ASS206 - Medical Anthropology

Unit details

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Year2018 unit information
Enrolment modes:Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit chair:

David Giles

Prerequisite:

Nil

Corequisite:

Nil

Incompatible with: ASS306
Contact hours:

Campus: 1 x 1 hour Class per week, 1 x 1 hour Seminar per week

Cloud (online): Learning experiences are via CloudDeakin

Content

The study of human knowledge systems in the area of health and illness lies at the heart of anthropology as a whole. Medical anthropology is thus central to the discipline and is also a major point of articulation between anthropology and other sciences. In this unit, students will learn the key concepts and approaches in medical anthropology through both the study of non-western medical knowledge systems as well as the study of western medicine, or biomedicine, as a distinctive cultural system. Through detailed case studies of different medical phenomena and how humans act in relation to these phenomena, students will examine health and healing from a cross-cultural perspective. Fundamental concepts such as the division between mind and body, the idea of disease pathology, plural medical systems and culture-bound syndromes will be examined. Special emphasis is given to studying developing or third world contexts where disparities in wealth and resources impact upon health.

Assessment

Campus:

Class and 0nline exercises 20%

Online quizzes 20%

Essay 35%

Group project 25%

 

Cloud (online):

Online exercises 20%

Online quizzes 20%

Essay 35%

Group project 25%

Unit Fee Information

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