The Master Of Science Degree In Biomedical Anthropology

Introduction

Biological anthropology is undergoing rapid and significant change as we enter the 21st century. Biological anthropologists are developing broader interests beyond traditional themes in academic departments of anthropology, and finding new job opportunities in and outside of academia. Biological anthropologists can be found in medical schools, schools of public health, many companies producing pharmaceuticals and dietary items, and at major government research organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Biological anthropology draws its students from a wide variety of disciplines that include the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities.

Biomedical anthropology is an emerging subdisciplinary area of biological anthropology. It represents the interface between biomedicine and the behavioral and social sciences that shapes health status. As such, it does more than give lip service to integrating cross-disciplinary approaches. It represents an educational philosophy that has been recommended as part of a new and innovative graduate training initiative (1995 Reshaping the Graduate Education of Scientists and Engineers, National Academy Press) implemented by the National Science Foundation (NSF Announcement 98:96).

Biomedical anthropology emphasizes biomedical, biobehavioral and epidemiological approaches to understanding the transmission and dissemination of disease and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and the dynamic interaction of biological and sociocultural factors that shape health outcome. The program includes field and wet laboratory-based research training.

The Professional Need

There is a need by the discipline to provide necessary and appropriate training to supply a qualified Anthropological work force (holistic/integrative/multidisciplinary) for current and developing positions within the biomedical field. Anthropology can provide biomedicine with the best multidisciplinary-trained individuals who bridge the social, behavioral, biological and medical sciences. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have recently supported the reshaping of graduate education in the sciences. They strongly recommend preparing students for "an increasingly interdisciplinary, collaborative and global job market . . . and should not be viewed only as a byproduct of immersion in an intensive research experience (1995 NAS/NSF 98:96).

This program is in a unique position to make a major contribution to fulfill the needs of a changing world and a changing job market.

Masters Degree Program

The Masters Degree in Biomedical Anthropology is an applied professional degree whose aim is to provide students with a program that will allow them to move into a variety of health-related professions that require interdisciplinary, innovative and versatile professionals. It is expected that such a program will give each student the necessary fundamental knowledge and methods with which to further develop professionally in an era when available biomedical dollars and positions are skyrocketing (1998 Science 281:1579-1580).

In addition to the successful completion of the coursework (43 credits) and required internship, an oral examination will be given by members of the core program faculty at the end of the second year in lieu of a thesis as a mechanism for the final evaluation of each Masters Degree candidate. There is no foreign language requirement. This program is a terminal applied MS degree in Biomedical Anthropology that has been approved by the State University of New York. The Program is not designed to be a regular stepping stone to the Doctoral Program in Anthropology, although students from this program would be considered for admission to the PhD Program in Anthropology if they satisfactorily meet all the prerequisites for admission that are currently required of any Masters Degree candidate. In the future, the University expects to offer a 5-year combined BS/MS degree in Biomedical Anthropology. The BS degree in Anthropology is currently available.





Who are the Students?

Students with interest in cross-disciplinary, health-related professions will be drawn from Bachelors programs, in anthropology, biology, nursing, pre-medicine, public/international health programs, psychology and other sciences and social sciences. In addition, there is the expectation the international students, particularly those in the medical and public health professions from other countries will find this program of benefit. The program seeks to attract underrepresented minority students using the NIH Bridges to the Masters Degree and links between Binghamton University and minority educational institutions in the Pacific Islands, Caribbean, and on the mainland.

Minorities and international students are strongly encouraged to apply. This is an excellent training program for individuals in, or seeking employment in, government and private sector positions that require an integrated knowledge of anthropology, public health, biomedicine, and the social and behavioral sciences.


Suggested Electives Chronobiology (Nursing)
Epidemiology & Biostatistics (Nursing)
Evolution & Behavior (BioSci)
Evolutionary Theory (Anthro)
Field Medicine (Anthro)
Fieldsites (Nursing)
Genetics (Anthro/BioSci)
Health Policy Alternatives (Anthro)
Human Growth & Development (Anthro)
Immunology (BioSci)
Medical Ethics (Philosophy)
Nutrition (BioSci)
Physiological Psychology (Anthro)
Population Dynamics & Policies (Anthro)
Reproduction/Endocrine Function (Anthro)
Rural Health (Nursing)
Violence (Anthro)

Required Summer Internship Program

Internships are critical to professional development in today's world. They offer periodic experiences with real-world conditions outside the traditional training program. They also provide opportunities for research, data collection, and entry into later employment. Students are required to complete one internship before the beginning of the fall semester of their second year. A second internship during the summer of year 2 is optional.

Possible Local Summer Internship Sites:

Alzheimer's Disease Clinics
Bassett Healthcare Research Institute, Cooperstown, NY
Binghamton Psychiatric Center
Binghamton University Laboratories and Clinics
Broome County Community Health Department/STD and Drug Clinics
Clinical Campus, Binghamton
Guthrie Clinic and Research Foundation, Sayre, PA
Institute for Development Anthropology
Institute for Molecular Biology and Medicine, Scranton, PA
Local Hospitals/Coroner,s Office
Local Rural Health Initiatives/Alzheimers/Osteoporosis/Psychosocial Stress
Syracuse Health Sciences Center, Syracuse, NY
VA Clinic, Binghamton
Various Health Agencies and Clinics in County and State National Summer Internship Sites Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Environmental Protection Agency National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
Pacific Biomedical Research Center (U. of Hawaii)
U. S. Agency for International Development

International Internship Sites:

Africa (Kenya, Tanzania)
Caroline Islands
China (Qinghai Province)
Croatia (Hvar)
Hawaii (immigrants)
Marianas Islands
Mexico (Yucatan)
Papua New Guinea
Peru/Bolivia
Samoa
Siberia (Sakha Republic)

What are the Target Professions?

The list of target professions below is not all-inclusive, but represent examples of the kinds of areas that Masters Degree recipients in Biomedical Anthropology may serve. Public/Community Health
International Health/Health Development
Epidemiology
Forensic Anthropology/Molecular Identification/Paternity Issues
Molecular Anthropology/Biology
Ethnomedicine/Natural Products Research
Administration/Research/Health Care Delivery In
- Government Agencies
- Non-Government Organizations
- Private Volunteer Organizations
- Relief Organizations
- Hospitals
- Medicine/Health Care Delivery
- Health Care Development/World Bank Advisors
- Grants Officers
- Research Coordinators
- Human Subjects/Biomedical Ethics Advisors

Where are there Potential Employment Opportunities?

World Health Organization
U. S. Agency for International Development
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institutes of Health
Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA)
Department of Energy
World Bank
Peace Corps
International Relief Organizations
Drug Discovery Programs/Pharmaceutical Houses
City/County/State/Health Agencies
Public Health Clinics
Hospitals
Non-Government Organizations
Private Volunteer Organizations


Biomedical Anthropology Model Program

Some courses are required, but may not be offered annually. If courses have already been taken at the undergraduate level, then appropriate electives may be substituted at the recommendation of the faculty.

Year 1, Fall Semester (12 credits) History of Anthropology Forensic Anthropology Human Biological Variation	Year 2, Fall Semester (9 credits) Laboratory Practicum Molecular Anthropology/Biology Elective (1 credit)
Year 1, Spring Semester (12 credits) Quantitative Methods/Statistics Methods in Biological Anthropology Human Skeletal Biology	Year 2, Spring Semester (9 credits) International Health Elective (4 credits) Elective (1 credit)
Year 1, Summer (1 credit) Required Internship	Year 2, Summer Optional Internship

Participating University Programs

Anthropology
Biological Sciences
Nursing
Center for Research on Environmental Systems (CORE)
Institute for Primary and Preventive Health Care (IPPH)

Training Facilities:

Laboratory (Dry) Science 1 (Biomedical) Garruto/Little/Vitzthum

Teaching Laboratory, Science 1 (Forensic Anthropology) Steadman

Teaching Laboratory (Dry) Science 1 (Skeletal Biology) Rightmire

Research/Teaching Laboratory (Wet) Science 1 (Molecular Anthropology) Faculty TBA
(pending)

Research/Training Laboratories (Wet) Science 3 (Biomedical/Biosafety level 2/3) Garruto

Teaching Laboratory (Dry) IPPH (Biomedical/Clinical) James

Laboratory Courses--Biological Sciences

Off Campus Internship Sites (see above)