Entry requirements

150 credits in chemistry, biology and/or pharmaceutical sciences, including advanced courses (at level G2F/C or above) in pharmaceutical sciences worth at least 22.5 credits or Pharmacognosy B (15 credits). Alternatively, from the Master of Science Programme in Pharmacy: 150 credits including a course in pharmacognosy; or admission to the Master’s Programme in Drug Management.

Furthermore, proficiency in Swedish and English equivalent to the general entry requirements for undergraduate higher education in Sweden is required.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student should:

• be able to explain the concepts of traditional medicine and traditional drugs, and be able to put these in relation to western drugs and western use of drugs in a global perspective
• be able to account for the organisations in Sweden that work with aid work and research in the area of global health
• be able to evaluate form and function of a traditional medical system through own experiences from literature- or field studies
• be able to contribute with a long-term perspective to knowledge and competence construction around traditional medicine and global health

Content

The course treats global variations in traditional medicine that is related to western medicine and western use of drugs. Initially, the traditional medical systems that are practised globally today are studied, for example Ayurveda and Chinese medicine.

In this course the student obtains further and specific training to:

• compile and present information in the form of an essay in writing and orally
• prepare and actively participate in study visit
• for those who participate in the optional field section: prepare fieldwork in tropical country

Instruction

Teaching is conducted through lectures, seminars, study visits and writing of a literature based scientific essay. The latter part of the course is carried out in a country, where this cooperation with western school medicine can be studied, for example Sri Lanka, Taiwan or Oman. Alternatively the student stays in Sweden and under supervision writes a more extensive literature based scientific essay.

Compulsory parts of the course: The attendance of course participants is compulsory at certain scheduled lectures and at the final presentations of the literature based scientific essays.

Assessment

Examination takes place through passed written and oral presentations of the literature based scientific essay (examination code).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

Substitutes the former course 3FN234 or 3FN004 Global Pharmacy.