Faculty of Arts
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.
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.
A major in anthropology usually consists of nine 12.5 point subjects, totalling 112.5 points. It comprises:
two first year subjects in anthropology: 121-051 Social Order and Social Change and 121-052 Varieties of Human Experience (25 points) and;
seven second/third year subjects in anthropology (87.5 points), at least three of which must be chosen from the designated core of four listed below:
Core subjects
121-058 Sentiments and Structures
an additional four subjects may be chosen from the following:*
Elective subjects
121-055 Keeping the Body in Mind
121-057 Ethnic Nationalism and the Modern World
121-061 Applied Medical Anthropology
121-062 Sorcery and the Anthropology of Evil
121-063 Culture Change and Protest Movements
121-064 Evolutionary Psychology
121-067 Cooperation and Conflict
121-069 Evolution of Consciousness
*Of the four second/third year non-core subjects, students may include no more than two relevant subjects taught in other departments subject to the prior approval of the undergraduate coordinator in anthropology.
The prerequisites for entry to fourth year honours in anthropology are:
completion of all the requirements for the BA;
completion of a major in anthropology;
an average grade of H2B or higher over the second/third year subjects within the major.
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.
| 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) | |
A BA with honours in anthropology can lead to MA and PhD degrees.
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.
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
121-051 Social Order and Social Change
121-052 Varieties of Human Experience
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
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
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