Module HUSS3401: CURRENT ISSUES IN MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY FOR RETURNING ERASMUS STUDENTS

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

HUSS3401: CURRENT ISSUES IN MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY FOR RETURNING ERASMUS STUDENTS

Prerequisites

• Methods & Analysis I: Research Techniques (HUSS2101) and Methods and Analysis II: Research Project (HUSS2111) or Methods & Explanations (ANTH 2031)

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Current Issues in Biological Anthropology for Returning Erasmus Students. Current Issues in Social Anthropology for Returning Erasmus Students.

Aims

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

Content

• In the first part of the module students who are away from the University on the Erasmus programme will be provided with a series of readings and self-study tasks to complete independently, and they will communicate with the module tutor-on-line (via DUO and email) to practice skills required to review and critically evaluate research papers and projects in this discipline.
• A dedicated tutorial upon their return from the Erasmus exchange programme will consolidate this learning.
• In the second part of the module lectures focussing on the up-to-the minute research of individual members of staff and some guest lectures will provide students with a rare opportunity to learn about the topics that their tutors have chosen to study and to appreciate and asses 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 understanding of the paradigms used by medical anthropolgists when conducting research.
• Knowledge and understanding of the current research being undertaken by medical 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, retrieve and critically engage appropriate material in anthropological journals, electronic databases, and recent international medical anthropology conferences as sites of current debates, to track the present anthropological reflection on a topic in recent scholarly production.

• Communication: Summarise or precis primary research papers, verbally and in writing;
• argue for a particular position using appropriate research-evidence to build arguments.
• 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

• Seminar sessions will be used to present new papers or recent research in medical anthropology, and to discuss and debate the implications of the research and how it was conducted.
• Tutorial sessions will be used to teach and practice skills in reading, reviewing and critically analysing published research in medical anthropology.
• Formative tutorial write-ups will allow students the opportunity to practice their skills in the above.
• The Summative exam and critique will assess students' ability to apply their skills and knowledge gained throughout the module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Summary of one lecture presentation and class discussion.

■ 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