This six-week course features an in-depth exploration of quantitative and qualitative research methods used in medical anthropology and for assessing community health. Students will explore the changing face of health and healthcare in communities undergoing the rapid social, cultural, and economic changes associated with globalization. This will take place through field research in interdisciplinary teams on issues of community importance and presentations of research results in a public forum. This year's research projects will be furthered developed by students in consultation with faculty and local advisors and comprise the following: Nutrition/Food Security, HIV/AIDS, Migrant Health, Household Environmental Health, and Youth Health. The application deadline is March 1 and the program dates are June 19-August 1.

Course Goals:

1. Familiarize students with selected qualitative and quantitative methodologies that can be used to identify and evaluate the health status of rural communities in the Monteverde zone.

2. Provide students with the opportunity to practice developing a research proposal, data collection and data management using the following anthropological and epidemiological field methods

• Participatory approach to field work
• Rapid Assessment Procedures (RAP)
• Epidemiological methods
• Anthropometry
• Dietary survey methods
• Functional measures
• Environmental and occupational health methods

3. Provide a service to local community members and institutions by collecting and presenting accurate data on priority health issues.