| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
The MSc in Medical Anthropology explores the social, cultural, and environmental influences on global health and wellbeing. Through core and optional modules, students develop critical analysis skills, enhance research abilities, and engage in hands-on research culminating in an independent dissertation. The program prepares graduates for careers in development agencies, health organizations, and research institutions, among others.
Program Outline
Medical Anthropology L6K507
Degree Overview:
It examines the impact of social, cultural, and environmental influences on health, exploring the development and implementation of health policies, and analyzing the relationship between anthropology and contemporary public health concerns. The program utilizes cutting-edge research conducted within the Department of Anthropology, providing a stimulating learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds.
Objectives:
- Equip graduates with a deep understanding of the application of anthropological theories and methodologies to global health issues.
- Develop critical analysis skills for examining the social and cultural dimensions of health, illness, and disease.
- Foster a comprehensive grasp of the relationship between health and the environment, including social, political, and economic factors.
- Enhance research skills through hands-on experience, culminating in an independent dissertation project.
Outline:
Program structure:
- One-year full-time or two-year part-time program.
- Combination of core and optional modules.
- Dissertation project.
Core modules:
- Anthropology of Global Health: Examines theoretical perspectives in medical anthropology and their relevance to contemporary global health issues.
- Society, Health and Wellbeing: Explores social science theories applicable to health, identifying social and political factors contributing to health inequalities.
Optional modules:
- A wide array of Advanced Studies modules covering diverse topics within anthropology and health, including:
- Anthropology and Development
- Health Inequality
- Physical Activity for Health
- Evolutionary Medicine
- Anthropology of the Body
- Food Security and Nutrition
- Technological Primates
- Palaeoanthropology and Palaeoecology
- Anthropology of Data
- Many others
Course schedule:
- Full-time: October to September; classes October-March, assessment April-May, dissertation completion by September.
- Part-time: Flexible schedule with classes spread across two years.
Assessment:
Assessment methods:
Assignments, project work, and a final dissertation.
Assessment criteria:
Clarity, critical analysis, research skills, understanding of theoretical concepts, application to real-world scenarios.
Dissertation:
An independent research project on a topic of the student's choice, supervised by a faculty member.
Teaching:
Teaching methods:
Interactive lectures, seminars, practical sessions, workshops, individual dissertation supervision.
Faculty:
Leading researchers from the Anthropology of Health Research Group, actively engaged in cutting-edge research.
Unique approaches:
Emphasis on hands-on research experience, engagement with real-world health problems, collaboration with international partners.
Careers:
Potential careers:
Development agencies, health organizations, government, policy research institutions, social research organizations, NGOs, cultural institutions, media, education, and research.
Recent alumni career examples:
Save the Children, HM Prison Service, Civil Service, Durham University, VSO, National Graduate Development Programme.
Other:
- Access to Department research laboratories and facilities, including:
- Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre
- Behavioural and Ecological Physiology Lab
- Physical Activity Lab
- South Africa field station
- Material culture and skeletal collections
- Opportunity to present research at the Department's annual postgraduate conference
- Support from dedicated faculty and staff throughout the program
Full Time Fees
- Tuition fees
- Home students: £12,500 per year
- EU students: £26,500 per year
- Island students: £12,500 per year
- International students: £26,500 per year
Part Time Fees
- Tuition fees
- Home students: £6,900 per year
- EU students: £14,600 per year
- Island students: £6,900 per year
- International students: £14,600 per year The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
