Skip to Main Content

Content

Course Tabs

Overview

Course Prescription

Investigates the way in which social determinants lead to particular distributions of health in populations. Draws on a social epidemiological approach to explore ways in which inequalities in health (based on factors such as age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status) are created, then maintained or eliminated.

Course Overview

In Aotearoa/New Zealand:

  • 80% of household wealth is held by 20% of households
  • Women, on average, are paid 8.2% less than men for the same  employment positions. Women of colour are paid up to 33% less than men of European origin for the same employment positions.
  • Māori, on average, die 7 years younger than the average of all other ethnic groups
  • Approximately 37% of trans and non-binary people have attempted suicide
  • Lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals are victims of 10-15% more personally-directed criminal offences than the population average.

POPLHLTH 210 is a core course in the B.HSc. programme and offers an in-depth understanding of the social determinants of health (in)equity and (in)equalities. During the semester, you will examine inequity and inequality in various ways:  what they are, why they exist, and how best to address them. 

Grounded in socio-critical concepts and theories, POPLHLTH 210 exposes students to the complexity of social determinants, or 'the causes of the causes'.  As a health professional, be it clinical, academic, administrative or otherwise, it is vital to understand how different groups experience different social structures, and the same social structures differently, bringing about patterned difference in health and illness. This course is designed to be a component of the development of such an understanding. 

The main aims for this paper are to provide the tools for students to:

  1. Develop an understanding of the diverse manifestations of health and social inequities and inequalities;
  2. Demonstrate the ways in which inequities and inequalities in health are created and maintained;
  3. Recognize how inequities and inequalities in health for diverse groups may be measured;
  4. Discuss the appropriateness of solutions and interventions for reducing these inequity and inequality issues across diverse communities.

The issues covered in this course are central to many of the challenges currently faced across the health sector and broader society. We hope the course will be interesting, thought-provoking, and stimulating. The different topics covered in this course will encourage students to question and challenge themselves - and others - both in study and in future work. This course is conceptual and theoretical in focus, builds on previous work, aiming to deepen your understanding and analyses of social and health inequities and inequalities.

Course Contacts

Course Director

Dr Rachel Simon-Kumar

r.simon-kumar@auckland.ac.nz

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, each week you are expected to do 2 hours of lectures, a 1-hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite
Restriction

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
Grafton

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable. 

  • Attendance is required at scheduled activities including all in-person lectures and tutorials to complete the course. 
  • Lectures will be available as recordings. Tutorials will not be available as recordings. The course recordings may not include live online events or guest lectures including group discussions.
  • Attendance on campus is not required for the exam, unless otherwise advised.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in the course website located in the University’s learning platform CANVAS which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

This course is held at The University of Auckland Grafton Campus. Lectures are at 12-1 pm on Mondays and 1-2 pm Thursdays. Tutorials are on Mondays and Thursdays after lectures.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

Students are considered to have passed the course if:               (a) they have an overall pass grade                (b) have completed all individual assignment tasks, and               (c)  have attended minimum required lectures, workshops, and tutorials.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type1234567

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Reduced the number of assignments. Changing lecture material / scheduling.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.