Students
ANTH8016 – Culture, Health and Disease
2021 – Session 2, Special circumstances, North Ryde
Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update
The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.
This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.
Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit lecturer and administrator
Siobhan Irving
E-mail for an appointment
Timothy Lynch
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MDevStud or MPH or MGlobalHlthDevStud or GradCertGlobalHlthDevStud or MDevStudGlobalHlth or GradCertDevStudGlobalHlth or MAppAnth or MDevCult or MSocEntre or GradCertSocEntre or MPASR or MPASRMDevStud or GradDipPASR or GradDipPP or MPPP or MPPPMDevStud or MPPPMPASR or 10cp in ANTH units at 8000 level
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines the evolutionary, cultural, socio-economic, and political dimensions of disease and health. Notions of disease causality and healing practices vary across societies, and an understanding of the dynamics of these factors is crucial not only for theoretical advancement, but also for applied intervention in the field of international public health. In addition to surveying the key conceptual developments in medical anthropology, we look at how anthropological perspectives and methods can be used in applied settings. We also explore issues in critical medical anthropology, such as: How do global inequalities and violence affect health in developing countries? What larger social transformations accompany the rise of biomedicine, including recent biomedical technologies? These topics explore various dimensions through which medical anthropology can analyse and shape global health policies and interventions, preparing students to work in health policy and applied research. |
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: Demonstrate command of anthropological knowledge and theories relevant to the subdiscipline of medical anthropology and the broader study of illness and healing practices in their social and cultural contexts.
- ULO2: Interview, analyse, and represent the illness experience of another person, emphasizing the integrative factors (culture, politics, social structure, etc.) influencing their condition.
- ULO3: Apply the theories and concepts of medical anthropology to critically evaluate one’s own culture and determinants of illness and health.
- ULO4: Demonstrate an understanding of how healing systems often cut across categories of religion, medicine, and social organization.
- ULO5: Analyse how illness and health (and normality) are constructed within particular social, cultural, political, and environmental contexts.
- ULO6: Identify how inequality, social hierarchy, and structural violence generate unequal and often unique health determinants in the global and transnational context.
General Assessment Information
Late Assessment Submission Penalty
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 40% | No | 23:59, 05/11/21 |
| Written Discussion Guide | 30% | No | 23:59, Wednesday, weekly |
| Essay | 30% | No | 23:59, 01/10/21 |
Final Exam
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 4 hours
Due: 23:59, 05/11/21
Weighting: 40%
On-line final exam
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate command of anthropological knowledge and theories relevant to the subdiscipline of medical anthropology and the broader study of illness and healing practices in their social and cultural contexts.
- Interview, analyse, and represent the illness experience of another person, emphasizing the integrative factors (culture, politics, social structure, etc.) influencing their condition.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how healing systems often cut across categories of religion, medicine, and social organization.
Written Discussion Guide
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: 23:59, Wednesday, weekly
Weighting: 30%
Written Discussion Guide for Weekly assigned readings.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate command of anthropological knowledge and theories relevant to the subdiscipline of medical anthropology and the broader study of illness and healing practices in their social and cultural contexts.
- Interview, analyse, and represent the illness experience of another person, emphasizing the integrative factors (culture, politics, social structure, etc.) influencing their condition.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how healing systems often cut across categories of religion, medicine, and social organization.
- Analyse how illness and health (and normality) are constructed within particular social, cultural, political, and environmental contexts.
- Identify how inequality, social hierarchy, and structural violence generate unequal and often unique health determinants in the global and transnational context.
Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 41 hours
Due: 23:59, 01/10/21
Weighting: 30%
Essay relating to medical anthropology
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate command of anthropological knowledge and theories relevant to the subdiscipline of medical anthropology and the broader study of illness and healing practices in their social and cultural contexts.
- Interview, analyse, and represent the illness experience of another person, emphasizing the integrative factors (culture, politics, social structure, etc.) influencing their condition.
- Apply the theories and concepts of medical anthropology to critically evaluate one’s own culture and determinants of illness and health.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how healing systems often cut across categories of religion, medicine, and social organization.
- Analyse how illness and health (and normality) are constructed within particular social, cultural, political, and environmental contexts.
- Identify how inequality, social hierarchy, and structural violence generate unequal and often unique health determinants in the global and transnational context.
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 draft 2021 timetable has scheduled this seminar to meet on Wednesdays from 2-4pm in the 109 Tutorial Room, 9 Wallys Walk. Please check the timetable to confirm this location at https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2021/. If special circumstances prevent the seminars from being held in person and on campus, they will take place online via Zoom.
Your active participation is essential to your learning experience. The weekly 2-hour seminars will not be recorded, so you must plan to attend in person, and participation is a mandatory component of your final mark in the unit. Students are expected to be active participants and demonstrate that they have actively engaged the readings and material presented. Each student will take a turn helping to lead the seminar discussion one week with the unit convenor.
Detailed information about seminar topics, resources, and assessment tasks can all be found on iLearn.
The unit convener will use the first half of each seminar to introduce concepts, provide background information or examples, or offer an overview of the key issues under discussion. The second half of the seminar will be devoted to discussing the issues and readings as well as your progress on the illness narrative project. All required readings will be available electronically through iLearn.
Unit Schedule
A full outline of weekly seminar topics is available on iLearn.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). 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
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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.
Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook