Undergraduate Course: Medical Sociology (SCIL10016)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science | 
College | College of Humanities and Social Science | 
 
| Course type | Standard | 
Availability | Available to all students | 
 
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) | 
Credits | 20 | 
 
| Home subject area | Sociology | 
Other subject area | None | 
   
| Course website | 
None | 
Taught in Gaelic? | No | 
 
| Course description | This course will look at medicine as a series of interlocking social institutions, with particular attention to how these structure the social relations between doctors and patients.  Topics will include: expertise and the medical profession; sickness as a social institution; doctor- patient interactions; medicine and social control; gift relations in medicine; the growth of patient power; the rise of 'alternative' medicine. | 
 
 
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites | 
 | 
Co-requisites |  | 
 
| Prohibited Combinations |  | 
Other requirements |  None | 
 
| Additional Costs |  None | 
 
 
Information for Visiting Students 
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Sociology courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. | 
 
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes | 
 
 
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |   
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes 
- the nature and role of professional organisation in medicine;  
- the nature and significance of medical expertise; 
- the social factors that shape the experience of sickness and disease;  
- the micro- and macro-social factors that influence the interactions between doctors and patients; 
- the nature of current challenges to medical power;  
- the processes of medicalisation and demedicalisation and their role in modern social life | 
 
 
Assessment Information 
| Combination of coursework/exam with details to be specified by Course Organiser at first class |  
 
Special Arrangements 
| None |   
 
Additional Information 
| Academic description | 
Not entered | 
 
| Syllabus | 
Not entered | 
 
| Transferable skills | 
Not entered | 
 
| Reading list | 
Not entered | 
 
| Study Abroad | 
Not entered | 
 
| Study Pattern | 
Not entered | 
 
| Keywords | Not entered | 
 
 
Contacts 
| Course organiser | Dr Emese Lafferton 
Tel: (0131 6)50 4014 
Email: Emese.Lafferton@ed.ac.uk | 
Course secretary | Ms Sue Renton 
Tel: (0131 6)50 6958 
Email: Sue.Renton@ed.ac.uk | 
   
 
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