AANB05093U Medical Anthropology, Introductory Course
Medical anthropology is the study of health, illness, and healing across the range of human societies and over the course of human experience. It includes the ways that human communities understand and respond to the challenges of health and illness, it studies the meaning of signs of illness and suffering as part of the general study of culture, and it strives to interpret them in the light of wider understandings of resources, technology, ritual and religion. This introductory course covers some of the most familiar and important themes in medical anthropology. The literature focuses on classic texts dealing with issues such as classification of illness, uncertainties, bodies, subjectivities, identities, narratives, medicines, symbolic healing, patients and therapeutic journeys. The aim of the course is to introduce the field of medical anthropology as part of the overall study of culture and society and deepen the understanding of the different motions of the very field of medical anthropology.
By the end of the course the students should be able to:
• Identify central anthropological questions related to health, illness, and healing.
• Reflect on the use and ethics of ethnographic methods in studying problems of health.
• Critically and creatively discuss concepts and theories within medical anthropology.
• Analyze empirical material by discussing central anthropological issues and applying analytical perspectives from the course literature.
• Write a well-structured essay discussing the literature from the course in relation to a chosen field/case. A minimum of five articles should be included.
BSc-, Credit-, Open Education and all international students:
500 pages obligatory literature.
MSc students: 500 pages obligatory literature + 200 pages of
literature chosen by students
Literature chosen by students must be relevant to the course’s subject matter.
Course literature will be available in Absalon on the course website.
Good, B. J., Fischer, M. M. J., Willen, S. S. and Good, M.-J. D. 2010. A Reader in Medical Anthropology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing + texts uploaded on Absalon.
- Category
- Hours
- Class Exercises
- 14
- Exam
- 40
- Exercises
- 42
- Preparation
- 70
- Project work
- 10
- Seminar
- 14
- Study Groups
- 20
- Total
- 210
International-, credit and Open University students; read about
application here:
International
students/Credit
students/
Open University
Deadline: June 1st for autumn, and December 1st for
spring.
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- PortfolioObligatory portfolio assignments: The course lecturer determines the number and length of portfolio assignments. A minimum of 75% thereof will be assessed as the exam. At the end of the course, the lecturer will announce upon which portfolio assignments the assessment will be based.
- Exam registration requirements
- It is a requirement that the student is present for at least 75% of the lectures as part of their exam for the course. Lecturers will keep an attendance list.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
There is appointed a second internal assessor to assist with the assessment when the first assessor finds this necessary.
- Re-exam
- 1. & 2. Re-exam
For written exams:
A new essay/portfolio with a revised problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
For oral exams:
A revised synopsis with a new problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The students must hereafter participate in a new oral exam at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
See learning outcome.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- AANB05093U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- BachelorBachelor choice,Full Degree Master choice
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Autumn, Block 1, Spring And Block 3
- Schedule
- See time table
- Course capacity
- 30
- Continuing and further education
- Price
6000 DKK
- Study board
- Department of Anthropology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Anthropology
Course responsibles
- Vibeke Steffen
(14-5e716a6d736d365b7c6d6e6e6d764869767c707a7736737d366c73)
Autumn 2014 - Lotte Buch Segal
(11-74777c7c6d367b6d6f6974486d6c36696b367d73)
Spring 2015