London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

This module offers an introduction to the concepts, perspectives, theories and methods of medical anthropology and how these can be applied to contemporary public and global health concerns. The module will equip students with an understanding of how medical anthropology can both complement other forms of other health research and offer critical commentary of it.

The overall module aim is to provide an introduction to concepts, perspectives, theories and methods in medical anthropology, and illustrate their relevance to public and global health issues

Intended learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module a student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an analytical understanding of a range of concepts, principles and definitions used in medical anthropology.
2. Apply these concepts and principles in the analysis of particular public and global health issues.
3. Evaluate the role of anthropological inquiry and analysis in public and global health arenas.
4. Critically evaluate, from an anthropological perspective, epidemiological, medical and public and global health approaches.

Session content

The module is expected to cover the following topics:

• The role(s) of anthropologists in responding to public and global health issues.
• Anthropological conceptualisations of biomedicine, public and global health, including those around illness and disease, risk, structural violence, biopower, colonial legacies, health citizenship, and scepticism of biomedical expertise.
• Introduction to anthropological methods, especially ethnography; what their strengths and weaknesses are, and how to apply these to issues in public and global health.

Mode of delivery

This module is delivered predominantly face-to-face. Where specific teaching methods (lectures, seminars, discussion groups) are noted in this module specification these will be delivered by predominantly face-to-face sessions. There will be a combination of live and interactive activities (synchronous learning) as well as self-directed study (asynchronous learning).

Assessment

The module will be assessed through a take home essay-based assignment (100%) to be submitted at the end of the module. Students will be required to write a 2,500 word essay on a subject chosen from a range of questions based on the topics covered in the module to demonstrate their learning and a critical appreciation of the discipline.

Credits

• CATS: 15
• ECTS: 7.5

Module specification

For full information regarding this module please see the module specification.