An undergraduate course.

What is health? What influences it? How is health maintained? Who is responsible for maintaining it? Understanding health explores these questions – asking how much we influence our own health; how much it’s influenced by families, where we live and wider society; what individuals can do to maintain their health; and how the medical profession and politicians intervene to try to keep us healthy. This Openings course gently introduces you to OU study – ideal if you’re a beginner or returning to study. It also provides an opportunity to try out learning online; the perfect way to gain the basic computing skills you’ll need for the next step in your studies.

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What you will study

The broad-ranging nature of this course means that it will be of interest to you regardless of whether you work in the health sector. This is a course for anyone with an interest in health: parents, teachers, volunteers, senior citizens and trade unionists.

This course invites you to probe beneath the surface of the term ‘health’, a word we tend to use unquestioningly without paying much attention to its meaning. By exploring some of the key issues that dominate current concerns about health – including obesity, alcohol abuse, smoking, stress at work and HIV/AIDS – the course considers how complex health is and the many factors that play a role in shaping our experience of it.

A central feature of the course is its exploration of health from four different levels or vantage points: those of the individual, the family, the locality and wider society. The starting point of the course is the individual’s experience of health: the personal factors that influence how healthy we are. You’ll then move on to examine the ways in which people’s health is shaped by their family, by their local environment (including schools and housing), and by the wider society they live in. You are invited to focus on the influences on health at each particular level and at the interventions that can be made to improve health and well-being.

Drawing upon sociology as well as biology and psychology, the course offers a multi-disciplinary perspective on health, and insights into the contributions of different academic disciplines. Through activities and assignments you are encouraged to develop your study skills and build your confidence so that by the end of the course book you’ll be able to ‘pull together’ the story of two major health issues of our times: stress at work and smoking-related illness.

These ideas are explored further on the website where you will build on the knowledge you have gained throughout the course and use web-based material to study nutrition and exercise in a little more detail. This experience will provide you with a gentle introduction to using a computer to support your study, and will equip you with the basic computing skills you will need for the next step in your studies.

You will need a computer with internet access only after you’ve completed the first six chapters in the main course book, so if you don’t currently have one you’ve plenty of time to make arrangements. You can use your own computer or one at a library or drop-in centre. Please note that you can study and pass this course if you don’t have access to the internet and a computer.

Entry

Like all Openings courses, this course is ideal if you’re a beginner or returning to study, we will help you to develop your study skills and become a confident learner.

The study materials have been prepared with the needs of new learners in mind. No special knowledge or previous experience of studying is required. Taking examples from everyday life, this course enables you to use your general knowledge and interests and gradually build up to degree-level study. You will develop key study skills such as time management, note-taking, reading for study purposes and reflection on your own learning.

This Openings course would ideal preparation in you are interested in going on to study the 60-credit Level 1 course An introduction to health and social care (K101).

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and scientific or foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. The printed study materials are available on audio in DAISY Digital Talking Book format. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

If you opt to do the online element of this course you will need to make use of a personal computer and the internet.  If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in operating a computer or have concerns about accessing the type of material outlined, talk to the Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering about the support which can be given to meet your needs.

Study materials

What's included

Course books, DVD and a website where you can access the online resources.

Digital copies (PDFs) of most materials, and transcripts of the DVD can be found on the website. Transcripts are also available on the DVD itself if it is accessed through a computer.

You will need

Access to a telephone (preferably a landline) for contact with your tutor; and the equipment to play and watch a video DVD e.g. a television and DVD player. 

You will need access to the internet and a computer to study the last two chapters of this course or if you wish to receive and send email and use our online services.

Computing requirements

This course includes optional, online, computer activities, which you can access using a web browser.

To take part in the online activities you will need a computer with internet access.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2007 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
• If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
• If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.6 or later.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will keep in touch by a combination of telephone, written correspondence and, if you want, email. There are no face-to-face tutorials; all tutorials are conducted between the individual student and their tutor on the telephone. Your tutor will help you to plan your work and to think about the ideas explored in the course. Your tutor will also comment on and help you with your written work. At the end of the course you will discuss your progress with your tutor, and you will work together to review your learning. 

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and end-of-module assessment (EMA) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.

The iCMA (interactive computer-marked assignment) needs to be submitted online.

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in March and June 2013, when it will be available for the last time. Each course lasts for a maximum of 20 weeks, although you can take less time if you want to. 

How to register

To see how to register choose your country above.

If you live in England and have an annual household income of less than £25,000 you may be successful in gaining a place on our Access to Success Route. To find out more and check if you're eligible please contact our friendly team of advisors on 0845 300 60 90. You cannot register online for the Access to Success Route. Call us today to reserve your place.

Please note: Access to Success is not a loan. Students studying Openings as Step 1 of the Access to Success Route will only pay £25!

If you are not eligible for a place on the Access to Success Route and live in England, you can still register on this course. Download the registration form. You can also find out about ways to pay. If you need any further advice or support please do not hesitate to conact us on 0845 300 60 90.

Student Reviews

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information read Distance learning explained.

Course satisfaction survey

See the satisfaction survey results for this course.

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