Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Death and Dying in Contemporary Latvia
Course Code
KF_052
Branch of Science
Media and communications; Psychology and Ethics of Communication
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Information and Communication Science; Medicine; Psychology; Public Health; Rehabilitation; Social Anthropology; Social Welfare and Social Work; Sociology
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Ilva Skulte
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To introduce the basics of thanatology, research methods used in the field, giving an in-depth insight into the data and research results available on the understanding of death, on end of life and concepts of afterlife in contemporary Latvia, as well as the topics of death in culture and reflection of death in mass media.
Preliminary Knowledge
Basic knowledge in sociology and methods of social research.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.The result of the course include understanding of thanatology, various aspects of death and dying in contemporary Latvian society and culture and opportunities of its research.
Skills
1.The students will be able to use correctly the terminology of thanatology and ethical principles, to evaluate critically the information available on the topics of death and dying, will ensure their skills to use qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Competences
1.After learning of the course students will be able to use their knowledge and skills, by communicating on death and dying themes in their professional work.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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The students independently study data and literature sources, mentioned in the list of obligatory literature.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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2.
Examination |
-
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-
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20% presence, 10% activity, 10% quality of answers (tests and discussions), 40% final essay, 20% presentation.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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An introduction. Introducing the course description and requirements
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Conditions of death and preparing to dying
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Understanding of good and bad death
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Suicide
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Euthanasia, assisted suicide
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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The research of death - methodology
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
|
Topics
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Imagined afterlife
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
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2
|
Topics
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Death in culture
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Death in culture
|
-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Death aand communication. Presentations of independent research
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Death aand communication. Presentations of independent research
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
22 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Walter, T. Death in the Modern World. Sage, 2020.
2.
Sallnow, L., et.al. Report of the Lancet Commission on the Value of Death: bringing death back into life. Lancet. 2022. 399: 837–84.
3.
Neimeyer, R.A. (ed). Death Anxiety Handbook: Research, Instrumentation, And Application. Washington, D.C. : Taylor&Francis, 1994.
4.
Cann, C.K. (ed). The Routledge Handbook of Death and the Afterlife. London&New York: Routledge, 2018.
5.
Powell, J. Sociology of Ageing and Death. Springer, 2022.
6.
Misāne, A., Neiders, I., Rungule, R., Seņkāne, S. Thou shalt not kill exept... abortion, euthanasia, suicide and the death penalty – justification in religious and secular populations of Latvia. Reliģiski-filozofiski raksti. XXXIII, 2022. 143.-175.lpp.
7.
Neiders, I., Dranseika, V. Minds, brains, and hearts: An empirical study on pluralism concerning death determination. Monash Bioethics Review. 2020. 38(1), 35–48.
8.
Durkheim, E. Suicide: a study in sociology. London: Routledge, 2005. (vai cits izdevums).
9.
Neiders, I. Ārsta asistēta nāve. Latvijas Nacionālā Enciklopēdija.
10.
Kalnina, D., & Skulte, I. “Good death”–the circumstances in which it would be best for a person to die. The representative survey of Latvian population. In SHS Web of Conferences (Vol. 131, p. 02010). 2022. EDP Sciences.
11.
Singer, P. 1994. Rethinking Life and Death. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
12.
Sumner, L.W. Physician Assisted Death. What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017.
13.
Warnock, M. & Macdonald, E. Easeful Death. Is There A Case for Assisted Dying? Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.
14.
Young, R. Medically Assisted Death. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.