Course Objective

By comparing a wide range of different kinds of health and healing systems in ancient as well as modern nations, we will examine how medicine reflects changing attitudes, religious beliefs, politics and technology. Current issues such as environmental, psychological and social causes of disease, rights to live and die, preventive holistic care, religious healings and genetic engineering will be addressed. Cross-cultural case studies will be presented in order to address how cultural worldviews influence medical practices across the globe.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Students are expected to arrive on time, well prepared for class lecture and discussions. If a student wishes to drop the class, he/she alone is responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions. Failure to do will lead to an F on your academic record.

Grading Method

Exams are worth 20% each of the overall grade. There will be a total of three examinations given throughout the duration of the semester. Each exam will encompass class readings, films and lecture material. Exams are all essay and a blue book is required.

Article Summaries will be worth 20% each. There will be a total of two papers assigned throughout the semester. Each paper consists of an article summary from a journal published in the last three years and (more important!) your ability to connect the chosen article to our class. Each paper must be typed, 3-5 pages in length, font 12. A copy of the article must be attached to you paper.

Extra credit may be offered during the semester. Please check with your Professor for details.

Make-up Policy

You are expected to take the exam on the date listed. If there is a serious emergency preventing you from making it to class, you are to schedule a make-up exam date BEFORE the exam begins.

Papers will loose points for each day that they are late, regardless of situation.

Required Course Textbooks

Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Galanti, Caring for Patients from Different Cultures

Sarris, Mabel McKay: Weaving the Dream

Academic Dishonesty Policy

College study is the process of becoming an independent scholar. All students are expected to complete their own work. All forms of cheating and plagiarism are absolutely forbidden. Students found to be using unauthorized materials, including the lack of proper credit to the original author (list of references are mandatory) or any other form of cheating will have that assignment marked F for failure and may receive a failing grade, depending upon the Professor's discretion. Incidents of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Vice President of Instruction and become part of the student's permanent academic record.

*Please be sure that pagers and cell phones are turned off before entering the classroom.

Weekly Schedule

Section I: Introduction to Western & Eastern Medical Practices

Week I: Introduction to Medical Anthropology
Readings- Galanti1; Fadiman, 1-2

Week II: History of Western Medicine
Readings- Galanti 2,7,8; Fadiman 3-4

Week III: Language of Doctors vs. Nurses
Readings- Fadiman 5-7

Week IV: Traditional Chinese Medicine
Readings- Galanti 5; Fadiman 8

Week V: Western vs. Eastern Medical Practices
Article summary due at beginning of class
Readings- Fadiman 9

Week VI: Exam #1 : blue book required

Section II: Traditional Healing Practices

Week VII: Religion and Medicine
Readings- Galanti 4 & 12; Sarris

Week VIII: Shamans
Readings- Galanti 3; Fadiman 10; Sarris

Week IX: Cross-Cultural Analysis of Healing Practices
Article summary due at beginning of class
Readings- Galanti, 6; Fadiman 11; complete Sarris

Week X: Exam #2 : blue book required

Section III: Medicine Today

Week XI: Human Genome Project
Readings- Galanti 9; Fadiman 12-14

Week XII: HIV/AIDS
Readings- Galanti 10; Fadiman 15-17

Week XIII Cross Cultural Research Today
Readings- Galanti 11 & 13; Fadiman 18-19

Week XIV: Death: Our Last Rite of Passage

Week XV: Exam #3