turn, sociological perspectives on health and illness, the social patterning of health and illness, social meanings and the lived experience of illness, the social organization of health care and bioethical issues.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will learn about key ways sociologists approach issues related to health and illness, develop their critical thinking skills, and practice their writing skills.
TIME AND LOCATION:
This course was originally scheduled to be held MWF 2:00 to 2:50 pm. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, SOC 382 will be offered as an online course that is asynchronous (students are not required to be online between 2:00 and 2:50 pm on MWF). All materials for the course (including streamed mini-lectures) are accessible through eClass. This arrangement gives students greater flexibility in completing course requirements and is intended to mitigate the inevitable Zoom fatigue we are all about to experience. Even so, this way of learning may prove to be challenging for some students. A link below may help you to strategize about how to achieve success in this course (and in the fall semester more generally).
https://medium.com/youalberta/going-back-to-the-same-school-in-a-very-different-way- a33555ebed6c
I am available by email and typically respond within 24 hours. This is the best way to reach me.
If your question is one that other students may have, I will post the question and a response on eClass. Throughout the term (usually in advance of deadlines), I will announce office hours for students to meet with me via Zoom.
The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.
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PREREQUISITES:
SOC 100 or consent of instructor.
COURSE TEXT:
There is no required text for this course. Instead, students will access readings through eClass.
In previous years, the assigned textbook was Strohschein and Weitz (2014). For students interested in this book as a supplement, digital access can be purchased through the link below, but please note that this textbook is not needed to pass the course.
Strohschein, L. & Weitz, R. (2014). The sociology of health, illness and health care in Canada:
A critical approach. Toronto: Nelson. https://www.nelsonbrain.com/shop/isbn/9780176514174 EVALUATION:
Your grade for the course will be based on completing five modules, each worth 20%. Each module consists of a range of small tasks that vary from module to module. Below are some examples of the kinds of tasks you will do: short answer questions to required readings, posting responses to a forum in eClass, undertaking an activity and writing up what you discover, and short reflections on a video or documentary (~300 words). The longest task in this course involves a short writing assignment where students can select the topic from a range of options (<1000 words). Consult eClass for more detailed information.
Students may complete the modules at their own pace; however, there is a posted deadline for each module, which reflects the date by which all material related to that module must be completed. Late submissions will be penalized 5% per day.
The deadlines for completing each module are as follows:
Modules Due by:
Module 1: Health: Medical and sociological perspectives September 23, 2020 Module 2: Social production of health and illness October 7, 2020 Module 3: Social construction of health and illness October 30, 2020 Module 4: Health care systems and settings November 25, 2020
Module 5: Issues in bioethics December 7, 2020
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in
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suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence.
Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading of the University Calendar.
ACCESS TO REPRESENTATIVE EVALUATIVE COURSE MATERIAL:
The University of Alberta requires that students be provided with access to past or representative evaluative course material for any final examination paper and any mid-term examination paper worth 30% or more.
RECORDING LECTURES:
Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).
GRADING:
Final letter grades will be assigned as follows:
Descriptor Percentage Grade Value
Excellent 92-100 A+ 4.0
88-91 A 4.0
83-87 A- 3.7
Good 78-82 B+ 3.3
73-77 B 3.0
70-72 B- 2.7
Satisfactory 66-69 C+ 2.3
61-65 C 2.0
57-60 C- 1.7
Poor 54-56 D+ 1.3
Minimal Pass 50-53 D 1.0
Fail 0-49 F 0.0
Note that the threshold for grades may be shifted downward, but will not be shifted upward (i.e., any change will not make it more difficult for students to obtain a higher grade).
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SCHEDULE FOR THE TERM:
Part 1 Health: Medical and Sociological Perspectives
Sept. 2 - 4 Introduction
The medical model Sept. 7 Labour day
Sept. 9 - 14 Sociological approaches to health and illness Sept. 16 - 18 The epidemiological transition: Where are we now?
Part 2 The Social Production of Health and Illness Sept. 21 Social determinants of health: Introduction
Sept. 23 final date for all material related to Module 1 to be completed Sept. 23 - 25 Social patterning of health: Race and gender
Sept. 28 - 30 Socioeconomic inequalities in health Oct. 2 Global health
Part 3 The Social Construction of Health and Illness Oct. 5 - 9 Social meanings of health and illness
October 7 final date for all material related to Module 2 to be completed Oct. 14 - 16 Medicalization
October 12 Thanksgiving
Oct. 19 - 23 The experience of illness and disability Oct. 26 - 28 The body and the pursuit of health Part 4 Health Care Systems and Settings
October 30 final date for all material related to Module 3 to be completed Oct. 30 - Nov. 6 Health care in Canada: An overview
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Nov. 9 - 13 Reading week
Nov. 16 - 18 Comparing responses to COVID-19 Nov. 20 - 23 Hospitals: A complex bureaucracy Part 5 Issues in Bioethics
November 25 final date for all material related to Module 4 to be completed Nov. 25 - Dec. 7 Issues in bioethics
December 7 final date for all material related to Module 5 to be completed
