Course content - Learning outcome - Admission - Prerequisites - Teaching - Examination - Evaluation

Course content

• Communication conditions
• Hermeneutics and the process of understanding
• Different groups within the health system
• Different groups in the public
• Lay beliefs about health and the health service
• Analysis of documents
• The fact-value distinction
• Comparison of different conceptions of what a good health service is.

Learning outcome

The issue of health communication has an internal and an external dimension. The internal dimension concerns understanding and interaction between different members of the health service, while the external dimension concerns the relation between the health service and the public. The students will be introduced to relevant challenges and problems related to the aim of achieving efficient communication in both areas. A key concept in the course will be the concept of communication conditions, the conditions that must be met in order for health communication to function adequately within a given context. The students will also be introduced to the connection between beliefs about the health service and basic health concepts like disease, illness, and sickness, as well as the question of how health beliefs are connected to values. The course will pay special attention to the question of whether arguments in official documents concerning the organization of the health system employ as premises claims that are accepted by many members of the public.

Admission

Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.

International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

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Prerequisites

Formal prerequisite knowledge

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None

Teaching

Lectures, extensive group work and supervision on topics for the compulsory home assignment (essay).

Weeks 13 and 14.

Access to teaching

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Examination

In order to pass the course, each student must write an essay related to health communication (in a wide sense!). It is a good idea to think about possible topics one would like to write about before the course starts. Essays must be submitted for evaluation after the course and will be graded passed/not passed. Students are offered supervision during this period.

Examination support material

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Language of examination

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English

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.

Resit an examination

You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam.

Withdrawal from an examination

A student may sit this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.

Special examination arrangements

If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

Evaluation

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