Health Sciences

This course is focused on recent developments in Nutrition Behavior Research including the physiological and psychological determinants of food choice and eating behavior. The course includes lectures, group assignments, and a computer practical. Prerequisites course in Nutrition Behavior.

This course is a ASEAN fieldwork course jointly organized by ASEAN partner universities and Keio University. Students who participate in the fieldwork in Japan and aim to obtain an "EBA Perspectives" certificate will take this course in the semester following their participation in the fieldwork. SFC offers four fieldwork courses, two in ASEAN and two in Japan, so that up to four fieldwork courses in total can be included as credit-bearing courses.

Vietnam Fieldwork is a Field-based Project. The primary purpose of the project is to investigate how families live with their disabled children against the backdrop of poverty and limited medical infrastructure. Note that the fieldwork is conducted in Phu Cat District, Binh Dinh Province in central Vietnam, where the US heavily sprayed the toxic defoliant known as Agent Orange during the Vietnam War (1963-1971). That background explains the high number of disabled people in this District alone, 4298 (as of 2018), accounting for 2% of the District population (not including mild cases of disabilities). 

The issue that the fieldwork aims to address lies in a complex context of risk and risk management: Environmental risk, Public Health risk, and risks that these two have generated. An equally important concern of our examination includes the basic infrastructure and policies designed to cope with these risks. 

For that purpose, our examinations incorporate the Vietnam War, Vietnam’s recent Socioeconomic Development, and Vietnam’s welfare policies (public health policies and safety net, among others). 

Participants are asked to explore the following questions: 1) How do these families (primarily farmers) perceive the environmental problem (as signified by the disabled child), the source of the problem, and the risks? 2) How do they live with the problem in the absence/presence of external support, such as health clinics and other facilities? Moreover, 3) how their narratives reveal a larger picture of which their living is part. The students are asked to call attention to people’s narratives through intimate interaction while observing their facial expressions, bodily expressions, and languages. 

The fieldwork also takes us to the “weekend class” for the disabled children, their families, the volunteer teachers of the class, and the local residents. The classes are valuable sites for us to observe how the disabled children, their families, and the teachers interact with each other openly. Over the past 10 years, we have established four such classes, which they call “Dream Class.”

The course aims at introducing the culture system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including the basic theory (yin-yang and five elements, viscera and their manifestations), basic skills (tongue and face diagnose), basic practice (diet therapy, moxibustion, scraping, cupping, TCM aromatherapy) and qigong(Baduanjin ). This course will provide you with an in-depth exploration of traditional Chinese medicine culture and learn how to use TCM knowledge in your daily life. You will learn about the correspondence between food and internal organs and how to apply this knowledge to improve your diet. Furthermore, you will delve into the concepts of Chinese medicine meridians and acupuncture points, master the art of brewing traditional Chinese herb teas and creating scented bags, and experience the renowned Chinese medicine fitness practice of the Baduanjin .

This course examines human nutrition as it applies to sport and exercise. It introduces principles of physiology and biochemistry that underpin diets and nutritional practices for physical activity. It looks at the fundamentals of nutrition, macro- and micro-nutrients, fluids, dietary supplements, and drugs in sport. 

This course examines basic knowledge of human structure and function. Topics covered include physiology of the nervous system and special senses, muscle physiology, and movement and consciousness. It also covers human endocrine system, reproduction, blood, heart and circulation, fluid regulation and electrolyte balance, the skin, sensory perception, gastro-intestinal function and respiration.

The course introduces the broad field of Health Technology Assessment (HTA). HTA is a collection of methodologies used to make evidenced-based assessment of the value added by new technologies to inform policy and decision making. The course introduces the full life-cycle of a new medical technology from the perspective of a device inventor and a government regulator, including safety regulations. It covers methodologies including systematic reviewing, decision theory, evidence synthesis, health economics, and the overall methodology used for HTA in practice.

This course introduces students to the principles of health professions education and its application to practice. It guides students through learning about key theories in health professions education and they gain key skills needed to effectively teach in formal and informal environments. The course explores the use of feedback in teaching and learning and peer-assisted learning. It focuses on reviewing educational research and how this can inform clinical practice as well as explore the design and delivery of assessment. The course focuses on putting the knowledge and skills learned into practice through teaching peers, colleagues, patients, and future generations.

This course introduces students to a structured approach to the clinical assessment of a patient, and develops skills important to becoming a doctor, and other allied health professionals involved in patient care. It guides students through a methodical approach to history taking, examinations and choosing and interpreting common investigations, as well as developing leadership and problem-solving skills. The ethical and legal frameworks governing medical practice is explored and allows students to understand its importance in their daily work. The course also focuses on understanding the principles of professionalism, patient safety, and effective communication - applying this to patients, relatives, and colleagues. The course features interactive teaching, practical skills group problem-solving, and simulated role play sessions.

This course examines the ways in which music contributes to well being and health. Students will learn about connections between music, well being and health through exploration of a range of practices across different cultural contexts and considering individual through to population perspectives. The well being and health affordances of music will be examined through integrated theory and research from interdisciplinary music and psychology perspectives.