This course provides an interdisciplinary (socio-economic and demographic) insight into health. What is health and how is it measured? What are the challenges for a society, and what can we expect with regard to inequalities?  The biological process of ageing is closely linked to health. Ageing can be challanging on an individual as well as a societal level.  In the course of this course, the measures of health and aging are presented and current as well as future challenges are examined in more detail. Moreover, the concept of sustainable ageing is developed.

At the end of the course, students will have acquired the following knowledge:  

*) how health is measured - at both an individual and population level 

*) how the environment (social and spatial) influences health 

*) what sustainable ageing is and where future challenges but also potentials can be expected? 

*) the ability to evaluate various interventions in terms of their effect on health, well-being and sustainable ageing. 

This course is classified as 'Examination-immanent' (in German, 'Prüfungsimmanent,' often abbreviated as 'PI'). As a general rule, PI courses have compulsory attendance. However, one class can be missed without negatively affecting the grade. If known in advance, absences must be announced by email to the lecturer ahead of time (e.g., in cases of conflicting class schedules). Missing class for medical reasons (e.g., accident or illness) will not count against the participation requirements as long as a doctor's note can be provided. No makeup assignments will be provided in case of missed assessments. More details on absenteeism rules will be explained in the first class.

A combination of the following methods will be used in this course:  

*) Lectures on theory 

*) Reading of relevant studies 

*) Presentations 

*) group work 

 *) discussions

• participation in discussions (30%) 
• presentations and group work (35%) 
• Final exam (35%)

Course enrollment is based on the 'first-come, first-served' principle. If you have registered but cannot participate in the course, please de-register via LPIS during the registration period so that your place is available to students on the waiting list. If there is a waiting list for enrollment in the course, students on the waiting list will be notified after the end of the enrollment period and will be allocated to available places. Students will be ranked by progress in their studies, not by their rank on the waiting list. This procedure, however, is not to be understood as a guarantee of class space.

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