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ME33MI: THE MEDICAL IMAGE (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

Medical images and illustrations are important in medical research, clinical practice, and public communication. This course employs the tools and insights of the humanities (e.g. history and philosophy of science, visual culture) to explore questions such as: What makes medical images so important? What roles do they play? How do images inform and provide evidence? How do images depict what they are about? How are images produced and why does it matter? Do image-makers follow pictorial traditions? How do medical images travel between research communities and the public?

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Ulrich Stegmann

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme
  • Medicine (ME)
  • Either Programme Level 3 or BSc Medical Science (Medical Humanities)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course will be taught, and all assessments completed, in teaching weeks 7-12 of 1HS. Through lectures and seminars during weeks 7 and 8, students will acquire knowledge about medical images and illustrations as well as learn about relevant approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines. There will also be sessions on research methods in philosophical and historical research. During weeks 8-11, students will work individually on a research project of their choice, assisted by support workshops (week 9) and feedback on their project plan (week 10). They will present their findings as part of a course conference (week 11) and submit them in the form of an essay (week 12).

The course is aimed at medical students who (1) like conceptual work (e.g. identifying, evaluating, and creating arguments and hypotheses), (2) seek a deeper theoretical understanding of medical images, (3) are keen to engage critically with intellectual traditions beyond medicine and the life sciences, and (4) like to develop their own research project. Familiarity with concepts and approaches of humanities disciplines is not required. But willingness to acquire such knowledge and (especially) skills is essential.

The course is also aimed at philosophy students who like to (1) apply their analytical skills to the “real world” (medicine), (2) expand their knowledge in philosophy of science, philosophy of medicine, and aesthetics, and (3) look beyond philosophy towards other humanity disciplines (e.g. history, visual culture). Basic knowledge of human biology and diseases is beneficial. Willingness to acquire such knowledge, as well as basic knowledge about types of medical images and image production technologies, is essential.

Finally, the course is aimed at film and visual culture students who (1) seek to gain a theoretical understanding of medical images and their visual cultures, (2) are keen on exploring how medical images permeates public imaginaries, (3) are keen to engage critically with intellectual traditions beyond film and visual culture, and (4) like to develop their own research project using still and moving images.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay OR Design Project: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 70
Assessment Weeks 12 Feedback Weeks 15

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Feedback

Students may choose between either a 4000 word essay or a 2000 word individual design project, either of which contributes 70% to overall course mark.

Written feedback will be provided

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseStudents will be able to analyse medical images and illustrations using the approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines.
FactualUnderstandStudents will acquire knowledge and understanding of (1) medical images and illustrations and of (2) relevant concepts, hypotheses, and approaches in the humanities
ProceduralEvaluateStudents will be able to evaluate arguments and hypotheses in the humanities literature on medical image and illustrations.
ReflectionCreateStudents will be able to create an output (using any medium) that employ creatively the concepts and approaches learnt with the goal of engaging the lay public with medical images.
ReflectionCreateStudents will be able to create arguments and hypotheses about medical images and illustrations using the approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines.

Tutorial/Seminar Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks 7,8 Feedback Weeks 9

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Feedback

Oral feedback.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralEvaluateStudents will be able to evaluate arguments and hypotheses in the humanities literature on medical image and illustrations.
ReflectionCreateStudents will be able to create arguments and hypotheses about medical images and illustrations using the approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines.

Oral Presentation: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 11 Feedback Weeks 11

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Feedback

Oral feedback.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseStudents will be able to analyse medical images and illustrations using the approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines.
ProceduralEvaluateStudents will be able to evaluate arguments and hypotheses in the humanities literature on medical image and illustrations.
ReflectionCreateStudents will be able to create arguments and hypotheses about medical images and illustrations using the approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines.

Formative Assessment

Project Plan, Summary or Abstract

Assessment Type Formative Weighting
Assessment Weeks 10 Feedback Weeks 10

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Feedback

Oral feedback.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseStudents will be able to analyse medical images and illustrations using the approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines.
FactualUnderstandStudents will acquire knowledge and understanding of (1) medical images and illustrations and of (2) relevant concepts, hypotheses, and approaches in the humanities

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 14 Feedback Weeks 14

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Feedback

Written feedback.

Word Count 5000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualUnderstandStudents will acquire knowledge and understanding of (1) medical images and illustrations and of (2) relevant concepts, hypotheses, and approaches in the humanities
ConceptualAnalyseStudents will be able to analyse medical images and illustrations using the approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines.
ProceduralEvaluateStudents will be able to evaluate arguments and hypotheses in the humanities literature on medical image and illustrations.
ReflectionCreateStudents will be able to create arguments and hypotheses about medical images and illustrations using the approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines.
ReflectionCreateStudents will be able to create an output (using any medium) that employ creatively the concepts and approaches learnt with the goal of engaging the lay public with medical images.

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