Course

Introduction to the Study of Health and Society

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Sport Science
Course code
SPSC 2205
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Course designation
Certificate in Global Competency
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
Fall
Winter

Overview

Course description
This course explores health from a sociological perspective covering the differences between the social, health promotion, and biomedical models of health. This course draws on the social model of health to explore the social determinants of health, Canada's health care system, and social constructions of health across contexts, including within the institutions of sport, leisure, and exercise. Students conduct original research on health practices or experiences within their own lives or communities.
Course content
  • The Sociological imagination
    • Historical, social, and political contexts of health
  • Models of health
    • Biomedical model
    • Health promotion model
    • Social model
  • Approaches within the social model of health
    • Life course
    • Materialist
    • Political
    • Social capital and inclusion
  • Sociological theories and their applicability to the study of health
  • Canada’s Health Care System
    • History
    • Structure and delivery of services
    • Access and experience
  • Social determinants of health
  • Social structures influencing access to, and experiences of, health and illness
    • Social identities (e.g., age, (dis)ability, social class, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, indigeneity)
    • Social institutions (e.g., education, media, government, economy, family)
  • Social construction of health and illness within sport, leisure, and exercise
    • Self-surveillance
    • The sport-health ideological nexus
    • The sport paradox
    • Healthism
    • Health ideologies and discourses
    • Health as a cultural expression
  • Research methods in health research
    • Qualitative
    • Quantitative
    • Mixed methods
Learning activities

Class time will be used for lectures, discussions, debates, problem-solving activities, and/or in-class assignments. Work outside of classtime may include applied research activities.

Means of assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Individual Assignments   15-25% 
Group Assignments 15-20%
Participation 0-10%
Test(s)   15-70%
Final Exam  0-30%
Total   100%
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • identify and apply sociological theories and models of health to health-related situations;
  • critically assess and discuss the complex ways social, political, economic, and cultural conditions impact the health of individuals and communities;
  • identify and critically discuss the relationship between social determinants and health inequities;
  • identify dimensions of health (e.g., physical, social, emotional, mental, spiritual) and explain how they are interrelated to as well as impacted by the social conditions;
  • critically discuss the Canadian health care system and its impact on individual and community health;
  • explain how health is impacted by social and cultural conditions;
  • critically discuss and assess how the cultural beliefs and social practices of sport, exercise, and physical activity shape experiences and understandings of health and “healthy” bodies;
  • apply research literacy skills of interpretation, synthesis, and application of peer-reviewed, health-related research studies;
  • combine various research methods to the study of a health-related topic.
Textbook materials
Reading package and textbooks will be made available through the bookstore.
Additional readings are available through the Douglas College Library

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Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:

  • SPSC 2205 (Health and Society) Course Pack

 

 

Requisites

Prerequisites

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for SPSC 2205
Athabasca University (AU) AU SOCI 2XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU HKIN 261 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU SOCI 2XXX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG KINS 2262 (3)
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) No credit
North Island College (NIC) NIC EXW 1XX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU BPK 1XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU PHED 2XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU HKIN 325 (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO HES_O 130 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV KIN_V 262 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV KIN_V 261 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC SOSC 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV KIN 261 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC EPHE 347 (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU KIN 260 (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2026

CRN
12910
section details
CRN Days Instructor Status More details
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
35
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. A
Room
A2050
Times:
Start Time
14:30
-
End Time
16:20
CRN
14885
section details
CRN Days Instructor Status More details
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
35
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S3903
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
14:20