Anthropology

In this module, you'll be introduced to the major patterns of biodiversity in tropical regions and the biogeographical, ecological and evolutionary processes that shape them. You'll develop your understanding of how climate, geology, landscape structure and historical change influence the distribution, diversity and composition of tropical communities, with particular attention to plants and primates as key components of tropical ecosystems.

You'll be equipped with core research and analytical skills relevant to tropical biogeography and ecology. Through case studies and applied examples, you'll be encouraged to critically engage with contemporary debates surrounding tropical biodiversity conservation, environmental change and human–environment interactions in tropical regions.

You'll be introduced to the anthropological study of material culture and how objects, materials, technologies, digital collections, and built environments shape and are shaped by social life. You'll develop your ability to analyse artefacts, material practices, and material environments across social, biological, and archaeological perspectives. You'll explore how objects mediate relationships, embody histories, express identities, and participate in economic, political, and ritual processes.

You'll get the opportunity to closely engage with artefacts, collections, and material settings, equipping you with the analytical and interpretive skills needed to ‘read’ material evidence. You'll consider ideas about how anthropologists work with things, how materials generate knowledge, why material culture is central to understanding past and present societies, and how material analysis contributes to contemporary concerns including heritage, sustainability, technology, and everyday life.

In this module, you’ll dive into human evolution. You’ll explore how the biological stages of human evolution link to changes in society and behaviour. You’ll gain specialist knowledge of the palaeoenvironmental (environment of a past age) and palaeogeographical (geographical features of a past age) context of human evolution.

You'll look at the development, application and realities of different research methods in the social sciences. You'll equip yourself with the understanding and skills required to analyse research methods, design, processes and research outcomes. You'll study the methods that social scientists use to gather and analyse ‘data’ or evidence, and evaluate and compare these methods. You'll study the ways that research methods are applied in practice, by drawing upon existing examples of research in social sciences.

You'll also learn how to design their own research project, in preparation for your third-year extended project work. In so doing you'll carefully explore what is appropriate and achievable for your undergraduate research project.

In this module you’ll explore theoretical developments in social anthropology. ‘Theory’ may seem opaque and intimidating, but through creative teaching and embodied learning you will gain a strong knowledge of how social theory helps us to understand the world.

From social structures and forms of transformation, to gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and identity, you will consider fascinating debates and approaches.

You will be challenged to explore concepts such as:

• functionalism
• symbolic anthropology
• structuralism
• post-structuralism
• postcolonialism
• marxism.

You will also explore emerging ideas grounded in materiality, embodiment, ontology, critical race theory and decolonising theory.

This module will provide you with the core methodological skills you need to take your research interests in exciting directions. You'll have the support to gain the skills you'll need for your disseration and other work, including:

• planning
• research
• analytical techniques

From ethnographic fieldwork to surveying and data analysis, the module provides a great platform from which to launch into your own projects.

This module links to ‘Anthropology in Action’, where your focus is on the applications of anthropology. This ensures you will be able to take the practice based approaches developed in this module and put them ‘into action’ as you progress.

What are rituals, and why do we perform them? In this module, you’ll explore the key role of rituals in society. You’ll look at various human communities as you consider the origins of ritual, and its different definitions. You’ll gain valuable critical skills as you explore key anthropological concepts, including:

• rites of passage
• liminality
• anti-structure
• communities.

We often stereotype ritual as exotic, and about religion. However, you’ll enrich your perspective as you explore ritual in non-religious contexts. You’ll look at ritual within:

• politics and power relations
• social identities
• social traditions.

On this module, you will build skills that are attractive to employers. You will gain an understanding and awareness of work and your future employability.

You will be supported to participate in work, community and extra curricular settings. You will develop and engage with self-directed learning and structure reflection. Learning from your experience and personal advancement, you will gain insight and direction for possible future professional roles.

The module covers two main areas in the study of interactions between humans and their biological and social environments, past and present.

Throughout the module your focus will be to build a deep understanding of the principles of human ecology, with a particular focus on the relationship between human health and environmental sustainability.

Sea levels are rising; glaciers are melting; Arctic sea ice is thinning and weather events are becoming more extreme. We are in the grip of global warming. But how do these changes compare with the environmental changes that have occurred in the past? What does the past teach us about how natural and human factors may interact to change our climate and environment in the future?

In this module you’ll examine changes to the physical environment throughout the Quaternary: the last 2.6 million years of geological history and time during which humans have evolved and spread across the earth. You’ll examine the causes of climatic and environmental change over different timescales and the complex interactions between human impacts and natural processes, gaining perspective on current environmental and climatic concerns.

This module offers the opportunity to study abroad, experience a new culture, and apply your skills in different contexts to enhance your employability. It will help you develop self-management, cross-cultural communication, and interpersonal skills.

You’ll receive support to secure a place at a partner institution abroad, where you can choose modules related to your degree or explore new areas that complement your studies.

Studying at an international university will help you enhance your interpersonal skills through cross-cultural communication with students and tutors, allowing you to build lasting relationships. You'll also improve your study skills by focusing on your chosen areas of interest, gaining valuable international experience that will strengthen your CV.

This year abroad module lasts for one academic year and is taken after the conclusion of your second year of study, once you’ve completed all your level 5 studies. Your year abroad is not credit-bearing.

You'll embark on the second of three action-orientated experiential modules that form a spine of Supportive Challenge learning opportunities which run throughout the programme of study. You'll be offered the opportunity to draw meaningful, practical experiences to develop personal awareness and self-efficacy while developing your understanding of your chosen subject or profession in the context of the contemporary world and the future world of work.

You'll also be allowed to experience the real-world of the so-called 'wicked problems' which are complex and cannot be addressed by only one subject, discipline or professional context. You'll immerse yourself in interactive projects, enhancing your understanding and aspirations and cultivating deep personal values leading to a greater sense of self-belief, confidence and resilience in your ability to succeed in complex contexts.

This module gives you the chance to do research on a topic that fascinates you. You’ll have the support of expert tutors, and it is an opportunity for you to showcase your passions, expertise and advanced learning in Anthropology.

In this module, you'll develop and utilise your research skills and take a deep dive into topics encountered in other elements of the programme through an extended project. You'll either work on a community project or a research dissertation. If you're studying a joint-honours course, you'll have the opportunity to undertake a discipline-specific project or an interdisciplinary project.

Embark on the third in the set of three action-oriented experiential modules that form a spine of Supportive Challenge learning opportunities which run throughout the programme of study. You'll be provided with the opportunity to draw on meaningful, practical experiences to develop personal awareness and self-efficacy whilst also developing understanding of anthropology in the context of the contemporary world and the future world of work.

Your learning will build upon experiences of the previous two Supportive Challenge modules. You'll be guided in your transition out of university, equipped with a good understanding of anthropology, yourself, how to articulate your motivations, aspirations, strengths and strategies for success, including a personal plan of action which recognises the opportunities that exist in anthropology and how to make a contribution and add value in whatever you choose to do next.

By studying this module, you will develop a detailed understanding of theoretical and ethnographic approaches to culture, capitalism and global transformation.

Your study will focus on ethnographic material that engages with the everyday lives of people and communities from around the world. Through this focus, you will gain insight into the complex relationships between cultural practice and capitalist development, and you will build your understanding of the world around you.

In this module, you’ll explore the changing relationship between anthropology, and international development (the idea that different countries have different levels of development). You’ll gain a strong grounding in international development. You’ll gain key analytical skills as you dive into debates on the relationship between anthropology and development. You’ll explore key issues for anthropologists working in international development, including:

• gender relations
• environmental issues
• health
• youth
• religion.

You’ll compare ideas and practices in international development. You’ll look at approaches to social policy, inequality and well-being in the UK. And you disrupt the lines we draw between North and South, developed and underdeveloped, or advanced and emerging economies and societies.

In this module, you’ll dive into human intelligence and its evolution. You’ll gain fantastic research skills as you evaluate the evidence for the development of cognitive traits such as:

• language
• culture
• tool use
• symbolism.

You’ll uncover fossil and archeological records for evidence of human intelligence and its development. You'll also draw on:

• evolutionary psychology
• cognitive science
• philosophy
• linguistics
• primatology (the study of intelligent mammals).

How did the modern world come to be? The answer to this question lies in an understanding of the relationships between climate, landscape and society in Southwest Asia between 20,000 and 5,000 years ago. At the beginning of this period, during the height of the ice age, human communities existed as nomadic hunter gatherers. But by the end of this time, during the warmer Holocene period, many inhabitants of the region were living in the world’s first cities, engaging in agriculture, long distance trade and warfare.

In this module, you’ll examine the archaeological and palaeoclimatic evidence for these complex transformations. You’ll look at how, when and where they took place, focusing on the role of climate change and landscape on social, technological and economic processes. You’ll develop key skills in evaluating evidence, theories, methods and analytical techniques.

In this module, you’ll analyse human bones from archaeological sites. You’ll get to know the ancient diseases that we can understand through human and animal bones. You’ll gain key practical skills through lab-based sessions and through researching primary material. You’ll also learn how forensic anthropology can help us understand different populations.

As humans, we’ve lived closely with other animals since the dawn of time and we have a long history of interacting with each other. In this module, you’ll examine the complex and contradictory elements in people-animal relations, including:

• animals as food
• companion animals
• animals as nature.

From forest loss to climate change, living primates (including humans) are facing huge threats to their environment and conservation. In this module, you’ll get to know the impact of humans on non-human primates, from hunting for trade to the issues of co-existence. You’ll discover why our non-human primate relatives are at greater risk of extinction now than ever before. You’ll understand the major challenges facing primates, how international legislation protects them, and how we can help the world’s most threatened species.

The Independent Study Module gives you the opportunity to explore a legal topic in greater depth, working closely with an academic whose research interests align with your chosen area. It allows you to investigate issues that go beyond the taught curriculum and develop expertise in a subject that reflects your interests and future ambitions.

You'll build advanced research, analysis and academic writing skills as you engage with legal scholarship, case law and contemporary debates. Students on our named pathways complete their project within their area of specialism, providing an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and showcase their expertise.

Whether you're considering postgraduate study, legal practice or another professional path, the module enables you to pursue an area you're passionate about while developing the independent learning skills valued by employers and researchers alike.

This module is compulsory if studying one of the named pathways.

In this module, you'll delve into anthropological and ethnographic perspectives on crime, incarceration, surveillance, and marginalisation. Through visualisation and ethnographic accounts, you'll discover the reality of criminalised communities and how subtle forms of social control and indignity rob individuals of their rights and autonomy. You'll compare how these issues shape systems worldwide and gain a cross-cultural understanding of how the complexities of history and power affect societies, from Mexico and Brazil to Nepal, Ghana, Britain, and the US.

In this module you'll focus on the diverse dimensions of African life, reflecting on cultures, histories, economies and societies from past to present. You'll explore a range of material to reflect on key topics that have shaped the continent. You'll gain a broad understanding of areas including, but not limited to, history, colonialism, decolonisation, conservation, witchcraft, religion, medicine, art, music, gender, intergenerational tensions, love, consumption and migration.