This course is a survey introduction to advanced topics in the social scientific and humanistic study of health and medicine as it relates to culture. It is a discussion-based course focusing on theoretical and methodological questions in medical anthropology research and applied work in the health field. We begin by addressing how to employ ethnographic research to illuminate critical concerns about the social, political, economic, environmental, and historical context of embodiment, health, disease, illness experience, and therapeutic efficacy. Throughout this course, students will be exploring a selection of the wide range of subject matter and geographic regions that encompass medical anthropology. We will begin with the cultural conventions of biomedicine situated in the West and then incorporate some of the healing practices and medical afflictions around the world studied by medical anthropologists. Overall, the thematic topics include: theories of disease causation and healing efficacy; medicalization and the scientific gaze; production of medical knowledge; mental health; public health discourse and risk; the internationalization of pharmaceutical research; the possibilities and perils of new medical technologies; emergent forms of everyday health practices; the ethics of medical tourism; and health inequities. The objective is to provide an overview of theoretical and applied social scientific approaches to the study of culture, health, and medicine.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon Successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the key concepts and approaches in medical anthropology.
   
2. Demonstrate and apply the importance of culture in health related work.
   
3. Engage in health work and understand the likely social, cultural, political and economic factors influencing health, illness and sickness.
   
4. Reflect critically on their own experiences of health, illness and sickness in the light of the concepts and methods introduced in this course.

Required Resources

Readings will be available on the course wattle site. It is your responsibility to bring the readings to class for further discussion. I will periodically send emails to the class so please make sure to monitor your ANU email to stay abreast of any new developments.

Recommended Resources

American Anthropologist

American Ethnologist

Anthropology and Medicine

BioSocieties

Body and Society

Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry

Cultural Anthropology

Current Anthropology

Global Change and Human Health

Medical Anthropology Quarterly

Medicine, Anthropology, Theory

Science, Technology, and Human Values

Studies in Medical Anthropology

Social Science & Medicine

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

The readings have been carefully selected for each thematic session and it is expected that students complete all the assigned readings for that week before attending seminar. Please ensure that you allow yourself enough time for reading all the material otherwise you will not receive the maximum benefit of taking this course. I believe you will find the course material to be thought-provoking and intellectually rewarding. 

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	INTRODUCTION
2	MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE
3	STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE
4	PUBLIC HEALTH AND SELF-CARE PRACTICES
5	RATIONALITY AND CLINICAL CARE
6	SOCIAL “DISORDER” AND MENTAL HEALTH
7	PRELIMINARY PRESENTATIONS OF RESEARCH PROJECTS
8	GLOBAL CIRCUIT OF BODIES AND PARTS
9	THE ECONOMICS AND ETHICS OF CLINICAL TRIALS
10	AGING
11	DEATH AND DYING
12	PEER REVIEW OF RESEARCH PROJECT DRAFTS

Tutorial Registration

This is a seminar, there are no tutorials associated with this course.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Presentation and Leading Discussion	20 %	28/10/2022	15/11/2022	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Online Discussion Board	20 %	28/10/2022	15/11/2022	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Research Project	60 %	28/10/2022	15/11/2022	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Active student participation in discussion is vital to having an engaging and lively class, especially for a seminar. Thus, students are expected to come prepared for interaction.

Examination(s)

There are no examinations in this course.

Assessment Task 1

Presentation and Leading Discussion

Each student will be required to make a presentation and lead class discussion for one or two class sessions depending on class size. On the day that you present the material you will be responsible for generating a set of questions for the class to facilitate class discussion.

Assessment Task 2

Online Discussion Board

A student discussion forum is set up on the course wattle site. All students are required to submit entries based on weekly readings to this discussion board.

Assessment Task 3

Research Project

Each student is required to submit a research essay (5000-6000 words). The research topic can be on any issue that is related to culture, medicine, and health. This project is designed to challenge you to integrate the ideas from the readings and apply them to a research project that involves original research.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Only the research project is eligible for late submission (all other assignments are due per the dates listed).

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assessments will be available approximately 2 weeks after the assignment deadline. Students will need to re-enter the submission portals on the course wattle site to find the feedback and mark.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students