CENTRE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING – MEDICAL HUMANITIES

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

This course will only be available as KL10HM in academic year 2009/2010.

Overview

The course will explore key topics in their intellectual, social and cultural contexts. The topics will include medicine and the ancient world, medicine and the Renaissance and medicine and the Enlightenment, the history of medical institutions, medical ethics and interactions between 'regular' and 'irregular' practice, and the care of the disabled. Alternative approaches to topics will be explored and evaluated.

Structure

One 1½ hour sessions per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%) made up of: Written work; one 2,000 word essay on a set topic and one 3,000 word essay on a topic of the student's choosing (40% plus 50%) Tutorial assessment; attendance and participation (5%) and presentation (5%).

Resit: Resubmission of one or both essays.

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None.

Co-requisites

None.

Overview

The course will explore the manner in which medicine and illness has been represented in literature and other popular media. It will look at the way that doctors, nurses, carers etc. are represented in literature, along with an analysis of the representation of physical ailments and mental health issues and advancements in medicine. It is anticipated that the course will attract anyone with an interest in medicine and literature, whether as a patient, health profession or carer. Students are therefore likely to have a range of personal experiences to introduce to the work of the class. A variety of approaches to texts and topics will be explored and evaluated.

Structure

One x 1hr.30min session per week.

Assessment

1st attempt: continuous assessment (100%) made up of: written work; one 2000 word essay on a set topic and one 3000 word essay on a topic of the student's choosing (40% + 50%). Tutorial assessment; attendance and participation (5%) and presentation (5%).

Resit: Resubmission of one or both essays.

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

This course will only be available as KL15SH in academic year 2009/2010.

Overview

The course will explore key topics concerning the experience of illness, whether chronic, acute or terminal; attitudes of lay people and health-professionals to healthy living and health risks; and the practice of medicine, nursing, midwifery, and complementary or alternative therapies. A variety of approaches to topics will be explored and evaluated.

Structure

One 1½ hour session per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%) made up of: Written work; one 2,000 word essay on a set topic and one 3,000 word essay on a topic of the student's choosing (40% plus 50%) Tutorial assessment; attendance and participation (5%) and presentation (5%).

Resit: Resubmission of one or both essays.

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

The course consists of seminars, guided reading and supervised, self-directed learning. The key themes of the course will include an examination of ethical theories from western philosophy such as natural law, utilitariansim, virtue ethics and rights and how these are applied to the key principles of medical ethics such as respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence and justice together with the virtues of everyday 'good practice'. A historical dimension will trace the development of medical ethics and will include an examination of contemporary debates about euthanasia, abortion, animal rights, experimentationm, and bioethics; what constitutes the body, the mind, birth and death, the changing perceptions of gender, how to deal with the mentally ill and the chronically incapacitated and how different religions and cultures relate to medical ethics.

Structure

One 1½ hour session per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%) made up of: Written work; one 2,000 word essay on a set topic and one 3,000 word essay on a topic of the student's choosing (40% + 50%). Tutorial assessment; attendance and participation (5%) and presentation (5%).

Resit: Resubmission of one or both essays (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

The course will explore the role of spirituality within contemporary health care. The concept of 'spirituality' will be explored and discussed along with its relevance to modern medicine. As the course is multi-disciplinary (aimed at doctors, nurses, carers, chaplains, divinity students, etc) it will aim to consider a multi-disciplinary approach to health focusing on the role spirituality plays in healing those with: physical ailments, and mental health issues, as well as caring for the elderly, the disabled (of whatever age, and caring for the dying and their loved ones. A variety of approaches to topics will be explored and evaluated.

Structure

One 1½ hour session per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%) made up of: written work - two 2,000 word essay on a set topic (50%) and one 3,000 word essay on a topic of the student's choosing (40%). Tuturial assessment: attendance and participation (5%), and presentation (5%).

Resit: Resubmission of one or both essays.