Module Descriptions for Anthropology

Introduction to Biological Anthropology
A basic module that examines key issues in understanding humans and other primates within the context of biological evolution. It builds an awareness of evolutionary principles and considers the similarities and contrasts between humans and other primates and their significance for human adaptive success.

Introduction to Prehistoric Archaeology
Introduces students to the science of studying the human past. We will review the variety of tools used by researchers to analyse archaeological remains including fossil evidence, artefacts, ecofacts and features.

Introduction to Social Anthropology
An introduction to the history and practice of social anthropology as a basis for more advanced study in the field, providing an overview of the key theoretical approaches and concepts created by anthropologists over the last 30 years.

Introduction to Japanese Society and Culture
An introduction to the study of modern Japanese society and culture, primarily from an anthropological perspective, but also incorporating overviews of Japan’s history and religions. Topics covered include the cultural basis of Japanese patterns of behaviour; marriage, family and kinship; work and employment; and popular culture.

In addition you may choose any available Year 1 modules. Some modules that combine well with Anthropology include:

Introduction to Human Geography
Outlines geographical perspectives on the complex interrelationship between people and the environments in which they live and work. The course explores geographical ideas about human-environment relationships, identifying key concepts such as sustainability and carbon footprints, and the mediating role of culture in geographical relations.

Introduction to Environmental Geography
Examines the origins and development of the discipline of physical geography, and then focuses on the broad themes of environmental processes, environmental change and environmental management. The module concludes with an examination of recent and future developments of the discipline, with an emphasis on concepts such as the Gaia theory.

Contemporary Issues in World Politics
Provides an introduction to the field of international relations by examining some of the key issues in contemporary world politics.

Introduction to International Relations
Gives a broad overview of the discipline of international relations, engaging with the scope of study, key theories and concepts, and grounds these in a historical overview of the international system since 1945. Key historical themes are highlighted to demonstrate changes in the patterns and conduct of world politics.

Environmental Sustainability
Introduces students to the concept of sustainable development, and examines how issues of sustainability affect the UK's built and natural environment through arrangements for infrastructure and resource use.

Understanding Society 1: Differences and Divisions
An introduction to sociology and the different ways in which sociological analysis makes sense of the social world. Key concepts and approaches in sociology will be introduced through a focus on the relationship between individuals, groups and social institutions. Students are encouraged to develop an awareness of the social world through an appreciation of social context, the nature of social processes and of diversity and inequality.

Anthropology of Art
A study of anthropological approaches to art, especially art produced by non-Western small-scale societies. The module investigates the possibility of cross-cultural aesthetics, the anthropology of museums, and the anthropological dimensions of contemporary art worlds globally.

Anthropology of Ritual
Ritual is often considered as exotic and as primarily related to religion. However, the anthropological approach requires that ritual be situated not only in religious but also in secular contexts, including for instance: politics and power relations, the construction of social identities and the reproduction and invention of 'tradition'.

European Societies
The module shows the relevance of an anthropological approach to the study of European societies. It starts with the investigation of classic anthropological concepts at predominantly village or urban neighbourhood level. It then broadens out into wider more contemporary issues such as identity, nationalism, racism, the uses of history and ceremonial, tourism and the EU.

South Asian Ethnography
An exploration of social organisation and cultural values and beliefs in South Asian societies with particular reference to India and Nepal.

Work and the Japanese
Looks at the significance of work and the company in the lives of people working in Japan or in Japanese companies located elsewhere. Students will learn about company organisation, industrial relations and the nature of employment in both large and medium-small sized enterprises.

Personhood, Gender and the Body in Contemporary Japan
This module introduces anthropological perspectives on personhood, gender and the body and examines these with reference to ethnographic material from Japan.

Humans and Other Primates
Explores the similarities and differences between humans and other primates using a broad comparative approach to examine structure, physiology, molecular biology and evolutionary history. The hallmarks of humanity emerge against a background of detailed knowledge of other species to help trace our history of inheritance and to explore the reasons for our unique specialisations.

Primate Societies
There are some 400 species of primates other than humans, and this module explores the diversity of their social behaviour as a background for a better understanding of our own. This module uses a broad comparative approach to identify patterns of communication and social interaction among primates in relation to ecology, energetics, phylogeny, demography and tradition.

Human Ecology
Introduces students to the study of human ecology, a core part of Biological Anthropology. Three main areas of human ecology are covered: resources, nutrition and disease.

Human Resource Ecology
This module examines human resource ecology from an anthropological perspective with particular reference to Africa and south-east Asia. People’s interaction with the ‘natural’ environment, their modes of subsistence and use of natural resources are discussed within biological and social contexts.

Research Methods in Social Anthropology
A practical module involving reading about methods used in social anthropology, but also considerable independent study in investigating appropriate methods for the student's own dissertation or other project.

Social Anthropology Theory
The emergence of social and cultural anthropology as a separate discipline is examined by reference to key works of leading contributors to the development of anthropological theory.

Human Evolutionary Biology and Geography
Considers the relationship between the various biological stages in human evolution, changes in society and behaviour as interpreted from the material record. Special emphasis will be given to developing an understanding of the role played by the palaeoenvironmental and palaeogeographical context of human evolution and behavioural change.

Methods and Analysis in Biological Anthropology
Introduces the methods and analysis used across several fields of biological anthropology. In addition to learning the main concepts of the scientific method and hypothesis testing, students will be introduced to the basic methods of several biological anthropological sub-disciplines including: morphometric analyses (including human diversity, forensics, and skeletal analyses), behavioural observation techniques, population genetics, and evolutionary systematics. Analytical techniques will be introduced in ultimate preparation for the dissertation.

Geoarchaeology
Geoarchaeology uses analytical techniques, concepts and field methodologies from the earth sciences to understand the archaeological record.

Conservation and Heritage Management
Examines the evolution of heritage landscapes and their conservation and management through a study of the physical and human processes that have impacted upon them. This module is supported by a choice of field trips.

Cultural Geographies of Nature in Britain and North America
This module in cultural and historical geography focuses on the social and cultural significance of ‘nature’ in an Anglo-American context. We examine socio-cultural theories and in-depth case studies across a range of topics from gardens and allotments to animals and genes.

In addition single honours students may choose two from the following modules:

Development and Social Change
Why are some countries rich and others poor? Does development help or hinder growth? This module examines geographical approaches to international development. Typical issues covered include: history of development; political geography, colonialism and theories of development; development and international financial institutions; poverty, famine, and hunger; social development and participatory and community-based approaches, and development as capacity building.

Culture and Global Changes
Unravels the complexities of the terms global/ local, culture and change/development, and examines their dynamic inter-relationships through a range of critical perspectives. The multiplicity of meanings is unpacked through studies of global culture, as representation, discourse, product, action and explanation.

Political Communications in the Global Age
Provides an understanding of the changing nature of political communications and of the relationships between communications and the national, international and global systems.

Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Psychology
Examines the relevance of cross-cultural material to key topics in psychology including emotion, socialization, the self, the development of cognitive skills, the relationship between language and thought, and intercultural communication.

Gender and Society
Provides an opportunity to put gender at the centre of social analysis. An understanding of the social processes that shape women's and men's lives in contemporary societies will be developed by exploring a range of theoretical approaches.

Race, Ethnicity and Exclusion
Explores questions of ‘racial’ and ethnic identity and the way in which ethnic origin shapes the experiences of ethnic minorities in the UK in a variety of different spheres including employment, education and the criminal justice system.

Global Sociology
Examines the origins, nature and consequences of global social change. The tensions between the global and the local will be examined as they relate to economic, political and cultural processes in contemporary societies. Competing explanations of the impact and significance of global change will be explored.

Applied Anthropology
Students will be strongly encouraged to extend their knowledge and understanding of anthropological concerns and debates to consider how and when anthropology can make a significant contribution to a variety of different areas. The module will demonstrate to students the wide range of possible future careers open to anthropology graduates.

Minorities and Marginality: Class and Conflict in Japan
Examines the historical and contemporary experiences and identities of various minority and marginal groups in Japan. It theorises the reproduction of marginality in society generally and compares ethnographically the experience of marginality in Japanese society with other societies.

Human Osteology
This module is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the analysis of human bones from archaeological sites, exploring theoretical and practical issues through a combination of lecture and laboratory-based sessions. Special emphasis will be placed on the study of palaeopathology and its use in studying populations within a comparative framework.

Dawn of Civilisation in the Fertile Crescent
For 3 million years, early humans were nomadic hunter-gatherers whose prosperity was wholly dependant upon the ebb and flow of the climate. Then, around 10,000 years ago, there was a behavioural revolution that set into motion a series of exponential changes in human technology, subsistence, and organisation. This avalanche of development began in the region known as the Fertile Crescent, which includes the eastern Mediterranean, northern Arabia, and Mesopotamia. This module spans human history from 10,000 until 1,000 BC. We will review archaeological data, geography, the environmental record and mythology from the world’s first civilizations to understand how, where, why, and when they arose.

Advanced Topics in Social Anthropology
Examines a range of recent critical debates and developments in anthropological theory.

Hunter Gatherer Ecology
Focuses exclusively on hunter-gatherers. It will provide an introduction to the study of interactions between foraging peoples and their physical and social environment with a focus on the behavioural ecology of recent hunter-gatherers. Topics considered include changing perceptions of foraging peoples, dietary breadth and choice, group size and organisation of labour, and environmental conditions and resources.

People and Other Animals
Humans and other animals have a long history of interacting with each other. In this module we examine some of the complexities and contradictions evident in people-animal relationships through topics such as animals as food, companion animals and animals as ‘nature’.

Cognitive Evolution
Explores the evolution of human intelligence, charting and evaulating the evidence for the development of key cognitive traits such as language, culture, tool use and symbolism. Grounded in the study of the fossil and archaelogical records, the module adopts a multidisciplinary approach drawing on evolutionary psychology, cognitive science, philosophy, linguistics and primatology.

Anthropology Independent Study
Offers students a flexible opportunity to explore an anthropological topic. Outputs can vary considerably and could include one or more of: an essay, annotated bibliography, ethnographic fieldwork journal, video/film or a long report.

Anthropology Dissertation
An opportunity for students to explore one topic in order to produce a dissertation demonstrating independent study at an advanced level.