HIST5880M Approaches to the History of Health and Medicine
30 Credits Class Size: 12
Module manager: Dr Alexia Moncrieff
Email: A.Moncrieff@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running
2023/24
This module is not approved as an Elective
Module summary
This is a core module for the MA programme in the History of Health, Medicine and Society. Students are introduced to key developments in the historiography of the history of medicine, and discuss sources and approaches used by historians of health, medicine and society. The module is team-taught. Seminars are based on pre-circulated readings and address key debates and historiographical developments. Students are introduced to key library resources, archives and museum collections for the history of health and medicine within the university and in the local region.
Objectives
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- demonstrate a critical understanding of the development of the history of medicine and the social history of medicine as historical sub-disciplines, and the place of health and medicine within the discipline of history;
- debate and interrogate key approaches that have shaped the methodology and practice of historians of medicine and health;
- discuss how relevant concepts and methods shape historical approaches to documents, images and material culture.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should have:
- acquired an understanding of a variety of approaches, concepts, debates and methodologies related to the history of health and medicine;
- acquired knowledge of documentary, visual and material sources which can be used to study the history of health, medicine and society;
- developed advanced skills in the critical analysis of primary sources.
Syllabus
1. Approaches to the history of health and medicine
A. Sources
2. Voices from below
3. Material culture
4. Print culture
5. Workshop on sources and assignment 1
B. Approaches. 6 topics, which may include:
- The body
- Mind and brain
- Gender
- Race and ethnicity
- Disease
- Ageing
- Demography
- Public health
Teaching Methods
| Delivery type |
Number |
Length hours |
Student hours |
| Seminar |
11 |
2 |
22 |
| Private study hours |
278 |
| Total Contact hours |
22 |
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) |
300 |
Private study
- Undertaking set reading in preparation for seminars
- Reading around the topic
- Researching and writing assignments
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Feedback on assignments.
Tutors will monitor contributions to class discussions.
Methods of Assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type |
Notes |
% of formal assessment |
| Source Analysis |
2000 words |
33 |
| Essay |
4000 words |
67 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) |
100 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading List
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 4/28/2023
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team