Course Description: A contrast of indigenous medical knowledge and practitioners with ancient formal systems of medicine and modern biomedicine, including medical pluralism in multi-ethnic societies and the political economy of medicine.

Prerequisites: none, although ANTH 1102 would be helpful.

Course Objectives: To learn the variety of beliefs about health and illness found in different societies and to understand how these beliefs interface with biomedicine.

Topical Outline:

Introduction to the Anthropology of Folk Medicine

Ancient Formal Systems of Medicine

The Growth of a Modern Medical System

Folk Practitioners

Folk Medicine in Traditional Societies: Old World Medicine

Folk Medicine in Traditional Societies: New World Medicine

Folk Medicine in Multi-Ethnic Societies

The Persistence of Folk Medicine in the Modern World

The Political Economy of Medicine

Academic Honesty: All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty." Each student is responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any academic work. Students are expected to follow the University Honor Code and Academic Honesty Policy.

Syllabus: The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary.

Course Outline:

Week: Topic and Assignment:

1-2 Introduction to the Anthropology of Folk Medicine

Read: Haller, Introduction and Part One: The Man and His Medicine

3-4 Ancient Formal Systems of Medicine

Read: Haller, Part Two: The Middle Years

5-6 The Growth of a Modern Medical System

Read: Haller, Part Three: The Diaspora

Week: Topic and Assignment:

FIRST MID-TERM EXAM, Monday, September 30

7 Folk Practitioners

Read:

8-9 Folk Medicine in Traditional Societies: Old World Medicine

Read:

10-11 Folk Medicine in Traditional Societies: New World Medicine

Read:

SECOND MID-TERM EXAM, Monday, November 4

12-13 Folk Medicine in Multi-Ethnic Societies

Read:

14-15 The Persistence of Folk Medicine in the Modern World

Read:

16-17 The Political Economy of Medicine

Read:

FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, December 11, 8:00-11:00 a.m.

Grading Policy: Your grade in this course will be based on two mid-term exams and a final exam. Each exam counts for one-third of your final grade. None of the exams are cumulative. The final exam will be essentially a third mid-term. The exams cover the material discussed in the lectures, the videos, and the assigned readings. Lectures and readings usually cover different material. No extra credit is available in this course, so it is important that you learn the material of each section.

Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend class. Your attendance will not be counted for your grade. However, students who miss class generally do poorly on exams.

Required course material:

The People's Doctors: Samuel Thomson and the American Botanical Movement, 1790-1860, by John S. Haller, Jr.

Policy for make-up of examinations: Generally, no make-up exams given. If for some unusual circumstance, fully documented by the student, a make-up is given, ten points will be deducted from the grade of the make-up. If you miss an exam, you will normally receive a grade of zero for that exam. No final exam will be given earlier than scheduled.

Instructor's name: Michael D. Olien

Office: Baldwin 254 or Baldwin 252a

Phone: 542-1478 or 542-1475

Office Hours: 11:00-12:00 Monday and Wednesday (try Baldwin 254 first)

E-Mail: molien@arches.uga.edu