Medical Anthropology: Culture, Illness and Healing

Palomar College Catalog Description

ANTH 137 Medical Anthropology: Culture, Illness and Healing (3)
3 hours lecture
Transfer acceptability: CSU

This course is a cross-cultural survey of health, illness and healing in small-scale societies as well as modern societies from a cultural, biological, and ecological perspective. Topics covered include perceptions of the body, perceptions of disease, life phases, culture-specific syndromes, healing practices, healers, nutrition, and healing and medical systems.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

1. Understand and apply the holistic nature of anthropology and the concept of cultural relativism particularly with health-related beliefs and practices.
2. Describe and explain standards of health and the causation, classification, prevention and treatment of illness/disease from a cultural, biological and ecological perspective.
3.  Have a broad understanding of health and illness/disease and the interconnections between body perceptions, nutrition, life phases, social variables, healers, medical systems, and public policy.