Students
ANTX2002 – Illness and Healing
2020 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Timothy Lynch
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit offers an introduction to medical anthropology and cross-cultural beliefs relating to illness and healing. We will examine health and illness from a multilevel perspective that explores the evolution of human disease, the role of culture in shaping epidemiology, varying cultural notions of disease causality, the individual experience of illness, and the socio-political factors that condition our experience and management of negatively-valued states of health. Throughout, the unit emphasizes that good health - and conversely ill health - is never simply a "fact" about the body. Disease and illness have social and biological origins, which means our understanding of this central fact of human life must incorporate not only biological factors, but also the broader cultural frameworks that transform mere disease into the culturally-specific experience of illness.
All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: understand medical anthropology and develop an understanding of cross-cultural beliefs relating to illness and healing.
- ULO2: be familiar with medical anthropological ethnography and ethnographic approaches to the investigation of illness and healing
- ULO3: understand how biology, culture, politics, and ecology interact to shape illness and health, health systems, and patterns.
- ULO4: appreciate the ways in which class, gender and ethnicity shape medical systems and outcomes.
- ULO5: apply the theories and concepts of medical anthropology to critically evaluate one’s own culture and determinants of illness and health.
- ULO6: critically evaluate Western biomedicine.
- ULO7: apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 40% | No | 5pm Sunday Week 8 |
| Weekly Participation | 10% | No | Weekly |
| Book Review | 10% | No | 5pm Sunday Week 11 |
| Exam | 40% | No | 5pm Sunday Week 14 |
Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 5pm Sunday Week 8
Weighting: 40%
Essay length: 2000 words. Essay questions will relate to topics covered in the first half of the semester.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- understand medical anthropology and develop an understanding of cross-cultural beliefs relating to illness and healing.
- be familiar with medical anthropological ethnography and ethnographic approaches to the investigation of illness and healing
- understand how biology, culture, politics, and ecology interact to shape illness and health, health systems, and patterns.
- appreciate the ways in which class, gender and ethnicity shape medical systems and outcomes.
- apply the theories and concepts of medical anthropology to critically evaluate one’s own culture and determinants of illness and health.
- critically evaluate Western biomedicine.
- apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
Weekly Participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%
Students will participate in discussions and other activities on weekly forums (5%). At the end of the semester they will submit what they consider to be their two best contributions (5%). Participation will be assessed according to regularity, relevance and thoughtfulness.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- understand medical anthropology and develop an understanding of cross-cultural beliefs relating to illness and healing.
- be familiar with medical anthropological ethnography and ethnographic approaches to the investigation of illness and healing
- understand how biology, culture, politics, and ecology interact to shape illness and health, health systems, and patterns.
- appreciate the ways in which class, gender and ethnicity shape medical systems and outcomes.
- apply the theories and concepts of medical anthropology to critically evaluate one’s own culture and determinants of illness and health.
- critically evaluate Western biomedicine.
- apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
Book Review
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 5pm Sunday Week 11
Weighting: 10%
Students will write a summary of the key insights gained from two chapters from the assigned text And The Spirit Catches You. . . Minimum length (total) is 250 words, maximum (total) is 500 words.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- understand medical anthropology and develop an understanding of cross-cultural beliefs relating to illness and healing.
- be familiar with medical anthropological ethnography and ethnographic approaches to the investigation of illness and healing
- understand how biology, culture, politics, and ecology interact to shape illness and health, health systems, and patterns.
- appreciate the ways in which class, gender and ethnicity shape medical systems and outcomes.
- apply the theories and concepts of medical anthropology to critically evaluate one’s own culture and determinants of illness and health.
- critically evaluate Western biomedicine.
- apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
Exam
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 5pm Sunday Week 14
Weighting: 40%
The exam will consist of a choice of questions that link together topics covered in the second half of the session (i.e. Weeks 8-13). Each student will be required to answer the questions by writing 2 short essays (maximum 1000 words each). The final exam is open-book format.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- understand medical anthropology and develop an understanding of cross-cultural beliefs relating to illness and healing.
- be familiar with medical anthropological ethnography and ethnographic approaches to the investigation of illness and healing
- understand how biology, culture, politics, and ecology interact to shape illness and health, health systems, and patterns.
- appreciate the ways in which class, gender and ethnicity shape medical systems and outcomes.
- apply the theories and concepts of medical anthropology to critically evaluate one’s own culture and determinants of illness and health.
- critically evaluate Western biomedicine.
- apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
The required readings for each week, as well as many other relevant readings, are available through iLearn. Other material can be accessed online through Macquarie University Library
Students will need to obtain a copy of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures (1997) by Anne Fadiman. These are widely available, including online.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.