The Biological Anthropology programme guarantees a progressive development of your knowledge and skills. This is achieved primarily through the use of compulsory and prerequisite modules.
The course is broadly structured around three themes: Human Origins and Archaeology; Primate Evolution, Behaviour and Conservation; Human-Environment Interactions.
In the first year you’ll gain an understanding of the key concepts of both the Biological and Social Anthropology via four compulsory introductory modules. This integration will allow you to grow essential disciplinary knowledge and skills for advanced and honours modules in the following two years.
Year 1
Compulsory modules:
- Introduction to Social Anthropology
- Deep History
- Introduction to Biological Anthropology
- Introduction to Environmental Geography
Recommended modules:
- Foundation of Biological Psychology
- Biodiversity
You will also enrol on one or more of our ‘top-up’ modules, Foundations of Cognitive Psychology, plus modules of your choice, from the range of modules available across the university.
Year 2 and 3
In Year 2 you must take one 'compulsory' module, Methods and Analysis in Biological Anthropology. Students must also take at least one ‘alternative compulsory' module between:
- Human Evolutionary Biology and Geography
- Primate Adaptation and Evolution
- Human Ecology
This is complemented by a range of modules from within biological anthropology and a selection of modules taught in social anthropology, geography, animal biology, environmental sciences, and psychology which relate closely to themes addressed in biological anthropology.
In year 3 you will take a total of at least 6 honours modules including your own research project for the compulsory Biological Anthropology Dissertation, building on the skills developed during the previous two years.
Module options include:
- Environmental Anthropology
- Human Osteology
- Geoarchaeology
- Becoming Independent Researchers
- Primate Societies
- Anthropology in Action
- Current Trends in Biological Anthropology
- Cross-cultural Psychology
- Environmental Decision Making
- Animal Behaviour
- Anthropology of Relatedness and Personhood
- Gender, and the Body in Contemporary Japan
- Cognitive Evolution
- Dawn of Civilisations
- Primate Conservation
- Molecular Anthropology
- People and Other Animals
- Culture and Care
- Biological Anthropology Dissertation
- Independent Study modules
Study modules
As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here.
Year 1
The course is broadly structured around three themes: Human Origins and Archaeology; Primate Evolution, Behaviour and Conservation; Human-Environment Interactions.
Compulsory modules:
Introduction to Social Anthropology
This module introduces students to the various ways in which anthropologists study humans as social beings. Key concepts and approaches in Social Anthropology are explained and students are also introduced to ethnographic material from a wide range of contexts.
Deep History
This module provides an introduction to the prehistoric past and examines core themes in archaeology and also in human evolution. The module also includes practical work which prepares the students for modules taken in subsequent years.
Introduction to Biological Anthropology
This module examines key issues in understanding humans and non-human primates within the context of biological evolution. Biosocial aspects of human variation and human ecology are also considered.
Introduction to Environmental Geography
This module introduces selected themes in environmental and physical geography, using climate change as a context. The module incorporates themes such as environmental processes and environmental management to build on the key concepts of the interaction of humans with their environment.
Recommended modules:
Biodiversity
This module looks at the classification of the living world, the theory of evolution that links all biology and interactions between organisms and their environment. The module concentrates on major structures and patterns in plants, animals and fungi.
Foundations of Biological Psychology
This module will introduce the student to the fundamental concepts and findings of Biological Psychology. It draws on a variety of ideas from Neurophysiology, Psychopharmacology, Neuroanatomy and Perception in relation to human behaviour.
Top up module:
Foundation of Cognitive Psychology
This module provides an introduction to some key areas in cognitive psychology. Topics include research methods, learning, thinking and problem solving, memory, perception and language, consciousness and intelligence.
Years 2 and 3
Compulsory Modules:
Methods and Analysis in Biological Anthropology
In this module you will be introduced to the methods and analysis used across several fields of biological anthropology, with a focus on evolutionary biology, cladistics, human evolution, primatology, evolutionary psychology and osteology.
Alternative compulsory modules (students must take at least one of these)
Human Evolutionary Biology and Geography
This module explores the development of human evolution from the biological, geographical and archaeological contexts. This module will consider the relationship between the various biological stages in human evolution, changes in society and behaviour as interpreted from the material record.
Primate Adaptation and Evolution
This module explores the similarities and differences between humans and other primates using a comparative approach to examine structure, physiology, and evolutionary history. We will study the emergence, history and modern diversity of humanity and our closest living relatives.
Human Ecology
The module covers 2 main areas in the study of interactions between humans and their biological and social environments: nutrition and disease. The focus throughout the module is to promote an understanding of humans in their ecological and evolutionary context.
Environmental Anthropology
This module takes a biosocial approach to understanding how humans inter-relate with their physical and biotic environment and the implications for human populations past, present and future.
Acceptable modules:
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.
Geoarchaeology
This module will focus on the identification of sediments and soils, depositional environments, and dating techniques. Ancient human environmental impacts on the landscape will be explored along with the effects of climatic events on human societies in the archaeological record.
Primate Societies
There are more than 600 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.
Becoming Independent Researchers
The module will develop your awareness of the research activities of the biological anthropology staff and postgraduates and provide opportunities for students to engage with ongoing research within the department.
Anthropology in Action
This module provides students with an opportunity to explore some of the many practical applications of anthropology. The primary function of this module is to encourage and facilitate student engagement with anthropology and appreciation of its practical applications.
Current Trends in Biological Anthropology
This module is designed for delivery of occasional modules offered by visiting lecturers or by Biological Anthropology Staff for trial runs of new modules.
Alternative Acceptable modules (students may take not more than 2 of these as part of their programme)
Cross-cultural Perspectives in Psychology
The module examines the relevance of cross-cultural material to key topics in psychology including emotion, socialisation, the self, the development of cognitive skills, the relationship between language and thought, and intercultural communication.
Environmental Decision Making
This module examines some of the theories that can be used to explain the way environmental decisions are made from the perspective of individuals, organisations and institutions.
Animal Behaviour
An advanced study of the physiological, morphological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying behavioural traits and their variation in animals. The module emphasises the importance of observation and experimentation to our understanding of behaviour.
Anthropology of Relatedness and Personhood
This module introduces students to the anthropology of relatedness to explore the broader economic and political forces that shape relationships within households and family networks. We will consider the different ways in which societies conceptualise, organise and negotiate social relations.
Gender, and the Body in Contemporary Japan
This module introduces anthropological perspectives on personhood, gender, and the body, and will examine these with reference to ethnographic material from Japan. This will also include a discussion of some issues relating to medical anthropology.
Level 6 Honours modules (you must take a minimum of 6 credits, including the dissertation, which is a compulsory double module).
Cognitive Evolution
The module will explore the nature of human intelligence, charting and evaluating the evidence for the development of key cognitive traits such as language, culture, tool use and symbolism. We will also assess the cognitive abilities of other animal species.
Dawn of Civilisations
This module will provide an understanding of the relationships between climate, landscape and society in Southwest Asia between 20,000 and 5,000 years ago.
Primate Conservation
In this module, we cover the major challenges facing primates and develop strategies to help conserve our closest relatives. You will gain in an understanding of how species gain their threat status, and how national and international legislation protects them.
Molecular Anthropology
This course covers population genetics, phylogenetics and molecular evolution. It is designed to give you a comprehensive overview of what genetics is about and how these techniques can be applied in an anthropological context.
People and Other Animals
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’.
Culture and Care
The module gives you an overview of the evolutionary and ecological basis of care, the neuropsychological supports for caring, cultural diversity of care practices, as well as the care of non-human living things and the planet.
Biological Anthropology Dissertation
Each student will chose a subject for study in consultation with members of staff from biological anthropology. The research undertaken should draw on concepts, background literature and research methods from the Field of biological anthropology.
Anthropology Independent Study
Each study must be conducted under the supervision of a specially appointed tutor, within the field of social or biological anthropology. The topic chosen must be amenable to anthropological research.
Field trips
There is an optional visit of the Apenheul Primate Sanctuary in Apendhorn, Holland. This is an optional trip offered to students on the modules Primate Adaptation and Evolution and Primate Societies.
This trip is optional and therefore not included within the course fees. You will be responsible for your own accommodation, transport and living costs. Please bear in mind that costs can vary depending on the GBP-Euro exchange rate. On average, the cost for this trip runs at £160 including transport, two nights bed and breakfast, and two days entry to the primate park.
Study abroad
Anthropology students can benefit greatly from time spent living in a culture that is different from their own, and studying abroad is a popular option.
You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes - we have more than 100 partner universities around the world! Most exchanges take place in the second year.
Studying abroad provides an amazing opportunity to add value to your studies by:
- increasing your employability within an international market
- boosting your language skills
- building your confidence in adapting to new situations
- improving your knowledge of different cultures.
- While on exchange you will gain credits which count towards your degree.
Tuition fees are paid as they would be if you remained in the UK, either to Oxford Brookes via your Student Loan or directly to Oxford Brookes according to your preference.
You will be responsible for all other costs such as accommodation, purchasing your airfares, travel and health insurance and visas. Funding is available through the Erasmus scheme, and also via some international programmes such as the Santander Student Awards.
For more information, visit our pages on studying abroad and exchanges.
Free language courses for students - the Open Module
Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Please note that the free language courses are not available if you are:
- studying at a Brookes partner college
- studying on any of our teacher education courses or postgraduate education courses.
Additional costs
We do not expect students to purchase any compulsory course books, as they are all available in the library. If students wish to purchase additional books to supplement their reading, this is at their own discretion.
Programme changes
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published
on the website. For more information, please visit our
Changes to programmes
page.