Medical Anthropology, Introductory Course (MED)
Course content
Medical anthropology is the study of how health and illness are shaped, experienced, and managed in the context of cultural, historical, and political forces.
It includes the ways that individuals and communities understand and respond to the challenges of health and illness. It examines illness and suffering as integral parts of broader cultural studies, aiming to interpret these phenomena through the lens of wider social, technological, political, and religious contexts.
The main aim of this introductory course is to present and discuss key theoretical and thematic developments in the subfield of medical anthropology, and it covers some of the most familiar and important themes in medical anthropology.
The literature focuses on classic and contemporary texts and explore a range of key topics in medical anthropology. Topics include e.g. medical systems, classifications of illness and cultural understandings of disease, embodiment, health disparities, illness narratives, care economies and chronicity, medicalization and medical technologies.
The course serves as a part of the specialised track in the Anthropology of Health. Medical specialization.
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 Political Science and Social 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.
At the end of the course students must be able to:
Skills:
- Apply ethnographic techniques (e.g., participant observation, in-depth interviews) to explore local health beliefs, practices, and experiences.
- Conduct comparative analysis of medical systems and healing traditions from different cultural settings.
- Critically analyze biomedical assumptions and practices using anthropological perspectives.
Knowledge:
- To demonstrate an understanding of classical contributions, key debates and concepts in the subfield of medical anthropology.
- To demonstrate an understanding of the social and cultural dimensions of medicine, health, and the body.
- Explain how ethnographic methods and comparative analysis contribute to understanding health, illness, and healthcare practices.
- Describe experiences of illness, health practices, medical technologies, and systems of care in different contexts and cross-cultural setting
Competences:
- To choose and apply relevant anthropological theories and/or concepts in the analysis of health related issues and practices.
- Develop culturally sensitive approaches to interpreting health-related experiences and beliefs in diverse social contexts.
- Evaluate how social, political, and economic factors shape healthcare and health outcomes.
The course employs a constructivist approach to active learning,
emphasizing student engagement. The teaching methods are designed
to align with the Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) and cater to
diverse student needs and skill levels.
1. Interactive lectures: Introducing key concepts and debates in
medical anthropology,
encouraging student participation through questions and
discussions.
2. Ethnographic analysis workshops: Students work in small groups
to analyze and
interpret ethnographic texts, applying theoretical concepts to
real-world examples.
3. Comparative case studies: Students engage in cross-cultural
comparisons of
healthcare systems and healing practices, developing critical
thinking skills.
4. Methods exercises: Students practice ethnographic techniques
such as participant
observation and interviewing in controlled settings.
5. Collaborative projects: Small groups design and conduct
ethnographic exercises on
local health beliefs, practices, and experiences.
These methods progress from foundational knowledge to more advanced
skills application, encouraging active participation and critical
thinking. Regular feedback and formative assessments aim to ensure
alignment with ILOs and support students' learning.
A key concern is to include diverse activities in order to cater to
various learning styles and academic backgrounds, fostering an
inclusive learning environment.
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.
MA students must include supplementary literature in the exam, which the student selects.
The course incorporates diverse feedback methods to support student learning:
- Oral feedback during class discussions and presentations
- Brief written comments on selected assignments
- Periodic teacher check-ins to address questions and monitor progress
- Structured peer feedback sessions on group projects and presentations
The aim is to provide students with regular guidance, encourage self-reflection, and support the development of analytical skills.
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 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
-
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
- AANA18134U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Bachelor
Bachelor choiceFull Degree MasterFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- 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 (16-716779766b78347c67746d716f726a6b4667747a6e787534717b346a71)
Teacher
Bodil Just Christensen
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Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende