ANTH M18

Explores the roles of biology, culture, society, and globalization in shaping illness, health, and health-seeking behaviors. Introduces research methodologies, ethics, core concepts, and theoretical perspectives in the social sciences and anthropology, including interpretive, biocultural, ecological, historical, political-economic, and phenomenological approaches. Compares and contrasts the culture of biomedicine with non-Western healing systems with particular attention to explanatory models, views of the body, and the role of ritual. Engages with contemporary topics including medical pluralism, medical technologies, global health and epidemics, and health disparities.