Faculty of Arts

Table of Contents

1. Prerequisites
2. Requirements for a major
3. Honours entry
4. Honours requirements
5. Further study
6. Career opportunities
7. For more information
Subject Lists
    First year subjects
    Second/third year subjects
    Fourth year subjects
    Subjects not offered in 2002
        Second/third year subjects not offered in 2002
        Fourth year subjects not offered in 2002


Anthropology is strategically located within the School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental studies (SAGES) to offer students the opportunity to pursue interdisciplinary studies in these areas while attaining an essential grounding in the discipline of anthropology. Staff in the SAGES are actively engaged in research and consulting projects throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Anthropology is the study of the structures, histories, beliefs and practices that characterise diverse societies and cultures throughout the world. Research draws on interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives to assess empirical data and to provide critical analyses of cultural perceptions. Students are able to take subjects that focus on specific communities in the Asia-Pacific region and may select from a diverse range of topics covering areas of interest such as kinship, gender, nationalism, myth and ritual, ethnicity, and the economic, environmental and social impact of development. Comparative approaches ensure that students are presented with anthropological perspectives on contemporary issues and problems relevant to future careers in both the public and private sectors.

Graduates of anthropology will bring an understanding of and sensitivity to cultural difference to their professional careers, whether as anthropologists working in the field, academia, or government and non-government organisations. Students interested in expanding their knowledge in anthropology are provided with an articulated structure of higher degree study options at the University of Melbourne.

1. Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for first year anthropology subjects.

Second/third year anthropology subjects are available to any student who has completed at least 50 points of first year studies.

2. Requirements for a major

A major in anthropology usually consists of nine 12.5 point subjects, totalling 112.5 points. It comprises:

3. Honours entry

The prerequisites for entry to fourth year honours in anthropology are:

Entry to honours must be approved by the anthropology honours coordinator and the Faculty of Arts honours course adviser.

For details of entry procedures and timetable for submission of applications, students should contact the anthropology honours coordinator.

4. Honours requirements

Pure honours
 Students undertaking pure honours in anthropology must complete
 thesis 15 000 words (50 points)
 four subjects (4 x 12.5 points):
 121-536 Anthropology Thesis
 or
 121-535 Anthropology Thesis (MYE)
 and three compulsory subjects
 121-409 Philosophy and Scope of Anthropology
 121-445 Reading Anthropology
 121-503 Research Methods and Design
 and one of the following optional subjects:
 121-475 Problems in Ethnological Theory
 121-493 Contemporary Anthropological Theory
 121-446 Explanation and Understanding
 121-491 Directed Study in Anthropology
 Students wishing to take an elective subject other than those listed above should consult the fourth year coordinator.
Combined honours
 Students intending to undertake combined honours in anthropology and another area of study should consult the anthropology honours coordinator about structuring their course.
Thesis in the combining department:
 Thesis (37.5 points)
 Coursework from combining department (25 points)
 121-409 Philosophy and Scope of Anthropology
 and two electives from the following:
 121-446 Explanation and Understanding
 121-475 Problems in Ethnological Theory
 121-491 Directed Study in Anthropology
 121-493 Contemporary Anthropological Theory
 121-503 Research Methods and Design
 Students wishing to take an elective subject other than those listed above should consult the fourth year honours coordinator
Thesis in anthropology:
 121-536 Anthropology Thesis
 or
 121-535 Anthropology Thesis (MYE)
 and the following subject in anthropology
 121-409 Philosophy and Scope of Anthropology
 Coursework from the combining department (37.5 points)

5. Further study

A BA with honours in anthropology can lead to MA and PhD degrees.

6. Career opportunities

Graduates in anthropology should develop an appreciation of the richness and complexity of the societies and cultures that make up our world, and the analytical skills to make sense of them. Some graduates may pursue careers as professional anthropologists, either within an academic institution or employed in government or non-government bodies concerned, for example, with overseas aid and development. Other graduates will continually draw on their anthropological studies as teachers, writers, journalists, administrators, and within the increasing array of professions and positions in both government and private enterprise that require an understanding of and sensitivity to cultural difference.

7. For more information

Dr Mary Patterson, Undergraduate Coordinator
School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: +61 3 8344 6339/7572
Fax: +61 3 8344 4972
Email: marycp@unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.anthropology.unimelb.edu.au

First year subjects

121-051 Social Order and Social Change
121-052 Varieties of Human Experience

Second/third year subjects

121-054 Applied Medical Anthropology
121-055 Keeping the Body in Mind
121-056 The Human Cosmos
121-058 Sentiments and Structures
121-062 Sorcery and the Anthropology of Evil
121-065 Working with Value
121-068 Redefining Nature
121-069 Evolution of Consciousness

Fourth year subjects

121-536 Anthropology Thesis
121-535 Anthropology Thesis (MYE)
121-409 Philosophy and Scope of Anthropology
121-445 Reading Anthropology
121-475 Problems in Ethnological Theory
121-491 Directed Study in Anthropology

Subjects not offered in 2002

Second/third year subjects not offered in 2002

121-057 Ethnic Nationalism and the Modern World
121-060 Power, Ideology and Inequality
121-061 Applied Medical Anthropology
121-063 Culture Change and Protest Movements
121-064 Evolutionary Psychology
121-066 Sexing the Self
121-067 Cooperation and Conflict

Fourth year subjects not offered in 2002

121-446 Explanation and Understanding
121-492 Advanced Topics in Applied Anthropology
121-493 Contemporary Anthropological Theory



Status:                   Official 2002
Last Modified:            Tuesday May 07 22:10
SGML to HTML Conversion:  Information Technology Services
Authorised by:            Academic Registrar
Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au

Valid CSS! Valid XHTML 1.0!