Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC2086: Addiction

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

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  1. Models of addiction (neurobiological, psycho-social, social constructionist, ‘myth’)
  2. Comparing cultures: Historical and anthropological perspectives on drug use
  3. Addiction in the media
  4. The social science of drug use I: Cannabis
  5. The social science of drug use II: Opiates/heroin
  6. Alcohol abuse
  7. Smoking
  8. Lifestyle addictions (e.g. sex, gambling, internet use, food, exercise)
  9. Treatment and counselling
  10. Addiction policy and public health (e.g. harm reduction, legalization)
  11. Ethics and methods in addiction research

Example seminar debates

  1. Definitions: Is sex addiction really an ‘addiction’?
  2. Models: Is addiction a matter of ‘choice’ or ‘heredity’?
  3. Media: Does the media have a moral responsibility in how it portrays drug use?
  4. Treatment: Should addicts be given free needles or replacement substances (methadone)?
  5. Policy: Would legalization of illegal drugs cut crime rates?

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
442560

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching2222 x 1 hour lectures delivering the academic framework of the course
Scheduled Learning and Teaching2222 x 1 hour seminars including group work and class discussion of key topics and debates from the lectures
Guided independent study8040 course readings (2 hours each)
Guided independent study80Reading/research for essay
Guided independent study16Essay plan preparation
Guided independent study80Reading/revisions for exam

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

ELE http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Journals: Addiction, Addictive Behaviors, Journal of Addiction Medicine (JAMA), Sociology

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay plan (of summative essay) 750 words1, 3, 4, 5, 6Written feedback

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
33670

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Examination672 hours1-6Verbal feedback
Essay333,500 words1-5Written feedback

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
ExaminationExamination (2 hours)1-6August/September reassessment period
EssayEssay (3,500 words)1-5August/September reassessment period