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Social Anthropology
What is Social Anthropology? What does the degree involve?
In the first year students do the equivalent of three courses, including the two half-courses Social Anthropology 1A and 1B. They select two other courses in consultation with their Personal Tutor from the wide range available in social sciences (e.g. politics, social policy, sociology, geography, psychology), the humanities (various history courses, languages, philosophy etc.), religious studies, music and law. Second year students do Social Anthropology 2; Ethnography: Theory and Practice; and, in common with all other students in the School of Social and Political Science, the half-courses Social and Political Enquiry 2 and Social and Political Theory 2 (which both cover anthropological issues, among others). They also chose a further outside course usually a continuation of another first year subject (e.g. Psychology 2), although there are courses available only at second year level (e.g. South Asian Studies 2, Technology and Society 2), which can be substituted. In first and second year there are also short fundamentals courses providing students with various learning skills for social anthropologists: Studying Anthropology and Reading & Writing Anthropology in the first year and Anthropological Practice and Ethnographic Theory in the second year. In the third and fourth years (Junior and Senior Honours) students concentrate on Social Anthropology, or, in the case of those doing combined and with degrees, on Social Anthropology and their other main subject. The single honours curriculum requires students to study ten courses over two years (six in third year and four in fourth year), as well as writing a dissertation in fourth year. The courses include four compulsory core courses in third year: Kinship: Structure & Process; Religion and Ritual; Consumption, Exchange and Technology; and Anthropological Theory. There are also two compulsory core courses in fourth year: Belief, Thought & Language and Culture and Power.
Social anthropology is the comparative study of human conduct and thought in their social contexts. It is normal for human beings to be interested in the diverse opinions and activities of others, around the world and on their own doorsteps. In this respect, anthropologists differ only to the extent that they pursue such interests in disciplined and systematic ways. Societies around the world vary enormously in their social, cultural and political forms, and their individual members display an initially overwhelming diversity of ideas and behaviour. The study of these variations and the common humanity, which underlies them and renders them intelligible to sympathetic outsiders, lies at the heart of social anthropology. Consequently, while the subject matter overlaps to some extent with that of sociology, human geography, and development studies, social anthropology is also closely linked to history and philosophy.
Anthropologists acquire their information through a distinctive method termed participant observation. This means that they spend many months or even years living among the people with whom they are researching, sharing their experiences as far as possible, and hence attempting to gain a well-rounded understanding of that society and of the activities and opinions of its members. Within this broad general framework, individual anthropologists do of course bring their own particular interests and emphases to bear: they may, for example, be interested in local families and domestic processes; in religious ideas and activities; in the production, consumption, and reproduction of cultural knowledge or material wealth; or in the practical problems of health or social development. Many students find this the most rewarding aspect of their degree, and the skills acquired are invaluable assets when they look for employment after graduation. In addition, in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, 25% of our research in Anthropology was rated 4* (world leading), with a further 35% rated 3* (internationally excellent).
A degree in Social Anthropology with Development has offered a diverse and dynamic insight into the cultural construction of different societies and the needs, values and beliefs of different peoples and groups. I was attracted to this course by the wide variety of subjects available and the opportunity for independent ethnographic research. This has not only allowed me to develop skills in qualitative and culturally-sensitive research, but has also inspired me to pursue my interests through further academic study
Rebecca Walker, MA (Hons) Social Anthropology with Development graduate
The remaining courses are chosen from a range of options which vary from year to year. These options include Regional Analysis courses (e.g. on Eastern or Southern Africa, South or Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America). Other options cover a wide range of specific topics including Anthropology of Development; Magic, Science and Healing; Anthropology of Happiness; Anthropology of Landscape; War and Culture; The Invention of History; and Anthropology and Photography. Combined honours and with degree students take fewer core and optional courses in Social Anthropology, filling out their curricula with courses from the other subject areas concerned. Students receive research training during their third year, and are assigned academic supervisors to advise them on conducting their research project and on writing the resulting 15,000-word dissertation, which is submitted during the fourth year. This dissertation forms a substantial part of the final degree assessment.
They are therefore directly equipped to follow a wide range of careers, including work in international development agencies, journalism and the media, museums, multi-cultural education, and applied or academic social research. Many prospective employers are of course interested more in the class of degree obtained, and the intellectual skills acquired, rather than the specific subject studied, and on that basis Social Anthropology graduates have gone on to do many other kinds of work too.
MPhil: This is a research degree undertaken by graduates on any topic within social anthropology, normally over a period of two years (full-time) or between three and five years (part-time). Students produce a thesis which must demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge and understanding of their chosen topic. PhD: This is an advanced research degree. Students carry out original research under appropriate supervision, and the resulting thesis, usually based on fieldwork, is expected to make a significant contribution to knowledge on a clearly defined topic. The normal period of full-time study for the PhD is three years and the maximum is five years; for part-time students the corresponding periods are four years and six years, respectively.
For more detailed information on degree structure and content, please see: www.ed.ac.uk/schoolsdepartments/studentrecruitment/publicationsresources/degreeprogrammes
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336 Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this leaflet at the time of going to press. However, it will not form part of a contract between the University and a student or applicant and must be read in conjunction with the Terms and Conditions of Admission set out in the Undergraduate Prospectus. Printed on recycled paper for Student Recruitment and Admissions www.ed.ac.uk/student-recruitment. PDF version available at: www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/information-sheets