Syllabus                   

MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW - ANTH 2501

FALL 2003

 

TTh 4:00 – 5:40 p.m.

SS 130

Julie Pelletier, Assistant Professor

Office:  18 Camden Hall       589-6214       pelletja@morris.umn.edu

Office hours:  TTh 10:00 -11:00 am, and by appointment

 

Introduction

            This course will explore the construction of important concepts such as health, disease, and illness in a cross-cultural context.  We will be reading accounts from subcultures in the United States and from cultures and subcultures outside the U.S.  Our goals include a broadened understanding of cultural and biological diversity in issues of health and illness, a heightened awareness of our own health beliefs and preconceptions, and the biological and cultural adaptations humans have evolved in various ecological settings.  

 

Course Format

            Class sessions will include a mixture of lectures, class discussions, and presentations.  Students are expected to come to class prepared to take part in discussions, based on course readings and their own experiences or observations.  Class participation will be a consideration in the final grade. 

 

Required Texts (in order of assignment)

McElroy, Ann and Patricia K. Townsend, Medical Anthropology in Ecological Perspective.  Fourth edition/twenty-fifth anniversary edition.

 

Scheper-Hughes, Nancy, Saints, Scholars, and Schizophrenics:  Mental Illness in Rural Ireland.  Twentieth anniversary edition. 

 

Snow, Loudell F., Walkin’ over Medicine. 

 

Requirements

            There will be three exams and two papers.  The exams will count for approximately 60% of the total grade, the written assignments will count for approximately 40%.

 

Exams will consist of short answer and essay questions as well as multiple choice and true/false components. The exams will focus on one of the assigned texts but will also draw upon materials from the entire class.  Worth 20% each.

 

Written assignments must be typed or word processed, double-spaced on one side of the paper.   Use a standard type face or font, in a standard size, with standard margins; include a title page and works cited page(s).  You may use the APA style, modified to fit the anthropological style and format.  These modifications may be downloaded at www.aaanet.org and the journal American Anthropologist  (available in the Briggs Library) is also a source for anthropological style and format.  I will read drafts of your papers at any stage in their development and return them to you with comments.  The Writing Room is located in 327 Briggs and offers students the opportunity to consult with a trained tutor about their writing. 

 

Paper 1 is based on a health issue in a group you will select. I must approve your topic; email me well in advance.  This should be 4 to 6 pages, and should include a brief summary of the particular issue as well as an analysis of the implications of this health issue for the selected group and a bibliography/works cited/references of your sources.  We will discuss this in more detail in class.

Due October 9, 2003.  Late papers are not accepted without an excused absence.  20%

 

Paper 2 is based on your research for your part of the small presentation.  This will be 2-4 pages and will be in the same format described above.  We will discuss this in more detail in class.

Due in class the day of your group’s scheduled presentation (the last two weeks of class).  Late papers are not accepted without an excused absence.  20%

 

Class participation includes several components.  On a day to day basis, you should attend class and take part in discussions and activities.  You should schedule at least one conference with me during the semester to discuss the class and your papers.  In addition, as a member of a small group, you will present for part of one class session on research you have conducted on health beliefs and practices. 

 

Grading Scale:

A         90%                           

B+       86%   

B         83%   

B-        80%   

C+       76%   

C         73%   

C-        70%   

D+       66%   

D         60%   

F          59% or less

 

NOTE:  We will not meet during Finals week as you will have finished your work during the last week of classes.  I will not be available during Finals week so please see me early if you have any questions or concerns about the course. 


ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMS

 

 

Week              Date               Topic                                     Readings

(abbreviations for authors:  M&T=McElroy & Townsend; S-H= Nancy Scheper-Hughes; LS=Loudell Snow)

 

1                      8/26                intro. to course                                              

                        8/28                ecology                                   M&T, Preface – Ch. 2

                                               

2                      9/2                   genes, culture                        M&T, Ch. 3

                        9/4                   birth, death                             M&T, Ch. 4                

 

September 8:  Last date to make changes to schedule that will not show up on transcript

 

3                      9/9                   nutrition                                   M&T, Ch. 5

            9/11                life cycle                                 M&T, Ch. 6

 

4                      9/16                stress, illness                         M&T, Ch. 7

            9/18                health resources                    M&T, Ch. 8

           

5                      9/23                development                          M&T, Ch. 9

                        9/25                Exam I                                   Chapters 1-9 and lecture material

 

6                      9/30                small groups meet                           

            10/2                introductions                          S-H, xiii - Introduction                                                                       

 

7                      10/7                history, place                         S-H, Ch. One                                    

                        10/9                Paper 1 due

            migration, anomie                 S-H, Ch. Two

 

8                      10/14              NO CLASS – Fall Break

                        10/16              vulnerability                            S-H, Ch. Three

                       

9                      10/21              sexuality, religion                   S-H, Ch. Four

                        10/23              socialization                           S-H, Ch. Five

                       

10                    10/28              birth order, scapegoating     S-H, Ch. Six

           

October 29:  Last date to withdraw from courses with a W grade on transcript

 

                        10/30              conclusions, aftereffects       S-H, p. 296-appendices      

 

11                    11/4                Exam II                                  S-H text and lecture material

                        11/6                “roots”, healing                      LS, Preface -  Ch. 2

 

12                    11/11              religion, power                       LS, Ch. 3 -4

                        11/13              blood properties                    LS, Ch. 5-6

                       

13                    11/18              conception, pregnancy,

                                                birth                                         LS, Ch. 7-8

                        11/20              children, God                         LS, Ch. 9 - Epilogue

                       

14                    11/25              EXAM 3                                 LS text and lecture material                                                                                            

Paper 3 due when you give your presentation

14                    12/2                Small group presentations               To be assigned

                        12/4                Small group presentations               To be assigned

 

15                    12/9                Small group presentations               To be assigned

                        12/11              Small group presentations               To be assigned

 

 

NOTE:  We will not meet during Finals week as you will have finished your work during the last week of classes.  I will not be available during Finals week so please see me early if you have any questions or concerns about the course.