Module Specification
An online version of this specification is available to prospective students at
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/currentstudents/studentinformation/msc_module_handbook/section3_moduledescript/in
dex.html
GENERAL INFORMATION
Module name
Social Epidemiology
Module code
2472
Module Organisers
Dr Karen Devries and Dr Delia Boccia
Contact email
Karen.Devries@lshtm.ac.uk or Delia.Boccia@lshtm.ac.uk
Home Faculty
Faculty of Public Health and Policy /Faculty of Epidemiology & Population
Health
Level
This module is at Level 7 (postgraduate Masters ‘M’ level) of the QAA
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales & Northern
Ireland (FHEQ)
Credit
LSHTM award 15 credits on successful completion of this module
Accreditation
Not currently accredited by any other body
Keywords
Epidemiology; Equity; Gender & Health; Sociology
AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND AUDIENCE
Overall aim
To enable students to critique research into the social determinants of health
and health inequalities, with a particular focus on theoretical understandings of
how the social environment produces health outcomes, how social phenomena
can be measured, and how health inequalities can be addressed
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Intended learning
outcomes
Target audience
By the end of this module, students should be able to:
Understand and critically appraise research into the social determinants of
health that generate health inequities and inequalities. In particular the
students will:
-
Be familiar with some key theories in social epidemiology and be
able to apply theory to explain a particular health condition or
health inequality
-
Be familiar with measurement theory, and be able to critically
appraise some methods to measure complex social variables
All LSHTM students interested in conducting research on social determinants
of health and health inequalities in both rich and poor countries.
CONTENT
Session content
The module is expected to include sessions addressing the following topics
(though please note that these may be subject to change):

Week 1: An overview of selected key theories to explain health inequalities,
including the examination of pathways through which social determinants
operate at different stages of the life course, different level of analysis (i.e.
individual, household, communities) and in different population groups.

Week 2: An overview of some major conceptual and measurement issues in
conducting research into the effects of key social factors on individual,
community and population health. Theoretical lectures will be integrated
with computer practicals on the development of socioeconomic indicators
and the measurement of health inequalities.

Weeks 3-5: Examples of social epidemiology in practice. Lectures will be
dedicated to public health issues characterised by strong inequalities and/or
strongly influenced by social and economic determinants, including HIV,
tuberculosis, mental health, gender violence, cancer, obesity and the health
impact of the current global financial crisis.
TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT
Study resources
provided or required
A reader is provided with one key paper per session.
Teaching and learning
methods
Lectures, seminars, group work and private study.
Assessment details
Students will have 5 weeks to undertake a critical appraisal of a social
epidemiology paper. Students will be required to address two tasks:

Describe and critically evaluate the theoretical model chosen to explain the
social determinant of health or health inequality in the paper (models may
be implicit or explicit)

Reflect on the methodological appropriateness of the method chosen to
measure the main social determinant of health in the paper
For students who are required to re-sit, or granted a deferral or new attempt,
the tasks will be the same as the original assessment but with a new paper
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Assessment dates
Assessments will be due on Friday 25 March 2016.
For students who are required to re-sit, or granted a deferral or new attempt,
the next assessment deadline will be the standard School-recommended date in
mid/late September 2016.
Language of study and
assessment
English (please see ‘English language requirements’ below regarding the
standard required for entry).
TIMING AND MODE OF STUDY
Duration
The module runs for 5 weeks at 2.5 days per week; this module runs between
Wednesday lunchtime and Friday afternoon
Dates
For 2015-16, the module will start on Wednesday 24th February and finish on
Friday 25th March 2016.
Timetable slot
The module runs in LSHTM timetable slot D2
Mode of Study
The module is taught face-to-face in London. Both full-time and part-time
students follow the same schedule. For full-time students, other LSHTM
modules are available in the other half of the week for the C and D slots.
Learning time
The notional learning time for the module totals 150 hours, consisting of:




Contact time ≈ 40 hours
Directed self-study ≈ 36 hours
Self-directed learning ≈ 38 hours
Assessment, review and revision ≈ 36 hours
APPLICATION, ADMISSION AND FEES
Pre-requisites
None
English language
requirements
A strong command of the English language is necessary to benefit from
studying the module. Applicants whose first language is not English or whose
prior university studies have not been conducted wholly in English must fulfil
LSHTM’s English language requirements, with an acceptable score in an
approved test taken in the two years prior to entry. Applicants may be asked to
take a test even if the standard conditions have been met.
Student numbers
Student numbers are typically 60 per year; numbers may be capped due to
limitations in facilities or staffing.
Student selection
Preference will be given to LSHTM MSc students and LSHTM research degree
students. Other applicants meeting the entry criteria will usually be offered a
place in the order applications are received, until any cap on numbers is
reached. Applicants may be placed on a waiting list and given priority the next
time the module is run.
Partial Registration (partial participation) by LSHTM research degree students
is allowed for this module.
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Fees
For registered LSHTM MSc students, fees for the module are included within
MSc fees (given on individual course prospectus pages).
If registering specifically for this module, as a stand-alone short course,
individual module fees will apply.
Tuition fees must be paid in full before commencing the module, or by any fee
deadline set by the Registry.
Scholarships
Scholarships are not available for individual modules. Some potential sources
of funding are detailed on the LSHTM website.
Admission deadlines
For 2015-16:

For registered LSHTM MSc students, the module choice deadline (for Term
2 and 3 modules) is Friday 20 November 2016.

If registering specifically for this module, applications may be made at any
time but, as places are limited, applications ahead of the MSc deadline are
strongly advised. All applications should be submitted at the latest 8 weeks
prior to the start of the module. Formal registration will take place on the
morning of the first day of the module.
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
This module specification applies for the academic year 2015-16
Last revised 26 June 2015 by Karen Devries
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., London WC1E 7HT.
www.lshtm.ac.uk
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