Module HUSS3281: CURRENT ISSUES IN MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Department: Anthropology (Human Sciences) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

HUSS3281: CURRENT ISSUES IN MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Prerequisites

• Completion of Methods & Analysis I: Research Techniques (HUSS2101) AND Methods and Analysis II: Research Project (HUSS2111) OR Phase I MBBS.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Current Issues in Biological Anthropology, Current Issues in Social and Cultural Anthropology.

Aims

• To provide students with an introduction to issues of contemporary research concern in medical anthropology.

Content

• In the first part of the module students will meet in seminars to practice various skills required to review, precis and critically evaluate research papers and projects in this discipline.
• In the second part of the module lectures focusing on up-to-the-minute research of individual members of staff and some guest lecturers will provide students with a rare opportunity to learn about the topics that their tutors have chosen to study and to appreciate and assess the relationship of this research to wider anthropological endeavour.
• Class work will focus on recent literature pertaining to the theme of each lecture.
• In all instances the emphasis will be on the critical assessment of the ideas presented and students will be encouraged to draw on earlier coursework to inform their discussion and/or debate.

Learning Outcomes

• Familiarity with the scope of medical anthropology and its relationship to other sub-fields of anthropology.
• Awareness and undrstanding of the paradigms used by medical anthropolgists when conducting research.
• Knowledge and understanding of the current research being undertaken by mediacl anthropologists at the University.
• Familiarity with recent publications in peer-reviewed journal on medical anthropology, and understanding of debates or disputes within the literature.

• Familiarity with journals publishing primary research in medical anthropology.
• Ability to engage in discussion and debate regarding research issues in medical anthropology.
• Capacity to identify appropiate material in anthropological journals, making use of electronic databases etc. to track the history of a topic or debate through the literature.

• Communication: Summarise or precis primary research papers, verbally and in writing;
• argue for a particular position using appropiate research-evidence to build arguements.
• Information gathering: conduct longitudinal reviews of literature and track developing ideas/debates
• Problem solving: develop ability to engage in knowledgeable discussion with researchers and develop pertinent questions regarding research.
• Working with others: working in small groups in class to produce a joint outcome.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures.
• Tutorials.
• Seminars.
• Exam.
• Critique.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Summary of 1 lecture presentation & class discussion (1000 words).

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University