Module manager: Adrian Wilson
Email: A.F.Wilson@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
What was it like to visit a Victorian hospital? How did doctors explain and treat illnesses in the past? How have things like wars, businesses, empires and political debates affected medical practices? This module raises such questions as it introduces students to the history of modern medicine, providing an overview of developments in the professionalization, specialization and industrialisation of medicine over the last 200 years. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
The module will (a) examine key events in the history of medicine, indicating how these have contributed to the modern medical practices which we recognise today; (b) introduce students to different approaches to the subject; and (c) investigate the heritage of medicine, demonstrating how material objects can be used to explore history.
Lectures will explain key developments in medical history and will explore medicine’s heritage; tutorials will illustrate the range of approaches which historians have brought to the subject and guide you in interpretation and evaluation.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Describe the historical origins of some central features of modern medicine
2. Explain and evaluate the specific origin and significance of a key individual, institution or episode in medical history for modern medical practice
3. Formulate a simple, coherent argument for your point of view
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Communicate ideas and understanding clearly and concisely, using appropriate academic language (Academic and Work Ready skill)
5. Evaluate source material and combine evidence from different sources (Academic and Work Ready skill)
6. Search for and utilise appropriate material to support knowledge and analysis of topics (Academic, Work Ready, Digital and Sustainability skill)
The syllabus may vary annually. Possible topics include:
Bedside medicine
Hospital medicine
Epidemiological medicine
Surgical medicine
Professionalisation of medicine and nursing
Bacteriological medicine
Neurological medicine
Tropical medicine
Alternative medicine
Military medicine
Pharmaceutical medicine
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Private study hours | 84 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 16 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
In addition to the feedback that is provided as an inherent part of tutorials, students are provided with the opportunity to submit an outline plan of the report for feedback.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Project Report | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
There is no reading list for this module
Last updated: 14/02/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team