The Anthropology of Global Health
Course content
The overall aim of this course is to investigate connections between anthropology and global health and to understand social and cultural influences of health, sickness, and interventions around the world.
This course introduces students to core concepts in medical anthropology relevant for the analysis of individual response to illness and affliction and for an understanding of how relationships between patients and health care providers are shaped.
Key course topics include: Population dynamics and the relation to global health; health, wealth and global power structures; illness narratives and therapeutic trajectories, health care systems and healing traditions; life-course, lifestyles as well as the role of medical technologies.
Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to think critically and creatively about health problems and policies and to envision innovative and effective responses to some of the main health challenges. Furthermore, students will be introduced to writing policy briefs.
MSc Programme in Global Health - compulsory
Learning objectives:
On completion of the course, students should be able to:
Knowledge
- Understand health care practices and perceptions in the broader social and political context.
- Describe and discuss social and cultural factors influencing health, sickness and therapy in low- middle and high-income societies
- Identify and discuss, from an anthropological point of view, the role of different stakeholders at international, national, and local levels.
- Describe main global health challenges and discuss possible responses to these challenges
Skills:
- Work in inter-disciplinary settings
- Apply relevant theoretical concepts in the analysis of selected social and cultural aspects influencing health care practices.
- Communicate research-based knowledge efficiently through such genres as policy briefs and group assignments.
Competencies:
- Critically evaluate (selected) central aspects of health care interventions from an equity perspective
- Develop and present short analyses of selected health care challenges based on case studies and/or critical reading of articles.
- Demonstrate good communication competencies
Different pedagogical approaches will be used during the module:
• Formal lectures by selected teachers followed by discussions
• Group assignments (both small class-room assignments as well as
home-work) assignments)
• Case-work
• Student presentations
• Peer-feedback
• Workshop on policy briefs
The reading list includes peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. In addition, we include film cuts and if relevant newspaper articles in the teaching.
For credit transfer students:
If you are applying for the course as a credit transfer student,
you must have passed courses in qualitative and quantitative
research methodology, for 5 ECTS respectively. Documentation for
corresponding competencies in the form of a course description and
an exam result must be attached to your
application.
Time is allocated during class for the groups to convene and work on the assignment while tutor or course responsible is present to provide guidance and supervision.
Open for credit transfer students and other external students. Apply here:
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Oral exam on basis of previous submission under invigilation
- Type of assessment details
- The report(s) are prepared during the course and form the basis of the exam. The exam is a group exam (each group includes four students). The assignment will be a written group report, max 10 pages, to be submitted the second week of January, followed by an oral exam. Students will get an individual grademark, based on the written exam and the oral performance (with individual marks).
- Exam registration requirements
-
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
More than one internal examiner.
- Exam period
- Re-exam
-
In case of 10 or fewer students registered for re-exam
Type of assessment: Oral examination
Assessment details: 30 minutes examination
Preparation: 30 minutes
Criteria for exam assessment
To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student must be able to demonstrate
Knowledge
- on the social and cultural factors influencing health, sickness and therapy in low-, middle and high-income
-on the broader social and political context for an understanding of health care practices and perceptions
- on the role of different stakeholders at international, national and local levels
Skills
- related to the analysis of selected social and cultural aspects of health care in a global context
-related to team work and to the formulation of short policy
briefs on current global health issues
Competencies
- in critical evaluation of central (selected) health care policies
and interventions applying core concepts from medical anthropology
and related fields
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 32
- Preparation
- 145
- Exam
- 30
- English
- 207
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- SGLK20003U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Autumn And Block 2
- Schedulegroup
-
Please see the Schedule in Syllabus.
- Capacity
- 46 participants.
- Studyboard
- The Study Board for Public Health Science and Global Health
Contracting department
- Department of Public Health
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Helle Samuelsen
(11-4a3055636f77676e756770426370766a7471306d7730666d)
Chief responsibility
Teacher
Helle Samuelsen, Ayo Wahlberg, Tine Gammeltoft, Susan Whyte & others
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