HSH313 - Contemporary Health Issues
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Warrnambool, Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Previously coded as: | HSH203 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Kehla Lippi |
| Prerequisite: | For H300, D391 and H313 students: HBS107 OR HSH102 and four credit points at levels (2, 3) |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2 hour seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online independent and collaborative learning activities including a scheduled online seminar per week of up to 2 hours duration. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
This unit explores contemporary health and social issues using a media case study approach. This will include gaining a comprehensive understanding of the role of the media, popular culture and interest groups in addressing a range of health issues. Case studies will be chosen from areas such as mental health, sexuality, gender, drug use, homelessness, disability, youth suicide, family violence, genetic engineering, indigenous health, refugee health, war and terrorism, and environmentalism.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Evaluate a range of contemporary health issues in relation to social diversity, through critiquing, reflecting and debating multiple perspectives around key issues. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Critically analyse, reflect on and deconstruct the role of the mass media, the Internet, popular culture and other forms of information to evaluate, interpret and create solutions to health issues. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Evaluate and deduce the common and specific factors that lead to a health issue gaining a public profile. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Utilise evidence, and an ethical and a team-based approach, to communicate and develop skills and ideas for health advocacy and communication. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO5 | Review and interpret case study examples of contemporary health issues from a range of sources to develop approaches and strategies in responding to these issues. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Learning outcomes succinctly describe what students are expected to have achieved on completion of a unit or course. Good learning outcomes clearly describe what all students have a fair chance of learning. They describe observable achievable actions that can be measured or judged.
Assessment
Trimester 2:| Assessment description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Research Report - Media analysis of a contemporary health issue | 2000 word report | 50% |
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| Assessment 2: Health advocacy and communication plan - Rationale, multimedia plan, and group presentation | 1500 word rationale 5 minute presentation | 50% |
|
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for HSH313 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.