Minor in Medical Anthropology

Medical anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that explores how society, culture, and biology influence global health and well-being, the experience and distribution of illness, the prevention and treatment of sickness, healing processes, and the utilization of pluralistic medical systems. A minor in Medical Anthropology develops knowledge and skills that are important for thinking critically about contested definitions of health and healthcare. Students pursuing the minor combine broad introductory coursework with specialized electives in the College of Arts & Sciences Department of Anthropology and in the Program in Medical Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Practice (MACCP) at BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine‘s Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS).

Requirements

A minor in Medical Anthropology consists of six courses. The student must take:

• Either CAS AN 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, AN 102 Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution, or AN 103 Anthropology Through Ethnography (101 and 103 cannot both be taken for credit in the minor)
• CAS AN 210 Medical Anthropology
• 2 other courses in the Department of Anthropology, at least 1 at the CAS AN 300-level or higher
• 2 courses chosen from the list of 600-level GMS courses offered by the Program in Medical Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Practice at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. CAS AN 210 should be completed before taking these courses.

Students pursuing the minor develop their programs in consultation with a faculty advisor in the Department of Anthropology (usually the Director of Undergraduate Studies). A minimum grade of C must be earned in all courses taken toward the minor. The minor is not open to students with a major in Anthropology.