University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 2

Availability restrictions: This module will be capped

Planned timetable: Mon 1pm-4pm

This module makes the case for a social-scientific, not merely biomedical understanding of health in sub-Saharan Africa. It addresses the geographies of health, exploring the politics of scaling, uneven global distributions, and social contexts that facilitate disease transmission, situate health decision-making and impact experiences of health and disease. The module investigates the socio-spatial relations that produce contemporary health crises such as HIV/AIDS, AMR and covid-19 but also attempts to attend carefully to the materiality of such crises. The module is reading- and seminar-based. It utilises action-based assessment that challenges students to apply their learning to the design of a 'real-world' health intervention.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass GG2011 and pass GG2012 or pass SD2001 and pass SD2002 or pass GG2013 and pass GG2014 and pass SD2100 or pass SD2005 and pass SD2006 and pass SD2100

Anti-requisite(s): You cannot take this module if you pass GG3224 or take GG3224

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2 lectures (X10 weeks), 1 Seminar (X10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours: 40

Guided independent study hours: 264

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: Coursework = 100%


Re-assessment: Capstone essay

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr M G Kesby
Module teaching staff: Dr Mike Kesby
Module coordinator email mgk@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• Understand the diverse geographies of the sub-Saharan African region
• Have an understanding of the sub-disciplinary field of health geography and appreciation that health and disease are socially embedded in particular places, contexts, and relations.
• Appreciate the ethical, scalar political and theoretical challenges of conceptualising health and disease
• Engage in entrepreneurial co-design of a social marketing/public health information intervention