Undergraduate Course: History of Medicine 1 (SCSU08003)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | A general introduction to the history of medicine in Western society from the Ancient Greeks to the twentieth century. It will examine some of the different ways that doctors have thought about health and illness over the past two and a half thousand years and will raise general questions about the historical origins of modern scientific medicine, the role of experts in society, the extent and limits of applicability of scientific thinking, and the relationship between scientific research and public policy. Special attention will be paid to the way that different systems of medical knowledge, and the diagnostic and therapeutic practices associated with them, were adapted to the particular social and historical environments in which they developed. |
| Course description |
History of Medicine is a free-standing, 20-credit, level 1 half course run by the Science, Technology and Innovation Studies subject group of the School of Social and Political Sciences. It is available to all students studying in the College of Humanities and Social Science and in the College of Science and Engineering. History of Medicine 1 does not presume any prior knowledge, either of history or of medicine.
Indicative content:
TOPIC 1: ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN MEDICINE
TOPIC 2: MEDIEVAL TO RENAISSANCE MEDICINE
TOPIC 3: THE REFORMATION TO THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
TOPIC 4: EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY MEDICINE
TOPIC 5: NINETEENTH-CENTURY MEDICINE: SCIENCE, PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONALISATION
TOPIC 6: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MASS MEDICINE
TOPIC 7: THE POLITICS OF MODERN MEDICINE
Graduate Attributes and Skills
Knowledge of key developments, issues and concepts in history of medicine.
Critical thinking and analytical skills.
Effective written and communication skills.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 250 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 33,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
163 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
40 %,
Coursework
60 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessed by two online multiple choice exams, one approx. midway through and one at the end of the course (each worth up to 20% of the overall mark); and a long 2,000 word essay, submitted via ELMA to a deadline date, for the remaining possible 60% of the overall mark. In order to pass the course, the long essay must be passed. |
| Feedback |
Feedback
Students will receive written feedback for their assessed essay, completed at the end of the course. They will not receive feedback on the multiple choice exams. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the main stages in the changing nature and social organisation of Western health care and healing practices, from the Ancient Greeks to the present day; 2. discuss the dominant ideas about health and illness, their causes and treatment, that have prevailed in Western medicine in different historical periods; 3. discuss how ideas about health and illness and the organisation of health care relate to the wider social and cultural context in which they are articulated; 4. critically evaluate the use of historical evidence in historical argument.
- Discuss the dominant ideas about health and illness, their causes and treatment, that have prevailed in Western medicine in different historical periods;
- Discuss how ideas about health and illness and the organisation of health care relate to the wider social and cultural context in which they are articulated;
- Critically evaluate the use of historical evidence in historical argument.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Neil Tarrant
Tel: (0131 6)50 6384
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Alexander Dysart
Tel: (0131 6)51 5197
Email: |
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