Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ANT3087: Disability and Society

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The aim of the module is to introduce you to the social study of disability from sociological and anthropological perspectives. Disability & Society will introduce you to social situations of people with disabilities and their relationship to wider society. You will learn to critically contrast sociological and anthropological perspectives with other understandings of disability, and gain insight into how these frame social policy, education, employment, and human rights. The UK is home to a vibrant disability rights community, and you will explore its political and cultural impact.  You will investigate through skill-building independent research, writing and presentations how disability is interconnected with issues such as stigma, gender, social exclusion, social movements, globalisation, war and conflict. You will significantly develop your knowledge and understanding of sociology as well as the associated skills and insights regarding cultural diversity and cross-cultural comparison. You will gain insight into social policy and social institutions while honing research and presentation skills. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. demonstrate your in-depth knowledge about the current state of sociological and anthropological debate on disability in class discussion and course work;
2. demonstrate the capability of constructing complex arguments regarding specific issues in disability studies - including state policy; discrimination and social exclusion; human rights; education; reproduction; ethics, politics and care; standardization and 'counting'; lay/professional relations; identity and bodies; sport; violence; cross-cultural and cross-state approaches to disability - based on sociological, anthropological, and related literatures and
Discipline-Specific Skills3. critically evaluate contemporary disability studies related texts in sociology and anthropology;
4. display - in written and oral form - a detailed understanding of the disciplines' relation to, and difference from, other approaches and explanations offered toward disability;
5. appreciate key issues relevant to the contemporary world, and develop comprehensive critical, comparative and cross-cultural insight;
Personal and Key Skills6. demonstrate transferable skills in formulating, researching and addressing focused questions;
7. prepare focused and comprehensive written and oral presentations;
8. work independently and in collaboration with others; and
9. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of how state policy is framed and shapes the lives of a variety of citizens.