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The course Sociology of Health and Medicine: Contemporary Issues and Debates introduces students to key debates, perspectives, and emerging issues in the study of health and medicine from a social science perspective. Drawing on perspectives from sociology, anthropology, and health policy, the course examines how medical knowledge, healthcare systems, and experiences of health and illness are shaped by social inequalities, cultural meanings, political decisions, and institutional arrangements. The course is primarily based on lectures by guest speakers who are active researchers in the field. Through these guest lectures, students will engage with scholars from different parts of the world, each presenting distinct theoretical perspectives, empirical research, and methodological approaches. This international and interdisciplinary format exposes students to diverse ways of thinking and encourages comparative and critical reflection. The course seeks to foster critical thinking and discussion by inviting students to engage with contemporary sociological debates and to develop an understanding of how social sciences contribute to analysing and addressing contemporary challenges in health and medicine. Last update: Hasmanová Marhánková Jaroslava, doc. PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (28.01.2026)
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General course policies - The course has an onsite format. With any question regarding the course organization, please contact course coordinator Barbora Musilova (barbora.musilova@fsv.cuni.cz) or the course supervisor Jaroslava Hasmanová Marhánková (jaroslava.marhankova@fsv.cun.cz) - All information regarding the course, as well as reading materials, are available in Moodle. All assignments will be submitted via Moodle. Students are required to follow the Moodle page for updated informations - Please inform the seminar leader soon as possible in case you have any difficulties regarding the content of the course or participating in seminars. We understand that emergencies or unexpected circumstances may happen. If some of these occur or you face any other difficulties regarding the course, let us know as soon as possible. - All assignment deadlines are firm (unless consulted in advance with the course leader). - All students are responsible for following the principles of academic integrity. Any form of plagiarism is unacceptable. Please, follow the rules outlined in the student handbook How to avoid plagiarism (https://karolinum.cz/data/book/24023/9788024648163%20Foltynek%20-%20How%20to%20avoid%20plagiarism.pdf) - AI tools may be used exclusively for information gathering, and students must always critically evaluate information gathered by AI. Written assignments must reflect student's own thoughts and independent work Assessment methods: 1) Active participation in the seminars: max 10 points (1 point per class attendance) Participation in seminars is mandatory. Two absences are tolerated. For more absences, please get in touch with the course coordinator. Students can obtain 1 point per class participation (max 10 points during the whole course) 2) group presentation: 35 points Students will work in small groups to prepare and deliver a presentation on a topic related to the course themes. Presentation topics will be provided by the course leader at the beginning of the semester, and students will be able to select the topic (and group) based on their stated preferences. In exceptional cases, students may propose their own presentation topic and invite other students to join their group. Such topics must be discussed and approved in advance by the course leader (doc. Hasmanová Marhánková) to ensure their relevance to the course objectives. There is an assigned paper for each presentation. The paper serves as the starting point for your work on the presentation. Its purpose is to introduce the topic. You should read it carefully to understand the area you will be presenting on, but the presentation itself must not be a summary of the article. Instead, treat the paper as a guide that helps you orient yourself in the topic. From this foundation, you are expected to develop your own presentation by searching for additional sources, perspectives, examples, or applications. You may deepen particular aspects discussed in the paper, compare it with other approaches, evaluate its arguments, or even shift the focus toward a related but more specific question. In other words, the paper defines the context of your presentation, not its content. Your task is to build upon it, not repeat it. Group presentations will take place during weeks 6 (26 March) and 9 (16 April). Each group will prepare a presentation of up to 15 minutes, covering the assigned topic and engaging with the required readings. In addition to the oral presentation, each group is required to prepare a handout (maximum 2 pages) summarising the main points of their presentation. The handout must be submitted to the seminar leader at least two days (Tuesday 12 pm) before the presentation (via Moodle) and will be shared with peers as supporting material for class discussion. Group presentation: 30 points Handout: 5 points
3) Final written multiple-choice exam test: 55 points covering the content lectures and the follow-up discussion
Grading System 91 - 100 points: A 81 - 90 points: B 71 - 80 points: C 61 - 70 points: D 51 - 60 points: E less than 51 points: F Last update: Hasmanová Marhánková Jaroslava, doc. PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (15.02.2026)
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