Medical Anthropology, advanced course (MED)
Course content
This advanced course in medical anthropology expands upon themes covered in the introductory course, offering an in-depth exploration of selected topics within the field. While prior knowledge from an introductory course is beneficial, it is not a prerequisite for participation. The course aims to develop students' analytical skills and critical thinking by engaging in contemporary debates and issues in medical anthropology. The course focuses on four to five themes, such as chronicity, the impact of medical innovation and technologies, evolving theories of embodiment, health inequities, and health governance. Through readings, casework, exercises and discussion of literature in and around medical anthropology and science and technology studies (STS) students will explore how these themes intersect with broader anthropological concerns and real-world health challenges. The course emphasizes the application of anthropological theories and methodologies to understand the complex interplay between culture, society, and health in diverse frameworks and ethnographic contexts. The format, with teacher introductions, interactive class activities, oral and written assignments, will require active student participation.
The aim of the course is not only to develop students’ knowledge of the sub-field of medical anthropology to help prepare for a health-related master’s thesis, but also an opportunity for students who wish to deepen their understanding of medical anthropology.
The course serves as a part of the specialised track in the Anthropology of Health.
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad
- Credit students from Danish Universities
Full-degree students enrolled at the Faculty of Social Science, UCPH
- Master Programme in Social Data Science
- Master Programme in Psychology
- Master Programmes in Sociology
At the end of the course students must be able to:
Knowledge:
- be able to demonstrate an analytical understanding of key concepts, theories, and methods in medical anthropology and their relevance to health issues.
Skills:
- be able to identify a relevant anthropological research problem related to medical anthropology
- be able to locate and analyze empirical material by applying analytical perspectives from the course literature (using anthropological concepts and theories) in order to make an anthropological argument
Competences:
- be able to utilize concepts and methods of medical anthropology and Science and Technology Studies in analyzing a concrete, empirical case
- be able to understand and explain how sociocultural and political-economic factors influence the development and application of biomedical knowledge and technologies, and how these, in turn, shape our experiences and perceptions of health and illness.
The course will be based on a combination of lectures and interactive seminars where students contribute actively through group work, discussions, readings and oral and written presentations. Students are expected to engage actively in oral presentations, discussions, group work and exercises.
MA students must include supplementary literature in the exam, which the student selects.
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
-
Home assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Free written home assignment with examination prerequisites
The home assignment can be done in groups of up to 4 students. In group assignments, each student’s contribution must be clearly marked in the assignment. The length of the assignment must be a maximum of 10 pages for BA students and a maximum of 12 pages for MA students. For group submissions, an additional 3 pages per extra BA student and an additional 3 pages per extra MA student are allowed. For groups where BA and MA students are writing together, the page limit corresponds to that of MA students.
Students must indicate on the first page of the assignment whether they are BA or MA students. In the case of a group assignment, the individual student's contribution must be clearly marked in the assignment.
The number of standard pages is calculated according to the assumption that a standard page is defined as 2,400 keystrokes including spaces. Read further about Formal requirements for written assignments and exams in Curricula’s Common Part for the Faculty of Social Sciences. - Examination prerequisites
-
To be eligible for the exam, the student must have submitted and had approved 3-4 written assignments during the course.
- 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
-
Free written home assignment with examination prerequisites
1st re-exam: An essay must be submitted. The new assignment must be submitted by the deadline for the re-exam. The examination prerequisites must be fulfilled before the re-examination can be conducted.
2nd re-exam: A new essay must be submitted. The new assignment must be submitted by the deadline for the re-exam. The examination prerequisites must be fulfilled before the re-examination can be conducted.
Criteria for exam assessment
See learning outcome
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 42
- Preparation
- 100
- Exam
- 64
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- AANA18106U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
BachelorBachelor choiceFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Spring
- Studyboard
- Department of Anthropology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Anthropology
- Department of Psychology
- Social Data Science
- Department of Sociology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Bodil Just Christensen (6-7b6e783b41384869747d75767136737d366c73)
Teacher
Ida Vandsøe Madsen
Are you BA- or KA-student?
Courseinformation of students