Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aims of this module are:

To provide students with an overview of the changing human responses and understanding of disease over time.

To provide students with awareness, at a more advanced level, of the historical, social and cultural embeddedness of medicine through time.

To introduce students thematically, and at a more advanced level, to the main methodological aspects and problems of the academic study of medical history.

To introduce students to the ways, in which the ‘patient’ or sufferer of disease has been perceived, constructed and contested.

To deepen the methodological and historiographical skills of students in analysing diverse primary sources to prepare them for their dissertation.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module is mainly taught by way of seminars illustrating different approaches to researching and understanding the embeddedness of health, disease and medicine in different historical, social and cultural contexts. These will include a variety of approaches including emotional, environmental, sensory and political histories.

Topics for seminars may include the following based on expertise available:

An Introduction to the History of Medicine
Medicine and the Environment
Medicine and the History of the Body
Medicine and the Senses
Locating the Patient Voice
Medicine and Empire
Health of Healthcare Workers
Medicine and Emotions
Medical Education and Dissection

There will also be two workshops on locating and analysing primary sources:

Locating and Using Medical History Primary Sources - Archival handling session with Special Collections at the Philip Robinson Library
Locating and Using Medical History Primary Sources - Digital

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

1. An understanding of various ways in which society and medical practice have been intertwined.

2. A knowledge and understanding of the historical, social and cultural embeddedness of medicine through time, illustrated by examples chosen from different historical periods.

3. An understanding of the main methodological aspects and problems of the academic study of medical history

Intended Skill Outcomes

1. The ability to appreciate and analyse processes of historical change in human responses to and understandings of health and disease.

2. The ability to relate developments and changes in medical history to their wider historical context and to view medicine as part of human culture and society.

3. The ability to use and analyse primary archival and digital databases, documents and illustrations concerning health and disease in the past and present.

4. The ability to identify and select information relevant for medical history research and to make appropriate use of secondary literature.

5. The ability to provide written evidence of independent research in the form of a written assignment.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

There will be an introductory lecture which will outline the module in terms of teaching and assessments as well as highlight key themes and concepts in the history of medicine.

The main body of the module will be formed of eight 2-hour seminars. These will provide students with an overview of key approaches and sources in relation to the historical, social and cultural embeddedness of medicine through time. They will also encourage in class discussion and the analysis of both primary and secondary sources.

There will also be two workshops on the use of primary material for medical historians - one using digital databases and one traditional archival handling session with Special Collections. This will help students develop their independent research skills.

In order to provide 1:1 support for students when developing their essays, these sessions will be supported by a drop in surgery with the module leader.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students will be expected to submit a formative outline of their essay of 1,000 words and a summative essay of 3,000 words. This piece will test their ability to analyse historical documents and to grasp the methodological issues involved in the academic study of the history of medicine.

Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, and develops key skills in research, reading and writing.

General Notes

N/A