Medical Anthropology, Introductory Course (MED)
Course content
Medical anthropology is the study of how health and illness are
shaped,
experienced, and understood in the context of cultural, historical,
and
political forces.
It includes the ways that human communities understand and
respond to the
challenges of health and illness, it studies illness and suffering
as part of the
general study of culture, and it strives to interpret them in the
light of wider
understandings of social relations, technology, politics 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,
lay and expert knowledge, medical practices, technologies
and infrastructures. The aim of the course is to introduce the
field of medical anthropology as part of the overall study of
culture and society.
The course serves as a part of the specialised track in the Anthropology of Health. Medical specialization.
Board of Studies, Department of Anthropology
From fall 2024 the course is also offered to students at the
- Master Programme in Social Data Science
- Master Programme in Political Science
- Bachelor and Master Programme in Psychology
Enrolled students register the course through the Selfservice. Please contact the study administration at each programme for questions regarding registration.
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad
- Credit students from Danish Universities
Skills:
At the end of the course students are expected to:
- Present key anthropological arguments and concepts in course readings
- Use anthropological concepts to present ethnographic case material
Knowledge:
At the end of the course students are expected to:
- Identify central anthropological approaches to studying health, illness in human societies and reflect on the differences between them
- Describe illness experience, health practices, health technologies and health systems in different contexts and in cross-cultural settings
Competences:
At the end of the course students must be able to:
- Recognize how cultural values, social situations and relations shap understandings of and responses to the challenges of health and illness
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.
BSc students and MSc students: 500 pages obligatory literature
The teacher will publish 200-300 pages of supplementary literature.
Course literature will be available through
Absalon.
Updated June 24 with new timetable
Students will receive feedback after each exercise during the interactive seminars.
When registered you will be signed up for exam.
- Full-degree students – sign up at Selfservice on KUnet
- Exchange and guest students from abroad – sign up through Mobility Online and Selfservice
- Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
The dates for the exams are found here Exams – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Please note that it is your own responsibility to check for overlapping exam dates.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Portfolio
- Type of assessment details
- Length: Portfolio exam can be written individually or in groups of max. 4 students. Portfolio exams consist of 2-7 submissions. For MA students, there is a submission more than for BA students, i.e. if the BA student has to submit five submissions, the MA students must submit six submissions. The number of submissions is set by the lecturer. The total length of all of the submissions must be max. 30,000 keystrokes for one BA student and max. 37,500 keystrokes for one MA student. For groups of two students, max. 40,000 keystrokes BA students and max. 47,500 for MA students. For groups of three students, max. 45,000 keystrokes for BA students and max. 52,500 for MA students. For groups of four students, max. 50,000 keystrokes for BA students and 57,500 for MA students. In the case of group assignments, the contribution of each individual student must be clearly marked in the assignment. For groups with both BA and MA students, the same number of submissions is required as for MA students. The assignments are assessed jointly with a single grade.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
Policy on the Use of Generative AI Software and Large Language Models in Exams
The Department of Anthropology allows the use of generative AI software and large language models (AI/LLMs), such as ChatGPT, in written exams, provided that the use of AI/LLMs is disclosed and specified (i.e., how it was used and for what purpose) in an appendix that does not count towards the page limit of the exam.
If AI/LLMs are used as source, the same requirements apply for using quotation marks and source referencing as with all other sources. Otherwise, it will be a case of plagiarism.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Re-exam
-
1st re-exam: An essay must be submitted. The new assignment must be submitted by the deadline for the re-exam.
2nd re-exam: A new essay must be submitted. The new assignment must be submitted by the deadline for the re-exam.
Essay length: One BA student: 21.600-26.400 keystrokes. For group responses, Min. 6,750 and Max. 8,250 extra keystrokes per extra group member.
One MA student: 27,000-33,000 keystrokes. For group responses, Min. 8,450 and Max. 10,300 extra keystrokes per extra group member.
For groups with both BA and MA students:
A MA and a BA student: 31,900-38,975 (BA: 14.175-17.325 KA: 17.725-21.650)
A MA and two BA students: 38,050 – 46,475 (BA: 11,700-14.300 KA: 14.650-17.875)
A MA and three BA students: 44,525-54,375 (BA: 10.475-12,800 MA: 13.100-15.975)
Two MA and one BA student: 41,000-50,050 (BA: 11,700-14.300 KA: 14.650-17.875)
Two MA and two BA students: 47,150-57,550 (BA: 10.475-12,800 MA: 13.100-15.975)
Three MA and one BA student: 49,775-60,725 (BA: 10.475-12,800 MA: 13.100-15.975)For groups writing together it must be clearly indicated which parts of the assignment each of the students has written.
Criteria for exam assessment
See description of learning outcome. Formalities for Written Works must be fulfilled, read more: MSc Students/ BA students (in Danish)/ exchange and credit students
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 42
- Preparation
- 100
- Exam
- 64
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- AANA18134U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Bachelor
Bachelor choiceFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedulegroup
-
See timetable - updated June 24
- Studyboard
- Department of Anthropology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Anthropology
- Department of Psychology
- Department of Political Science
- Social Data Science
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Kasper Tang Vangkilde (16-746a7c796e7b377f6a77707472756d6e496a777d717b7837747e376d74)
Teacher
Bodil Just Christensen
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Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende