Health and Society

Code:

MSP12_3

Acronym:

MSP12_3

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Social and comportamental sciences

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree Course in Public Health

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MSP	7	Current Studies Plan	1	-	3	27	81

Teaching language

English

Objectives

To identify, explore and analyze the cultural, social, economic and political dimensions of health and medicine.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

1. To understand the impact of theoretical, political, economic and sociocultural transformations in the definitions of health, illness and health care.


2. To recognize, evaluate and reflect on the different social determinants of health and identify different ways of measuring socioeconomic position and social inequality.


3. To understand the concepts of citizen science and person-centered approaches, and how they contribute to more relevant scientific knowledge and treatments for society."


4. To explore the relationship between social vulnerability and public health, with particular emphasis on mental health and healthy aging.

1. To develop a critical stance on cultural and stigma-related issues in society and understand how they influence the health of populations, especially the most vulnerable.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Social determinants of health and the complexities of their measurement


2. Citizen science and person-centered approaches


3. Public health research in the context of vulnerable populations


4. Social vulnerability and public health in the areas of aging and mental health


5. Health literacy

Mandatory literature

Berkman, L. F., Kawachi, I., & Glymour, M. M; Social Epidemiology (2nd Ed.), Oxford University Press, 2014
Bhopal, R.S.; Ethnicity, race, and health in multicultural societies, Oxford University Press
Bradby, H.; Medicine, Health and Society: A Critical Sociology, SAGE Publications Ltd, 2012
Kawachi I, Subramanian SV, Kim D; Social Capital and Health, New York: Springer, 2008

Teaching methods and learning activities

Total time: 81h. Contact hours: 27 (3 theoretical sessions of 2h/each and 1 theoretical sessions of 1h30); 12 practical sessions of 1h/each).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	5,00
Prova oral	45,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	12,00
Frequência das aulas	27,00
Trabalho de investigação	42,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance of at least 75% of all classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation process considers the preparation of an individual work (50%) and an oral presentation in a group (45%). 5% is reserved for class participation/attendance.