Course Form (revised 8-2009)
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
Anthropology
Prefix and Course #
Course Title
Determinants of Health, a Global Perspective
ANTH 446
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
Determinants of Health
Summarize the change(s) proposed
New course
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
Kimber Haddix McKay
Phone/ email :
4106
Program Chair/Director:
John Douglas
Other affected programs
None
Dean:
Date
Chris Comer
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into
section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
NO
Common Course Numbering Review: Does an equivalent course exist elsewhere YES
x
in the MUS? Do the proposed abbreviation, number, title and credits align with
existing course(s)? Please indicate equivalent course/campus 
http://msudw.msu.montana.edu:9030/wfez/owa/musxfer.p_CCN_MAIN
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits,
repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
UG ANTH 446Determinants of Health, a Global Perspective, 3 cr. Offered Autumn. This course will
enhance student understanding of the determinants of health in both the developed and developing
worlds. The course is taught from the perspective of a physician with extensive experience
practicing medicine in US and in rural settings in the developing world. Students are encouraged to
question conventional wisdom about what makes people sick and others healthy.
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
This course adds to the medical anthropology and global health offerings in our department. No other such
course exists. Supplements the existing courses offered in medical anthropology and bridges the university
and hospital campuses via involvement of clinicians in the course.
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
No
Complete for UG courses. (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment (Reference guidelines: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/Grad/UG.htm)
Graduate students will write an additional paper for the class involving a complex level of synthesis and
analysis of existing literature and which identifies important lacunae in a problem identified for the
assignment by the professor.
Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific conditions determined by the
Board of Regents. Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification:
YES
NO
x
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
Course Number Change
From:
Level U, UG, G
To:
Description Change
Change in Credits
From:
To:
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
From:
To:
Repeatability
Cross Listing
(primary program
initiates form)
Is there a fee associated with the course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering? If yes, then will this change eliminate the
course’s common course status? Please explain below.
5. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to
UG. Reference guidelines at:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/Grad/UG.htm
(syllabus required in section V)
Have you reviewed the graduate increment
guidelines? Please check (X) space provided.
6. Other programs affected by the change
Course is being normalized as part of med anth
offerings by the Department of Anthropology
Course has been taught ‘experimentally’ three
times and now requires integration into regular
course offerings. We believe it significantly
enhances our course offering in this subdiscipline.
7. Justification for proposed change
Graduate students will write an additional paper
for the class involving a complex level of
synthesis and analysis of existing literature and
which identifies important lacunae in a problem
identified for the assignment by the professor.
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
Determinants of Health, a Global Perspective
Bulger, MD
Anthropology 446
9:40-11:00 am
Tom
Tues/Thurs
Fall 2009
Course Description:
Anthropology 446 is a course designed to enhance student understanding of the determinants
of health in both the developed and developing worlds. The course is taught from the perspective of
a physician with extensive experience practicing medicine in US and in rural settings in the
developing world. Students are encouraged to question conventional wisdom about what makes
people sick and others healthy. Readings are drawn from influential thinkers in this field, films, and
the lecturer’s own practical experience delivering health care to diverse populations.
Texts:
Kidder, T. Mountains beyond Mountains, Random House, 2003.
Fadiman, A. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998.
Other readings as assigned.
Requirements:

Class participation (and thus attendance) is mandatory. I expect you to have read the
assigned readings prior to the class for which they are assigned, and to be prepared to discuss
them with your peers. Making a few notes to yourself before class about points you find
interesting in the readings will help tremendously. Keep in mind that if you miss a class,
you may not make up missed class work or attendance, which ultimately lowers your grade.

Distribution of course grade:
Paper
Attendance, participation in-class discussion
Total

75%
25%
100%
Additional information:
o Make up paper – only with a documented health issue or with prior permission. If
you cannot come to an exam, you must tell me before on or on the day of the exam
that you will be absent. Make ups will be scheduled at my convenience within one
week of the scheduled exam.
o Reserve readings are available online through Eres at Mansfield Library, under my
name with the access code ANTH445.
o If you’re taking this class pass/no pass, a pass > 69%.
Schedule:
Week/Date
1
Topic
Reading/Notes
Introduction
Practical experience in Kenya
2
Life expectancy
Mountains beyond Mountains, Intro
Infections
3
Vaccines
Mountains beyond Mountains, 66-121
Influenza
4
Zoonoses
Mountains beyond Mountains, 119-180
Types of Flu
5
Smallpox
Taubes paper
What makes us healthy?
6
Social determinants of health
WHO and JAMA papers
Paul Farmer
Finish Mountains beyond Mountains
7
Aid to the developing world
The Bottom Billion, excerpts
Jeffrey Sachs
Tribalism and corruption
8
Gender & maternal mortality
Movie: Mama Kenya
Education & disease burden
9
Water
Message in a Bottle, Water Thieves
Nutrition
Unhappy Meals
Paper due
10
Useless treatments
Myth
Joseph Campbell excerpt
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall
Down
11
AIDS
Malaria
Oster video lecture
Bedlam in the Blood
12
Stress
Paradox of Choice
Determinants of happiness
The Rocking Horse
Michael Moore
Sicko
13
14
Health care development
Health care in Nepal: Case study
Moore essay
Haddix McKay paper
15
Cancer
TBA
Summary
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of
proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.