Medical Anthropology, M.A.

Required Courses (9 Credit Hours)

• ANTH 6318 - Health in Cross-Cultural Perspective
• ANTH 6319 - Research Methods in Ethnology
• ANTH 6343 - Biomedicine, Culture, and Power

Required Field/Clinical Experience (3 Credit Hours)

• ANTH 6353 - Research in Anthropology  

An internship with a field or clinical component is an intrinsic part of the M.A. program. This will involve the student’s participation in an extramural medical, anthropological, or medical research project, clinic, facility, or agency. Students should identify the agency, facility, or program where they want to work by the end of their second semester. The internship/experience should last approximately 8-10 weeks with between 10 and 20 hours of service each week. Work may be limited to observation, or may be more involved, and may or may not involve an independent research question. A site supervisor must be identified, who will evaluate the student’s efforts and provide a brief, written report to the student’s adviser at the end of the internship. Internships may not occur where the student is currently employed, nor should they be in the same type of work in which the student is already knowledgeable and working.

A one-page written proposal of the internship/experience, including evidence of a willing site supervisor, must be submitted to and approved by the student’s adviser no later than the student’s third semester. If the student wishes to propose a small independent research project to conduct during their internship/experience, this proposal must be submitted to and approved by both the student’s adviser and site supervisor no later than the student’s third semester. Ideally, the internship will be completed in the student’s third semester of coursework, under the auspices of ANTH 6353.

Students will prepare a written report on their field/clinical experience that is a minimum of twenty pages of text. It must include a bibliography and be written in appropriate anthropological style and format. This report does not need to confirm to the thesis requirements for the University. Students should consult with their committee chairperson regarding the necessary and appropriate content and form of the report. The report must be submitted at least six (6) weeks in advance of the scheduled date for the M.A. exam since it will be discussed during that exam.

Elective Courses (24 Credit Hours)

Twenty-four elective hours of graduate coursework must be completed, distributed as follows. For courses outside the anthropology department, students must obtain the approval of their adviser prior to enrollment.

• Health/Medical Topics:
  At least two courses must be on health/medical topics; one course should be taken outside of the department.
• Medical Anthropology/Sociocultural Anthropology:
  The remainder of the elective courses must be either in medical anthropology or sociocultural anthropology. Students should meet with their adviser each semester to ensure appropriate selection of courses is made.

Total: 36 Credit Hours