The module addresses the causes, effects, treatments and meanings of health, illness and disease for humans and the ecosystems that they live in. The module content will be structured around five broad themes related to holism, health and healing, drawing on ethnographic examples from around the world. Themes include: 1. the evolutionary basis of human medicine and dietary behaviour, 2. healing systems, their structure and the various theories of illness and therapeutic techniques that they encompass, 3. spiritual aspects of health and healing, 4. the biopolitics of health and healing (including the question of how to define and assess the efficacy of various medical treatments), and 5. issues related to globalisation and traditional healing (e.g. biomedicalization, health sovereignty, legitimacy, etc.). This is a reading intensive module during which students are expected to keep up with assigned weekly readings through private study so that they can engage with lectures and seminar discussions. Besides achieving a deeper understanding of subject specific material, students will gain critical research and analytical skills, writing and other communication skills, and have opportunities to engage in high level debate and discussion with peers and academic staff on the application of subject specific content to solving real world problems in public health.
Private Study: 180
Contact Hours: 20
Total: 200
Compulsory for:
MSc Ethnobotany
Not available as an optional module.
Essay: 3,000 words (60%)*
Presentation, 10 minutes, plus slide show or notes (40%)*
*Both assessments are pass compulsory and must be passed to achieve the learning outcomes of the module.
Reassessment Details:
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The University is committed to ensuring that core reading materials are in accessible electronic format in line with the Kent Inclusive Practices.
The most up to date reading list for each module can be found on the university's reading list pages.
Critically assess human nutritional requirements/recommendations from an evolutionary perspective.
Understand how and why medicinal plants affect human physiology in different biocultural contexts.
Rigorously analyse the implications of nature, complexity and richness of human diversity and adaptation in health and wellness.
Critically analyse the diverse strategies that humans have developed for dealing with illness and disease.
Critically engage with the wide range of variation in cultural models and technologies of medicine and health as reported in ethnography.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of anthropological debates concerning health inequality, the relationship between health and the body and the historical development of biomedicine.
Demonstrate independent learning and study skills.
Locate relevant sources of data (using library holdings and electronic sources) for particular assignments.
Construct and support a written argument with reference to appropriate scholarly sources.
Engage in constructive group discussions
Critically synthesise and summarise complex material succinctly.
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