Course description
The social and political dimensions of health and illness present important challenges to practitioners, administrators and policy makers. The Graduate Diploma in Social Health allows students to investigate current issues and questions in health ethics, health care history or medical anthropology and sociology in a multidisciplinary environment offering opportunities to study health and illness drawing upon a variety of humanities and social sciences.
Objectives:
On completion of this course, students should:
* have gained a sound understanding of the social context in which disease develops, and of the social context in which health care interventions are developed;
* have the ability to critically evaluate and synthesise the relevant literature
* have developed analytical skills in identifying the social basis to problems in clinical, social and policy contexts
* have developed an awareness of the interface between the conceptual and practice issues raised in the subject
* be able to apply the conceptual, theoretical and practical dimensions of the course to students' own professional practice
* be able to articulate knowledge and understanding of the area in oral and written form
* have developed a respect for intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of scholarship.
The Melbourne Experience enables our graduates to become:
Academically excellent:
* have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship
* have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)
* reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication
* be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning
* be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies
Knowledgeable across disciplines:
* examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines
* expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
* have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
* have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment
Leaders in communities:
* initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces
* have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations
* mentor future generations of learners
* engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs
Attuned to cultural diversity:
* value different cultures
* be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
* have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
* respect indigenous knowledge, cultures and values
Active global citizens:
* accept social and civic responsibilities
* be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment
* have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics
