SD4127 Environment and health

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Module coordinator

Dr M Abed Al Ahad

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Miss Mary Abed Al Ahad

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module explores how environmental factors such as pollution, waste management, climate change, and urban planning affect and shape the health of individuals in our societies. It touches on the environment-health nexus within the sustainable development goals and global agendas, and it explores the theoretical approaches to understanding the environmental determinants of health. It also explores case studies and empirical research conducted in both developed and developing countries and dives into the social inequalities in environmental exposures and health. Methodologically, this module provides analytical skills such as collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative (statistical literacy) and qualitative (e.g., Photovoice) data and generic research skills including reading and critically summarising and presenting research papers. The module is taught through lectures, seminars and practical classes, and assessment is 100% coursework.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS SD2006 AND PASS SD2100 ) OR ( PASS GG2014 AND PASS SD2100 ) OR ( PASS SD2001 AND PASS SD2002 ) OR ( PASS GG2011 AND PASS GG2012 )

Assessment pattern

Coursework - 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework - 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 hour lectures (x9 weeks), 1 hour seminars (X6 weeks), 1 hour practical in class (X3 week), and 3 hours mini conference (x1 week).

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

260

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the environment-health nexus and its connection to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • Compare/contrast the theoretical approaches to understanding the environmental determinants of health and relate these to concrete examples in sustainable development.
  • Understand the different types of environmental issues that we face in our daily lives and analyse and interpret their association with health using both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
  • Understand, interpret, and compare the social inequalities in environmental factors and health at a local, regional, and global level.
  • Communicate and critique theoretical and empirical research at an academic level through oral presentations and/or posters and at a policy level through policy briefs writing.
  • Critically read and summarise different kinds of environmental, public health, geography, demography, and sociological literature: systematic literature reviews, theoretical, qualitative, and quantitative empirical papers and collect and analyse qualitative data through Photovoice and quantitative data through accessing survey or micro-census secondary data.