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ANTH2267: Critical Global Health

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 2
Credits 10
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Anthropology

Prerequisites

  • Health, Illness and Society (ANTH1041)

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To give students a firm grounding in theories of medical anthropology as applied to global health.
  • To introduce anthropological critiques of knowledge and practice in the field of global health.

Content

  • Key theories in social medical anthropology (including but not limited to critical medical anthropology, governance and governmentality, biopolitics and biosociality) in relation to global health.
  • Applying theories to key current issues in global health. Specific topics will vary from year to year, but may include: malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, viral haemorrhagic fevers, emerging diseases and drug resistance, cancer, mental health, and patient engagement and advocacy.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Major theories of social medical anthropology.
  • Major debates in global health.
  • Influential anthropological critiques of global health practices.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Ability to apply theory within medical anthropology to a range of key contemporary global health issues.
  • Ability to critically evaluate global health policies and practices.
  • Awareness of the contributions of anthropology to global health policy and practice.

Key Skills:

  • Application of theory to practical situations.
  • Ability to read and critically evaluate academic, public health, and some medical/epidemiological literature.
  • Academic essay-writing skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures introduce students to the course material. They may consist of live presentations, guest lectures, break-out discussions, or other activities as appropriate to the material covered from week to week.
  • Seminars will provide students with an opportunity to explore and discuss material from the lectures and readings in depth with their tutors and peers. They may involve student presentations, break-out discussions, or other activities as appropriate to the material covered from week to week.
  • Summative assessment is by one 2000-word written assignment, which may take the form of a standard academic essay or a more policy-focused piece of writing.
  • Formative assessment is a 500-word written assignment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures10Weekly1 hour10 
Seminars3Spread across term1 hour3Yes
Preparation and Reading87 
Total100 

Summative Assessment

Component: CourseworkComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Written assignment2000 words100yes

Formative Assessment

Written feedback on one formative assignment. Verbal feedback in seminars.

More information

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