Anthropology 101 - Medicine and Culture

This course offers an introduction to the ways anthropologists explore the intersections of medicine, health, and culture through a biocultural lens. By examining both biological and cultural dimensions of health and disease, students will gain a deeper understanding of how human experiences are shaped by - and become embedded in - our biology. Topics include human evolution, race, sex and gender variation, aging, growth, and nutrition, with particular attention to how genetics and environment interact to influence human differences. Students will also consider how cultural beliefs and social structures shape perceptions of the body, illness, and healing. A key objective of the course is to understand how lived experiences become embodied in human biology across time and context.