Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2014-2015 (archived)

Module FOUN0757: Human Health and Disease

Department: Foundation Year

FOUN0757: Human Health and Disease

Type Open Level 0 Credits 10 Availability Available in 2014/15 Module Cap None. Location Queen's Campus Stockton

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject.
  • To develop students' learning skills.
  • To introduce a basic bank of knowledge on which students can build either by the process of self study or in further courses of directed study.

Content

  • Studying disease; including the definition of health and disease; methods of studying disease including epidemiology.
  • Social aspects of health and disease including health promotion, social measures and health inequalities.
  • Biological aspects of health considering a number of aspects such as diet and health, cardiovascular health, the musculoskeletal system, homeostasis, neurological systems and drug use, reproduction and sexual health
  • Biological aspects of disease including causes and types of disease, curing disease and prevention of disease.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module students will have be able to:
  • discuss the interaction of biological, social and psychological aspects of health.
  • list the causes of diseases with examples.
  • describe the ways in which diseases can be treated.
  • describe methods of disease prevention and health promotion.
  • describe the function of selected human organ systems and relate this to a healthy lifestyle.
  • describe the effect of long- and short-term exercise on the human body.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of this module students will be able to:
  • Apply a range of discipline specific perspectives to the study of health and disease.
  • Effectively research causes, effects and treatments of a range of diseases.
  • Identify and locate organs in the human body
  • Link anatomy and physiology of human organ systems
  • Relate lifestyle effects to normal human physiology
  • Construct a report on a specific multi-factorial disease.
Key Skills:
  • By the end of the module the students will:
  • be able to communicate effectively in writing
  • be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills
  • be able to apply number both in the tackling of numerical problems and in the collecting, recording, interpreting and presenting of data

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Theory, initial concepts and research techniques will be introduced during lectures, and seminars.
  • Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured exercises and practicals, group work, discussions and library assignments during tutorials and students' own time.
  • Knowledge and understanding of concepts will be assessed by a variety of assignments including an in-depth project and a written assignment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 9 Weekly 2 18
Seminars 9 Weekly 1 9
Practicals 2 3 6
Preparation and Reading 67
Total 100

Summative Assessment

Component: Report Component Weighting: 40%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Report 1,000 words 100% Resubmission
Component: Exam Component Weighting: 60%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Exam 2 hours 100% Resit

Formative Assessment:

Exercises and library research. weekly online DUO tests for students to assess their own understanding. Regular exam- style questions interspersed with the relevant sections in the notes given to students. Worksheets done either in class or to be taken home for students to consolidate their learning.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University