AANB05093U Medical Anthropology, Introductory Course

Volume 2013/2014
Content
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.
Learning Outcome

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.

Literature

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.

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.

The course consists of lectures, seminars and exercises based on in depth reading of ethnographic texts on health, illness and healing across a range of human societies. Students are expected to engage actively in oral presentations, discussions, group work and exercises.
The course is mainly for BA-students. The course also serves as a part of the specialised track in the Anthropology of Health.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Exercises
  • 14
  • Exam
  • 40
  • Exercises
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 70
  • Project work
  • 10
  • Seminar
  • 14
  • Study Groups
  • 20
  • Total
  • 210
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Obligatory 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
The student must participate actively in class, through for example class
presentations, in order to be eligible to take the course exam. The course
lecturer stipulates the specific requirements for active class participation.
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 description of learning outcome. Formalities for Written Works must be fulfilled, read more: MSc Students
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Obligatory 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
The student must participate actively in class, through for example class
presentations, in order to be eligible to take the course exam. The course
lecturer stipulates the specific requirements for active class participation.
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 description of learning outcome. Formalities for Written Works must be fulfilled, read more: MSc Students/ BA students (in Danish)/ exchange, credit and Open University students