Disciplines and areas of study
Anthropology
Program Coordinator: Dr Helen Lee
Anthropology is the study of humanity with a focus on cultural diversity. Using a range of theoretical perspectives and research methods from fieldwork and discourse analysis, anthropologists attempt to understand, appreciate, and explain cultural differences and similarities. The ultimate intellectual aim is to develop a more informed and critical outlook on one’s own culture and in the process achieve a better understanding of what it is that makes us human. While anthropologists are renowned for their studies of such exotic practices as witchcraft and cannibalism, they are today more interested in familiar and everyday issues: social inequality, poverty, globalisation, climate change, information technology, development, identity politics, and childhood experiences. The anthropology subjects offered reflect this diversity of interests.
The Anthropology Program offers a fourth year at honours level and a postgraduate degree by research.
Programs of study
In the first year of study, students are introduced to basic concepts in a range of topic areas and social processes. In the second and third years, students can select from a range of subjects covering topics such as gender, family, kinship and marriage, anthropological concepts and practice, Aboriginal anthropology, comparative studies of other societies, development, religion, childhood, health and others.
Students who wish to proceed to honours must have successfully completed at least 130 credit points in anthropology (or nominated equivalent subjects).
Anthropology Major
To complete a major in anthropology students must complete:
- an anthropology core subject at each year level of their degree.
- 30 credit points at first year level,
- 40 credit points at second-year level and
- at least 60 credit points at third year level of anthropology (or equivalent) subjects from the list below.
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| First year core subjects (15 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Culture & Globalisation: introduction to anthropology | ANT1CAG |
| OR | ||
| TE-SEM-2 | Our Global Village: introduction to anthropology | ANT1FET |
| Second year core subject (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-2 | Core Issues in Anthropology | ANT2CIA |
| Third year core subject (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-2 | Doing Anthropology | ANT3MQA |
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| First year subjects (15 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Culture & Globalisation: introduction to anthropology | ANT1CAG |
| TE-SEM-1 | Introduction to Asia: Japan and Indonesia | AST1IJI |
| TE-SEM-1 | Introduction to Aboriginal Australia | ABS1IIA |
| TE-SEM-1 | Introduction to sociology | SOC1SAC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Australia and Beyond: introduction to sociology | SOC1AAB |
| TE-SEM-2 | Introduction to Asia: China and India | AST1ICI |
| TE-SEM-2 | Our Global Village: introduction to anthropology | ANT1FET |
| Second or third year subjects (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Anthropological Concepts and Practice | ANT2ACP/ANT3ACP |
| TE-SEM-1 | Anthropology of Popular Culture | ANT2PCP/ANT3PCP |
| TE-SEM-1 | Culture, Race and Difference | ANT2CRD/ANT3CRD |
| TE-SEM-1 | Development, Globalisation and Culture | ANT2DGC/ANT3DGC |
| TE-SEM-1 | Discover Australia: current issues and debates | SOC2DAU/SOC3DAU |
| TE-SEM-1 | Gender and Sexuality: contemporary debates | SOC2GES/SOC3GES |
| TE-SEM-1 | Symbols and Society | ANT2SPS/ANT3SPS |
| TE-SEM-2 | Aboriginal Australia | ANT2ABA/ANT3ABA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Aborigines and the State | ANT2AAS/ANT3AAS |
| TE-SEM-2 | Asian-Pacific Cities | SOC2APC/SOC3APC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Body, Mind and Culture | ANT2BMC/ANT3BMC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Core Issues in Anthropology | ANT2CIA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Culture, Health and Healing | ANT2CHH/ANT3CHH |
| TE-SEM-2 | Displacement, Flight and Refuge | ANT2DFR/ANT3DFR |
| TE-SEM-2 | Gender and Development | SOC2GAD |
| TE-SEM-2 | Doing Anthropology | ANT2MQA/ANT3MQA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Kinship, Gender and Marriage | ANT2KAM/ANT3KAM |
| TE-SEM-2 | Landscape and the Human World | SOC2LL/SOC3LL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Quantitative Methods in Social Research | SOC2MTB/SOC3MTB |
| Subject title | Subject code | |
|---|---|---|
| Second or third year subjects (20 credit points) | ||
| Applied Anthropology | ANT2APA/ANT3APA | |
| Community Studies | SOC2CMS/SOC3CMS | |
| Ethnicity and Identity: social and political approaches | SOC2EAI/SOC3EAI | |
| Childhood, Youth and Culture | ANT2CAC/ANT3CAC | |
| Displacement, Development, Disadvantage: study tour | ANT2DDD/ANT3DDD | |
Honours
The course comprises a core subject, an Elective or internships, a second-semester research seminar and a research thesis. The length of the honours thesis is between 12,000 and 15,000 words. Research for the thesis extends through the honours year and is undertaken with the guidance of a supervisor. The program welcomes enquiries about the structure of the course, the Elective subjects available, the internship program, and other aspects of the honours course.
Entry into the honours year is by application at the end of the student’s third year of study. Students considered for admission will normally have at least a B average in subjects of sociology or anthropology (the honours program is run jointly by anthropology and sociology) up to 130 credit points. These subjects will include each of the core subjects. Prospective honours students are encouraged to take additional anthropology subjects to this minimum requirement.