Medical Anthropology

• GMS MA 710: Medical Anthropology and Qualitative Research Methods and Design
  Introduction to methodology for ethnographic field research in medical anthropology, and qualitative research methods. This course, offered by Medical Anthropology and Cross Cultural Practice, examines issues in designing anthropological research, and reviews theoretical approaches to research ethics, designing research, framing questions and questionnaire design, and data collection techniques. 3 cr, Fall sem. W 10:00-1:50, Medical Campus.
• GMS MA 711: Medical Anthropology Fieldwork Pt. 1
  Fieldwork or a related internship experience is an integral dimension of anthropological methodology, and important to conducting qualitative research. Therefore, it represents an essential feature of the curriculum in the Master's in Medical Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Practice. Fieldwork allows students to complement their classroom learning with field-based learning, link theory with practice, and refine their skills. It also helps students establish contacts, develop relationships, and learn from the experience of interacting with different cultural communities and groups. This two-part seminar will review issues likely to arise in the experience of conducting fieldwork, and will provide a forum within which students can discuss their ongoing fieldwork. Prereq: a previously approved Institutional Review Board protocol, and permission of the instructor. 3 cr, Spring or Summer I sem.
• GMS MA 712: Medical Anthropology Fieldwork Pt. 2
  Fieldwork or a related internship experience is an integral dimension of anthropological methodology, and important to conducting qualitative research. Therefore, it represents an essential feature of the curriculum in the Masters in Medical Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Practice. Fieldwork allows students to complement their classroom learning with field-based learning, link theory with practice, and refine their skills. It also helps students establish contacts, develop relationships, and learn from the experience of interacting with different cultural communities and groups. This two-part seminar will review issues likely to arise in the experience of conducting fieldwork, and will provide a forum within which students can discuss their ongoing fieldwork. Prereq: a previously approved Institutional Review Board protocol, GMS MA 711, and permission of the instructor. 3 cr, Summer II or Fall sem.
• GMS MA 734: Reading Ethnography in Medical Anthropology
  This seminar, offered by Medical Anthropology and Cross Cultural Practice, will read medical anthropological ethnographies analytically, with a focus on works that feature Applied Anthropology. Starting with a review of the debates, going through selected classic ethnographic studies, the seminar will explore ethnographies that address different cultural meanings of human experiences of suffering and affliction, including illness and violence. Students will engage in studying the methodology, theoretical underpinnings, writing, and social positions represented in these ethnographies. Prereq: Permission of the instructor. 3 cr, Fall sem. T 10-12:50, Medical Campus.
• GMS MA 735: Writing Ethnography in Medical Anthropology
  This seminar, offered by Medical Anthropology and Cross Cultural Practice, builds on GMS MA 734 (Reading Ethnography in Medical Anthropology), turning the focus to the actual craft of writing ethnography. It is an integral part of MACCP students' thesis-writing training. Students will learn to identify and employ rhetorical and stylistic strategies and genre conventions. Through a series of exercises that draw on their own field notes and participant observations, students learn to employ three genres of cultural representation- realist tales, confessional tales, and impressionist tales. Students will explore their own authorial voice and style, and their relationship with truth, objectivity, and point-of-view. The class is structured as a seminar, emphasizing class discussion, workshops, and peer- group work. Prereq: Permission of the instructor. 3 cr, Spring sem. W 10-12:50 Medical Campus.
• GMS MA 742: Medical Anthropological and Qualitative Data Analysis
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Not open to undergraduates. - Graduate Prerequisites: GMS MA 710, GMS MA 770, and Summer Fieldwork Directed Study credits (c ontact instructor for more information). - Examines strategies for analyzing medical anthropology data deriving from interviews and documents. In addition to reviewing different coding strategies and the rationales underlying them, the course, offered by Medical Anthropology and Cross Cultural Practice, will discuss topics such as approaches to managing textual data; the selection and application of epistemological and theoretical frameworks; narrative and discourse analysis; cognitive anthropology theory and methods; the use of grounded theory. Emphasizes the application of these strategies to the analysis and interpretation of data collected by the students as part of the course process. Prereq: Permission of instructor. 3 cr, Fall sem. W 10-12:50, Medical Campus.
• GMS MA 770: IRB Proposal Development and Writing
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Not open to undergraduates. - Graduate Prerequisites: GMS MA 700-A1 or permission of the instructor. - Prereq: Permission of Instructor. In this course, offered by Medical Anthropology and Cross Cultural Practice, students will learn to write a medical anthropology research proposal and related Institutional Review Board Proposal, through the structure provided by the IRB of BUSM. We will address theory and methods related to the design and review process. 3 cr, Spring sem. M 10-1:50, Medical Campus.
• GMS MA 786: Final Project Writing Seminar
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Not open to undergraduates. - Graduate Prerequisites: GMS MA 710, GMS MA 770, and Summer Fieldwork Directed Study credits (c ontact instructor for more information), and GMS MA 742, or permission of the instructor. - This seminar, offered by Medical Anthropology and Cross Cultural Practice, will train learners in the theory and practice of writing up medical anthropology research findings, and of writing ethnography. The course emphasizes analytical writing. Students will learn to identify and employ rhetorical and stylistic strategies and genre conventions. The class is structured as a seminar, emphasizing class discussion, workshops and peer-group work. Prereq: Permission of instructor. 3 cr, Spring sem. F 2-4:45, Medical Campus.