Health, Technology and Society

Health is a key aspect both for individuals and society and have emerged as a potent sociological field. In this course we will understand and analyze health, disease and treatment as social phenomenon, by emphasizing relevant institutions, technologies, professions, knowledge types and forms of practice. In particular, the course goes into how information technology changes and challenge existing knowledge regimes in the health field. The course seeks to promote a continuous curiosity where students examines how health care institutions and the community and its members together constructs an understanding of health and disease. Key topics include medicalization, e-health, telemedicine, digital patients, enjoyment and lifestyle, experience of health, medical practice and science, professions, organization and coordination, alternative therapy and social health inequities. The term paper will be an independent analyzis of the topics covered by the lectures, and should be between 4500-6000 words.

Knowledge - the student will:
- be familiar with the key discussions and recent research in the Norwegian and international health sociology.
- be able to reflect critically on the stability and changes in the relationship between health related phenomenon and societies.

Skills - the student will:
- manage one of the topics addressed in the course independently in a written work.
- advocate the sociological relevance of health in the face of other disciplines.

Lectures and seminars equivalent to 4 hours per week. Form of assessment: Individual term paper and oral examination. The oral exam may be used to adjust the grade by one unit on the scale. The oral exam will include the research paper, the individually selected readings and the required readings. If less than 6 students attend the course the two first weeks of teaching, the course will be given as an individual study course with supervision. Please contact the departement for further information.