SA4061 Anthropology of Epidemics

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be confirmed.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof C Lynteris

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Bridget Bradley

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module will provide a systematic examination of epidemics and pandemics from medical and sociocultural anthropological perspectives. We will examine epidemics/pandemics as social phenomena focusing on the ways in which human societies are impacted by, respond to, make sense of, and anticipate such events. We will examine anthropology's contribution to understanding and responding to epidemics/pandemics and their social and mutlispecies impact, introducing students to the ways in which anthropology can contribute to the critical advancement of global health.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1 hour Lecture, 1 x 1 hour Seminar

Intended learning outcomes

  • Identify anthropological debates on epidemics/pandemics and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of medical anthropological studies in the field.
  • Evaluate different anthropological approaches to epidemics/pandemics in terms of their contribution to current scientific and public debates on the subject.
  • Engage critically with literature and use analytical and research skills to reflect on past and current epidemics/pandemics.
  • engage with anthropological studies of epidemics and pandemics
  • evaluate the ways in which pandemics/epidemics, and different approaches to them, impact social life across the globe