MSc Sociological and Anthropological Approaches to Health and Illness

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University of Edinburgh

Comments about MSc Sociological and Anthropological Approaches to Health and Illness - At the institution - Edinburgh - Scotland

• Academic title
  MSc Sociological and Anthropological Approaches to Health and Illness
• Course description
  The programme was awarded ESRC recognition in 2007. The programme enable students to take part in key debates in contemporary medical anthropology and sociology, apply analytical tools, drawn from social theory, select appropriate anthropological or sociological research methods for use in health-related settings and develop a research agenda.
  
  The programme involves successful completion of a range of programmes, such as: Research Skills in the Social Sciences: Data Collection; Core Quantitative Data Analysis for Social Research I & II; Qualitative Methods: Ethnographic Fieldwork. And also, courses specific to the Social Anthropology/Sociology and Anthropology of Health and Healing subject group, such as: Advanced Issues in Anthropological Research; Anthropology of Health and Healing.
  
  Dissertation The dissertation constitutes the main work in which students demonstrate the extent to which they have achieved the crucial learning outcomes from the first year of research training. It normally takes the form of an extended research proposal with the following components:
  
      * a review of the literature, both theoretical and empirical;
      * an outline of the specific questions to be addressed, a statement of research design and methods to be employed;
      * a discussion of the practical, political and ethical issues affecting the conduct of the research;
      * a presentation of the schedule for the research, and (where appropriate) its estimated budget.
  
  Where the programme is taken as a standalone degree, the dissertation normally includes a component of data collection and analysis, or selection of theoretical documents and analysis.
  
  Learning Outcomes
  
  This interdisciplinary MSc by Research is an opportunity to develop a specialisation in an area of medical sociology or anthropology. Participants receive hands-on advanced training in social research skills and complete an individually supervised research project. This course is equivalent to the first year of doctoral studies, and students frequently progress onto a PhD project.
  
  Graduates of this programme should be able to:
  
      * articulate their own approach to theories and methodologies in medical sociology;
      * think creatively about the social dynamics of health and healing in local and global perspectives;
      * think from both medical and social science perspectives.
  
  How You Will Be Taught
  
  You will be taught through a programme of core course lectures, optional course lectures, films, tutorials, subject area seminars, group work and guided independent study.

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