Module ANTH2081: International Health and Development

Department: Anthropology

ANTH2081: International Health and Development

Prerequisites

• Health, Illness and Society (ANTH1041)

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• 1. To give students a firm grounding in theories of medical and development anthropology as applied to international health and development.
• 2. To provide students with a historical background within which to understand contemporary global health issues and policy.
• 3. To enable students to apply these theories to current key issues in international health policy and practice.

Content

• 1. Historical perspectives on international development policy and practice, with specific focus on health.
• 2. Key areas of theory in medical anthropology (including eg medical ecology, cultural and symbolic theories, critical medical anthropology, political economy, biopolitics and biosociality, etc) and development anthropology in relation to global health (eg governance and governmentality).
• 3. Applying theory to key current issues in international health. Specific topics will vary from year to year, but may include some of the following: health inequalities; maternal and child health; health interventions; the global pharmaceutical industry; HIV/AIDS; neglected tropical diseases.

Learning Outcomes

• A critical appreciation of the major theories of medical anthropology and development anthropology as applied to international health and development.
• Understanding some of the major theories within medical anthropology.
• Knowledge of the major global health problems and the historical, economic, social, cultural and political context of these.
• Knowledge of major international and development policies, and the historical, economic, social, cultural and political context of these.

• Ability to apply theory within medical anthropology to a range of key contemporary global health issues.
• Ability to evaluate critically international health policy and practice, using theory from medical and development anthropology.
• Critical awareness of the role of applied anthropology within international health and development policy and practice.

• Application of theory to practical situations.
• Ability to read and critically evaluate both academic and policy literature.
• Academic essay-writing skills.
• Ability to write for non-academic (policy) audiences (policy proposal).

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

• Themes are developed in lectures, and an accompanying programme of ethnographic film. Lectures and films are complemented by classes that go into selected topics in more depth, promote group problem solving, examine case-studies and incorporate some group and individual presentations.
• Students will be able to comment on content of lectures and classes, as well as facilitating each other's learning while guided by tutors.
• Summative assessment entails two pieces of assessment, each 2,500 words. One will take the form of a formal essay; the other will be a research/policy proposal.
• Formative assessment:
• Practice essay (1000 words)
• Class group presentation (written feedback)
• There is a DUO site for this module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

(1) Practice essay (1000 words) (2) Class group presentation (with written feedback)

■ 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