Overview

For those who would like to study with us but are unable to come to London for face to face teaching, we also provide Distance Learning version of the History and Health study module.  This is an elective module of the MSc Public Health degree, offered under the University of London International Programmes, and it can also be taken as an individual module.  Students may begin the module any time from 1st October each year, and it is assessed by assignment and examination, for which deadlines are set.  Full details of this module and how to apply are here.

The module is supported by our textbook Public Health in History, by Centre members Virginia Berridge, Alex Mold, and Martin Gorsky.

Aim

The aim of this module is to enable students to employ historical perspectives in the fields of public health and health services.

Intended learning outcomes:

 By the end of this module, students should be able to:

• evaluate the historical dimensions of ongoing public health issues;
• understand the historical context of public health and health services, in both the advanced industrial economies and the global South;
• recognize the nature of historical debate and the contested status of historical claims; and
• analyse original documents so as to be able to assess a significant historical question.

Target audience

This module is recommended for students with an interest in applying knowledge and understanding of the past to present-day issues in public health and health services. It is useful but not essential for students to have had some background in social science disciplines. This module is recommended for students studying the Environment and Health, Health Promotion and General streams of the Public Health MSc.

Teaching and learning methods

Learning is self-directed against a detailed set of learning objectives that are identified at the start of each chapter of the module textbook, which also offers focused reading and various learning activities. There will be a number of Collaborate sessions, including an introduction to the module, a discussion of the assignment and briefing for exam revision. Additional learning materials include: a brief guide to the study module, recommended reading from the peer-reviewed literature, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and suggested relevant websites. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the module-specific discussions and real-time tutorials available on Moodle to obtain tutor support, and to make use of LSHTM online library resources. In addition, written feedback is provided on submitted assignments.