DRAFT syllabus - subject to revision
Societies of the World 25 (SW25)
Health, Culture, Community: Case Studies in Global Health
Fall 2010
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-11:30 am
Northwest Labs B-103
Course Description:
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of global health. It first develops a toolkit of analytical approaches drawn from a variety of disciplines and then uses them to examine historical and contemporary global health initiatives with careful attention to a critical sociology of knowledge. The teaching team, made up of four practitioner-anthropologists, draws on experiences working in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Americas, as well as an interdisciplinary body of literature, to investigate what the field of global health may include, how global health problems are defined and constructed, and how global health interventions play out in expected and unexpected ways. Aligned with the pedagogical goals of the Program in General Education, the course seeks to inspire and teach the following principles:
A sense of inspiration and possibility. While the overwhelming challenges of global health could all too easily engender cynicism, passivity, and helplessness, in examining what has made particular leaders and interventions successful (and others less so), students learn that no matter how complex the field of global health and no matter how steep the challenges, it is possible to design, implement, and foster programs and policies that make enormous positive change in the lives of the world’s poorest and suffering people.
Global awareness. This course aims to present a view of societies that enables students to recognize the role of distinctive traditions, governments, and histories in shaping health and well being. In addition, rather than framing a faceless mass of poor populations as the subject of global health initiatives, the course uses ethnographies and case studies to situate global health problems in relation to the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
Grounding in social and historical analysis. The course demonstrates the value of social theory and historical analysis in understanding health and illness at individual and societal levels, as well as in identifying problems and devising solutions.
Ethical engagement. Throughout the course, students will be asked to critically evaluate the ethical frameworks that have underpinned historical and contemporary engagement in global health. Students will be pushed to consider the moral questions of inequality and suffering as well as to critically evaluate various ethical frameworks that motivate and structure attempts to redress these inequities.
Faculty:
Dr. Anne Becker
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Contact:
Dr. Paul Farmer
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Contact:
Dr. Salmaan Keshavjee
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Contact:
Dr. Arthur Kleinman
Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Contact:
Course Objectives:
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of global health from an interdisciplinary perspective with attention to a critical sociology of knowledge. It strives to answer the following questions:
1. What is global health?
2. What is the history of the field of global health?
3. How is global health studied?
4. How is global health practiced?
5. Who works in global health, and what do those people do?
6. In what direction is the field of global health moving, and how can I get involved?
Together the teaching team and course participants will critically examine global health through several analytical perspectives including clinical medicine, anthropology, history, public health, economics, and delivery science. Students will be encouraged to examine their own positions, perspectives, and roles in relation to work in global health.
Course Format:
At least one of the four course directors will attend all lectures, participating as both lecturer(s) and respondent(s), to provide both intellectual framing and content continuity. A number of the lectures begin with presentations by Harvard-associated experts on the assigned topics. Each class will begin with a 40-50 minute lecture on the day’s topic presented by a single instructor and will be followed by a 20-25 response offered by the course directors. After this response, there will be time for students’ questions and responses.
Course Staff:
Head Teaching Fellow (Head TF): Amy Saltzman, Department of Anthropology -
Teaching Fellows (TFs):
Andrew McDowell -
Sae Takada -
Adriana Benedict -
Thomas McHale -
Elissa Klinger -
April Opoliner -
Pamela Scorza -
Michael Westerhaus -
Heather Lanthorn -
Chiaki Nishijima -
Emily Harrison -
Course Logistics:
Lectures
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00-11:30 am
Northwest Labs B-103
N.B. Lecture slides and video recordings will be posted on the course website one to two days after the live lecture.
Sections
· Sections are designed to offer space and time for students to clarify and question concepts presented in lectures and in readings.
· Sections will meet once weekly, beginning Thursday, September 16. A few optional sections will be held before the first official section on September 16; students are encouraged but not required to attend these optional sections.
· Sections will be assigned during the period between Friday, September 10, and Sunday, September 12. Students may not email the teaching staff over this period regarding section placement, as sections will be announced on Monday, September 13 or Tuesday, September 14.
· Thursday and Friday sections will cover the material assigned for the current week; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday sections will cover the material assigned for the previous week.
· If five or more graduate students enroll in the course, a separate graduate student section will be held with Professor Kleinman. If fewer than five graduate students enroll in the course, graduate students will be integrated into the regular sections.
· Section policies are further described in the Course Policies section of this syllabus.
Faculty and Staff Office Hours
TBA – Faculty, head TF, and TF office hours will be determined during the first week of classes and posted on the course website.
Evening Speakers
There will be four evening speakers over the course of the semester, each presented by key faculty in the field of global health. Students are strongly encouraged to attend. The evening speakers include:
· Jim Kim: President, Dartmouth University
· Agnes Bingawaho: Executive Secretary of Rwanda’s National Commission to Fight AIDS
· Julio Frenk: Former Secretary of Health of Mexico, Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health
· Ernesto Jaramillo: TB/HIV Drug Resistance Program, World Health Organization
Specific talk titles/topics and dates are TBA.
Undergraduate Student Assignments
There will be two reading assignments per week, one in preparation for each of the two lectures (see below for details).
The following written assignments will also be required over the course of the semester:
· Midterm Exam: proctored, closed-book, closed-note, in-class, 1.5 hr exam (during regular class period) based on lectures, section discussions, and required readings
· Final Paper Proposal and Annotated Bibliography: 1,000-word proposal including topic, research question, and timeline for completion; ALSO annotated bibliography laying out sources for final paper (detailed instructions will be given at a later date)
· Final Paper: 5,000- to 6,000-word research paper on topic related course, using course readings and outside research
· Final Exam: online, open-book, open-note, timed essay exam based on analysis of a global health case study
Grade distribution for the course and grading procedures are described in the Course Policies section of this syllabus (see below).
Graduate Student Assignments
There will be two reading assignments per week, one in preparation for each of the two lectures (see below for details).
The following written assignments will also be required over the course of the semester:
· Final Paper Proposal: Final Paper Proposal and Annotated Bibliography: 1,000-word proposal including topic, research question, and timeline for completion; ALSO annotated bibliography laying out sources for final paper (detailed instructions will be given at a later date)
· Final Paper: 8,000- to 9,000-word research paper on topic related course, using course readings and outside research
Grade distribution for the course and grading procedures are described in the Course Policies section of this syllabus (see below).
Office Hours
· All students are welcome to attend and share their questions/comments with the faculty in a small group setting.
· In addition, all TFs are available and excited to meet with students. While your own TF is often your strongest resource given that he/she knows you and your work best, you are very welcome and encouraged to arrange to meet with any member of the teaching team.
· Faculty open office hours times and locations will be announced on the course website at the beginning of the semester.
Student Support
· Harvard College Writing Center: The Harvard College Writing Center is an incredible resource for students as they work to adapt their writing styles to master the assignments in this course (and other courses, as well). The Writing Center offers both scheduled appointments and drop-in hours, as per their website: http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k33202. In addition, they can be reached via email at .
· Lamont Library: Lamont Library offers individual consultations for students doing research projects. Such consultations may be helpful for students learning how to find resources and use citations appropriately in this course. More information about such consultations is available at http://hcl.harvard.edu/research/contacts/. Harvard librarians are eager to help you with your research, and they have a vast knowledge of resources that can greatly expand your research and learning – both in this course and throughout your academic career.
· Bureau of Study Counsel: The Harvard Bureau of Study Counsel (BSC) offers diverse resources to students attempting to meet the demands of this course and others. Their services include peer tutoring, individual consultation, a reading/study strategies course, ESL support (practice with verbal language skills), LD/ADHD support, and study skills workshops. Information about their services and how to contact them is available at http://www.bsc.harvard.edu/.
· Harvard Institute for Global Health (HIGH): HIGH is an all-inclusive hub for global health resources at Harvard. Information about study abroad/internship opportunities, global health-related resources and events, and research at Harvard is available at http://www.globalhealth.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do.
· ESL support: Many students may need support with English language skills. The Bureau of Study Counsel offers support for mastering spoken English, and the Writing Center offers support for mastering written English. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of both resources.
Communication and Feedback Channels
The course faculty and staff are very eager to hear students’ comments and suggestions. Students are welcome to share feedback, comments, and concerns at any time with their TFs, as well as with Amy Saltzman (Head TF). All of the course staff and faculty attempt to be as prompt as possible in responding to student emails alongside their extensive commitments both within and outside of the university. Students should expect increased turnaround time for emails at night and over weekends. If you do not receive a response to an email within 48 hours, please simply re-send your original message as a reminder.
Students can use the following guide to determine whom to contact with which questions, comments, and concerns:
· accessible education, senior thesis accommodations: your TF and Head TF
· personal concerns affecting experience/performance in course: your TF (or Head TF)
· attendance: your TF
· course material/content: your TF or any other TF (during office hours and by appointment)
· syllabus, course schedule, evening speakers: Head TF
· course policies: Head TF
· feedback: your TF, Head TF
· health professions advising and education/career planning: Harvard Institute for Global Health (HIGH)
· research, internship, and career opportunities related to global health: Harvard Institute for Global Health (HIGH)
Of note, students may NOT email TFs within the 24-hour window before written assignments are due regarding these assignments (this applies to the Final Paper Proposal and Annotated Bibliography and to the Final Paper). They are encouraged to contact TFs ahead of time to get support in writing and preparing these assignments.
Course Evaluations
The course faculty and staff request that students thoughtfully complete the anonymous end-of-semester course evaluations. All of the faculty and staff take student comments very seriously and consider their feedback vital to improving the course, both within the course of this semester and for the future. Students' grades will not be released until end-of-semester course evaluations have been completed.
Course Policies:
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION OF THE SYLLABUS VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS – EITHER VIA EMAIL OR FACE-TO-FACE! IT ANSWERS MANY FAQs.
Course Announcements
Students are responsible for keeping up-to-date with all emailed course announcements. All course-wide emails are archived for your reference on the eMailbag page of the course website.
Course Enrollment
This course has open enrollment. There is no cap on enrollment and no lottery.
Lecture Attendance
Lecture attendance is required.
Please silence all cell phones during lecture.
Section Attendance
· Section attendance is absolutely mandatory.
· If a student has an unavoidable conflict, he/she may request permission from his/her TF to attend a section other than his/her own. Permission must be requested in an email to his/her TF (even if the request is also made in person), CC-ing the TF for the section that he/she will be attending as a guest. This make-up section attendance will be allowed one time only with no penalty.
· If a student becomes too sick to attend section on the same day the section is taking place and cannot make it to section, he/she must email his/her TF and the Head TF before the section begins to let them know. They will help the student make a plan to attend another section. If a student is sick for an extended period of time and thus must miss multiple sections, he/she must contact his/her TF and the Head TF (single email to both) to help him/her devise a make-up plan.
· Students may miss one section with no penalty but must follow the above-stated protocol. If students miss more than one section without sufficient reason (as deemed by the Head TF), their section participation grade will be decreased.
Response Papers and Précis
· Each student is responsible for writing six 500-word, double-spaced response papers related to the course lectures and reading material over the course of the semester. Students will sign-up within their sections to determine which weeks they will write response papers.
· Response papers will be graded by the TF who leads that student’s section. Each response paper will receive a check, check-plus, or check-minus, with limited comments. The TFs will aim to return papers within one week.