UNAM eLearning Platform - 2025

Course Description
This module introduces nursing students to basic sociological concepts, theories, structures, and their relevance as well as their implications on health and illness in Namibia. The module is designed to provide a foundation for other consecutive modules in sociology, and focus on the historical origins and development of the discipline, the classical and contemporary interpretations of social action, social structure and social change. The module also reflects on the principle social institutions, such as family, education, health, religion and the state. It emphasises the analysis and the impact of social inequality such as class, race and gender on health and illness.
Course Objectives
Sociology is defined as “a scientific study of social relationships and interactions” (Tischler, 1996 and Smelser, 1984). Thus, Sociology also deals with relationships and actions taken in the maintenance, promotion of health and treatment of illness. Since health delivery forms part of essential service in Namibia, gaining an understanding of social process would be useful to nurses caring for clients, patients, family and their societies that shape social behaviour (e.g. health and illness behaviour). The course is also relevant to social interaction with colleagues, subordinates, supervisors and all those whom nurses deal with in the course of their career.

Exit Outcomes: by the end of the semester, you should be able to:
- Understand and apply sociological perspectives
- Demonstrate why sociology is categorised as a science
- Apply sociological theories to your everyday work settings
- Explain how social life shape the way we understand issues like health and illness, race, class and gender
- Understand the sociological significance of various social institutions in our lives
- Understand society’s organisation, purpose and characteristics (exemplified by the hospital as a bureaucratic organisation)
- Think critically and reflexively about your experience in the social world
- Apply sociological knowledge daily in your nursing career

This module introduces nursing students to basic sociological concepts, theories, structures, and their relevance as well as their implications on health and illness in Namibia. The module is designed to provide a foundation for other consecutive modules in sociology, and focus on the historical origins and development of the discipline, the classical and contemporary interpretations of social action, social structure and social change. The module also reflects on the principle social institutions, such as family, education, health, religion and the state. It emphasises the analysis and the impact of social inequality such as class, race and gender on health and illness.