Society for Medical Anthropology

A section of the American Anthropological Association

Academic Resources: Graduate Programs

 

The University of Amsterdam

  • The Medical Anthropology and Sociology Unit at the University of Amsterdam is part of the Department of Sociology and Cultural Anthropology. The staff’s general areas of research can be summarised as follows: how do people define and experience health problems; how do they strive to improve their health and well-being; and what are their responses to health care interventions?
  • The Unit attempts to create a balance between applied research and research of a more reflective and theoretical nature. The staff members regard these two types of research as complementary. The Unit collaborates with academic institutions in the Philippines, Thailand, India, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Belgium, Denmark, UK, USA, with the World Health Organisation and with development organisations such as BRAC and ICDDR,B (Bangladesh), HAIN (Philippines), AKHS (Pakistan), CSIR (Ghana), and ECOSUR (Mexico).
  • The Unit also organises conferences on current issues in medical anthropology. Within the Netherlands, the University of Amsterdam is the sole provider of two comprehensive Master's courses in medical anthropology / sociology, the MAS and the AMMA.

Master Medical Anthropology and Sociology (MAS)

  • The MAS has a one-year curriculum that starts with a broad program, which gradually focuses on specific themes. Students are able to make theoretical and thematic choices before doing their fieldwork and research.
  • The program consists of five modules:
    1. - An introductory course, different for students with a bachelor in social sciences or in medical sciences;
    2. - A thematic and regional module;
    3. - A course focusing on theories in the field of medical anthropology and sociology;
    4. - A course in research methods;
    5. - A course during which students write their research proposal.
  • After these courses students are involved in doing their fieldwork and writing their thesis.
  • Most courses in the MAS are in Dutch. A switch to English is expected in the near future.
  • More detailed and up-to-date information can be found at the website of the Master Medical Anthropology and Sociology: http://studiegids.uva.nl/web/sgs/nl/p/83.html
  • You can mail the study advisor: studieadviseur-mas@fmg.uva.nl or call number +31 20 525 2673.

The Amsterdam Master's in Medical Anthropology (AMMA)

  • The Amsterdam Master’s in Medical Anthropology (AMMA) is an advanced master with a one-year curriculum, consisting of course work, field research and a Master’s thesis. The Amsterdam Master’s in Medical Anthropology is part of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences of the Universiteit van Amsterdam. This advanced master is designed for social scientists working in multidisciplinary research projects in the field of health and health care, for physicians and other professionals of health care, such as Departments of Public Health and programs for prevention, for social scientists who wish to specialise in medical anthropology, for instance as part of their PhD program planning, and for academic staff of universities planning to develop courses and/or research in medical anthropology.
  • Applicants for the AMMA are expected to have a Master’s degree in any of the Social Sciences or in the field of medicine, public health, pharmacology, or a paramedical science. Students with a Bachelor’s in one of these fields and two years of relevant working experience may also apply. The Admission and Exam Committee will evaluate professional qualifications other than these before admission is granted.
  • The program is conducted in English.
  • The requirements for obtaining a Master's degree are the following:
  • -Six core modules;
    -One thematic module;
    Field research on a topic of the student's choice and a Master's thesis which reports on findings.
  • The AMMA also offers executive modules (short courses), which are open to applicants who do not wish to follow the full curriculum. Check our website for the current short courses.
  • For more information about the programme, our staff and how to apply, you can either contact us or visit our website:
  • AMMA
    Oudezijds Achterburgwal 185
    1012 DK Amsterdam
    Tel: + 31 20-525 4779
    E-mail: amma@fmg.uva.nl
    Website: http://www.fmg.uva.nl/amma

Doctorate Program

  • The Medical Anthropology and Sociology Unit has a PhD program in its research area. The PhD program requires course work, seminars, colloquia, research and a PhD thesis. For detailed information on conditions and programme, check: http://www2.fmg.uva.nl/sma/