Cultures and Environments of Health MA

Program Overview

The MA Cultures and Environments of Health program bridges medical humanities, social sciences, and medical sciences to address global health challenges. It explores diverse experiences and evidence in health, equipping graduates to become leaders in transforming health research and practice in various sectors, including public health, health promotion, and social care. The program offers optional modules and opportunities for engaged and transformative learning, with a variant focused on Medical History and Humanities.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MA Cultures and Environments of Health is an interdisciplinary program based in the Wellcome Centre for Cultures & Environments of Health. It draws on medical humanities, social sciences, and medical sciences to examine the intersections between these fields in addressing global health challenges.

Objectives:

• Examine how experiences of health, illness, and medical knowledge are shaped by diverse environments, cultural practices, and beliefs.
• Explore how diverse types of evidence about health and wellbeing are used across different disciplines and sectors, and the impacts this has on the ways we conceive, respond to, and experience health and social care.
• Equip graduates to become leaders in transforming health research and health and social care practice within a range of professions.

Outline:

Content:

The program examines the intersections between the medical humanities, social sciences, and medical sciences in addressing global health challenges. It focuses on recognizing and assessing the cultural and environmental contexts of health and wellbeing anywhere in the world.

Structure:

The program is delivered in two terms (full-time) or five terms (part-time). Students complete a dissertation project in the remaining six months (full-time) or during the final terms (part-time).

Course Schedule:

• Term 1: Core modules (30 credits each)
• Term 2: Core modules (30 credits each)
• Term 3: Optional modules (30 credits each)
• Term 4: Dissertation (60 credits)

Individual Modules:

• Making, Using and Contesting Evidence: This module explores the different types of evidence used in health and wellbeing research and practice, and the impacts of these on health and healthcare.
• Cultures and Environments of Health: This module examines the cultural and environmental contexts of health and wellbeing, and how these factors shape health experiences.
• Optional Modules: Students can choose from a range of optional modules, including:
• Health Inequalities
• Life-Course Approaches
• Biosocialities
• Mental Health
• Urban Health
• Methodological Innovation

Assessment:

• Taught Modules: Assessed through essays, written reports, and presentations.
• Dissertation: Assessed through a written dissertation.

Teaching:

• Methods: Lectures, case studies, seminars, group discussions, problem-based learning, field trips to local community health projects.
• Faculty: Researchers from across the medical sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
• Unique Approaches: Engaged and transformative learning opportunities, collaborative work, and opportunities to develop dissertation projects alongside existing Wellcome Centre activities or in conjunction with collaborating organizations.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Public Health
• Health Promotion
• National and international NGOs
• Statutory sector (e.g., housing, social care)
• Civil society and social enterprise innovating in transformative health
• Opportunities: The program prepares graduates for further research and PhD study.
• Outcomes: Graduates are equipped to become leaders in transforming health research and health and social care practice.

Other:

• The Wellcome Centre for Cultures & Environments of Health offers purpose-built facilities, including a shared common room, computing facilities, and meeting pods.
• The Centre hosts a vibrant postgraduate and research community and runs a series of events and symposia every year.
• The Centre has close links with a range of other groups and organizations, including the Centre for Medical History, Digital Humanities Lab, Peninsula Applied Research Collaboration, the Sexual Knowledge Unit, and UNESCO.

MA Cultures and Environments of Health (Medical History and Humanities):

• Overview: This variant offers a wide range of modules from across the social sciences, medical sciences, and humanities, with expert tuition in areas including health inequalities, life-course approaches, biosocialities, mental health, urban health, and methodological innovation.
Students are also members of the Centre for Medical History and participate in its program of seminars, research workshops, reading groups, skills workshops, and social events.
• Facilities: The Wellcome Centre provides purpose-built facilities, including a shared common room, computing facilities, and meeting pods.
• Entry Requirements: A 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above, or international equivalent, in the social sciences, humanities, or medical sciences.
Applications from industry professionals or applicants with relevant work experience are also welcomed.
• Course Content: This program provides an in-depth, focused, and critical degree based on the latest health research across social and medical sciences and medical humanities.
It combines a wide-ranging choice of modules from across these disciplines.
• Modules: Students can choose from a range of modules, including:
• Health Inequalities
• Life-Course Approaches
• Biosocialities
• Mental Health
• Urban Health
• Methodological Innovation
• Assessment: Assessed through essays, written reports, and presentations.
• Teaching: Delivered through lectures, case studies, seminars, group discussions, and problem-based learning.
• Careers: Graduates are equipped for further study, employment, or professional development.

UK fees per year: MA: £12,000 full-time; £6,000 part-time PGDip: £7,500 full-time; £3,750 part-time PGCert: £2,025 part-time International fees per year: MA: £24,300 full-time; £12,150 part-time PGDip: £15,600 full-time; £7,800 part-time PGCert: £4,125 part-time