Health Studies (Joint Honours)

Three years full-time or flexible part-time.

The course explores the meanings of health and the factors that contribute to the health and well-being of individuals and populations by drawing on the subject disciplines of biology, sociology, psychology, social policy, nutrition and ethics.

Health Studies is an exciting degree programme, which seeks to find answers to a range of important health questions. These include: Why are some people more likely to become ill than others? Why do women live longer than men? Why are older people, disabled people and people from minority ethnic groups often discriminated against in healthcare?

The course is delivered by a dedicated multidisciplinary team who have expertise in the areas of sociology, social policy, psychology, biology and nutrition and who strive to maintain excellence in teaching, research and student support.

The Joint Honours programme allows students to take Health Studies with another subject of interest including (but not limited to) Sport Studies, Psychology, Social Welfare and Human Biology.

This degree programme is not only designed to prepare graduates to answer the call by health care employers for workers at all levels in the health care sector, but also to develop graduates who are better prepared to take the health care sector in new directions and significantly contribute to a healthier society.

This course offers students a systematic grounding in the theories, concepts and practices underpinning health, illness and disease.

Stage one

At stage one, students will be introduced to the major concepts of health, illness and disease from a multi-disciplinary perspective. They will also study contemporary issues in health over the lifespan from prenatal development, through to childhood, adulthood and later life. Each major developmental change is examined from a range of perspectives, drawing on specialist insights from the biological, nutritional, sociological and psychological disciplines. Stage one also offers 'Health and Society' and 'Introduction to Human Nutrition'. 'Health and Society' investigates individual and institutional health from the 19th century to the present day and influences that shape our health and health care now. 'Human Nutrition' focuses on the foundation of nutrition, the nutrients and current recommendations for good health across the lifespan, the consequences of nutrient intake and how diet relates to health.

Stage two

At stage two, students will have the opportunity to further develop interests, in nutrition, for example. There are also modules in 'Research Methods', 'Body Matters', 'Heath issues in Later Life' and 'Contemporary Issues in Health Care'. The 'Research Methods' module develops skills in a range of methods, data collection, analysis and the opportunity to undertake projects. 'Body Matters' adopts a critical perspective on the body from a range of different disciplines. The 'Health Issues in Later Life' module specialises in health issues concerning the age of 60 plus and the 'Contemporary Issues in Health Care' module examines topical health issues affecting us and our society.

Stage three

During the final stage of the course, students will focus on the nature of health and disease from an integrated perspective covering current health issues such as depression and obesity. 'Ethical Issues in Health' is a module which deals with controversial debates about ethics such as stem cell research, cloning and euthanasia, using a range of case studies. Students have the option to choose modules on nutrition and researching populations health worldwide. If taken as a major subject, students will also undertake a dissertation during this stage.

• Delivered by a dedicated multidisciplinary team who have expertise in the areas of sociology, biology and nutrition
• Adopts the philosophy that health and illness are socially and psychologically, as well as biologically, constructed

• Concepts of health
• Health and society
• Health over the lifespan
• Introduction to human nutrition

Assessment is mainly through coursework, although some modules involve examinations.

The health and health care industries continue to grow internationally where there are many varied career opportunities. The very nature of a Joint Honours programme means that graduates can apply for jobs within the two fields of their choice, for example, Health Studies and Social Welfare. Previous graduates have entered professions within the NHS, in health promotion worldwide, teaching, MIND, Age Concern, the leisure industry, management, health policy, research in bioethics and the Armed Forces. A degree in Health Studies also provides a solid grounding on which to build further training within the allied health professions, for instance in nursing, midwifery, podiatry or occupational therapy. Many students pursue further study in the form of a training programme or postgraduate study.