CLAS 2024 - Ancient Medicine and its Legacy
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2023
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code CLAS 2024 Course Ancient Medicine and its Legacy Coordinating Unit Classics, Archaeology and Ancient History Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study Incompatible CLAS 2003 or CLAS 3003 Assessment 2 x 1,400 word papers (20% each), presentation (extra reading) 10%, 5 x100 word tutorial summaries 10%, 2-hour exam 40% Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Professor Han Baltussen
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course the student will be able to
1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the origins, nature and evolution of rational medicine from Hippocrates (fifth c. BC) up to the early modern age;
2. Develop a critical understanding of the key historical questions, interpretations and scholarship concerning the evidence for the history of ancient medicine and its influence;
3. Offer a clear, literate and logical exposition of ideas in independently researched written work, based on suitable primary and secondary sources, reflected in appropriate referencing;
4. Explore, articulate and debate their views in small-group discussions;
5. Relate the development of ancient Greek medicine across the ages to the social, cultural and ethical circumstances of early modern and modern times.University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1-2 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
3-4 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
4 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
5 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
Textbook
V. Nutton, Ancient Medicine (Routledge 2013).Recommended Resources
A quick and short introduction into the topic is Helen King, Greek and Roman Medicine (Bristol 2001) [in BSL 1 copy].
A wide-ranging and magisterial work on the whole of the history of medicine is Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: medical history of humanity from antiquity to the present (London : Harper Collins, 1997)Online Learning
The powerpoints and recordings of lectures with be placed on MyUni. Note, however, that recordings sometimes fail and students are advised not to rely on these as a substitute for lecture attendance.
A substantial introduction to each week's topic can be found in the textbook. Reference to relevant pages will be made in the Course booklet available on MyUni. Other materials will be placed on MyUni or information will be provided on how to access it.
Students are expected to consult the announcements board at least twice a week and must closely read all emails sent via MyUni.
Guidelines to formatting footnotes and bibliography are placed on MyUni. Students are expected to read and consult these. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
The format of the course consists of two lectures per week supported by problem-oriented tutorials which develop topics covered in the lectures the week before.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The information provied below is a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
2x1 hour lecture per week 24 hours per semester 1x1 hour tutorial per week (or equivalent) 12 per semester 5 hours reading per week 60 per semester 4 hours written work per week 48 per semester 1 hour revision per week 12 per semester TOTAL WORKLOAD 156 hours per semester Learning Activities Summary
Besides the lectures, the learning activities are largely centred around the tutorials which involve close reading and discussion of a number of ancient texts and/or text excerpts that illustrate the emergence of scientific thinking (e.g. explanations based on "causes", the importance of empirical evidence, underlying assumptions, and taking notes and keeping records of observations). In addition, students will be engaged in ongoing comparative analysis between different periods of history on matters of social and ethical significance (the doctor-patient relationship, the precariousness of decisions regarding life and death) as well as intellectual progrees (or the lack thereof).
Topics include Greek philosophy and medicine, Hippocratic medicine, humours and elements, healing centres and spas, medical ethics, Medical marvels, Hippocratic Oath, divine afflictions (epilepsy), health in the ancient city, famous Roman physicians (Galen, Soranus, Celsus), healing the soul, the bones of Pompei, doctors and emperors, medical tools, gynaecology, Galen of Pergamum (c. 129-216/219 CE), the language of science and medicine, the legacy of ancient medicine.Specific Course Requirements
In order to facilitate discussion, students are expected to read the relevant primary source texts or text excerpts for each tutorial and bring these to the tutorials every week. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Task Type of Learning Weighting Graduate Attributes 5 tutorial summaries (120 words each week1-5) formative and summative 20% 1-4 1,300 word tutorial paper formative and summative 15% 1-5 1,600 word research essay summative 25% 1-5 Take home Exam summative 40% 1-5 Assessment Related Requirements
Students are expected to attend the lectures and seminars.
Tutorial topics will be allocated at an introductory tutorial. One of the papers must be chosen from the topics in weeks 3-7, the second from the topics in weeks 8-12. There will be a limit of the number of students who can write on each topic (a maximum of six students for each topic).
Students are required to read the primary sources and primary source excerpts for all the tutorials in preparation for the discussion that will occur. They are also required to bring the relevant primary sources or primary source excerpts to the tutorials to refer to them during the discussion.Assessment Detail
1400 word essay 1: students submit a tutorial essay chosen from the topics in the first half of the
course.
1400 word essay 2: students submit a tutorial essay chosen from the topics in the second half of the course.
The tutorial summaries are intended to assist the student in reflecting on the material discussed in the tutorial. The focus in particular should be on what insight might be learned from them, both with regard to the specific topics as well as the overall scope of the course (in brief: what was discussed, what the student took away from it, and how does the topic fit into the larger framework of the course themes).Submission
The essays are to be submitted online via MyUni. The essays must be submitted before the tutorial on that topic is held, the tutorial summaries have to be submitted via email within 48 hours of the tutorial ending.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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