Anthropology with Foundation Year

This module is designed to support students with the transition to university, the development of the academic skills and attributes necessary for successful future study and the foundations of a developing sense of vocation. Through a carefully structured and scaffolded series of seminars and workshops, students will be supported in building their self-awareness of, and confidence in, themselves as active learners. Delivered in the context of their subject area and aligned with the development of academic skills and attributes required across all Foundation Year modules, workshops will focus on academic skills such as referencing, selecting and using valid academic resources, reading/researching for academic purposes, using feedback constructively and gaining confidence in contributing to discussions and debates. Coordinated assessment points across the Foundation Year experience enables this module to provide students with ongoing support and opportunities to practice and develop their skills and confidence with a range of written and oral assessment types relevant to their subject area as they progress through the year.

This module introduces students to invaluable meanings and understandings that are gained from being at university and participating in wider intellectual discussions and debates. Within the context of each Discipline foundation year, students are introduced to a range of thinkers and questions that have important in various ways across the discipline. Designed to further encourage the foundations of intellectual curiosity and critical thinking within and beyond their own subject, students will come to understand that inter and cross disciplinarity has an essential role to play in the academy and to their own intellectual progression.

The past can be studied from numerous perspectives and in a variety of ways. This module introduces students to how historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and classicists have studied past societies and cultures across the globe. This is achieved by looking at the specific themes of conflict, culture, social relations and beliefs in various parts of the world from prehistoric times until the late twentieth century. We will also consider how current societies remember and examine the past and what it says about the contemporary world.

This module introduces students to the discipline of social anthropology and provides an overview of the main research methods and approaches that make social anthropology distinctive. Key themes in the study of cultures and societies from a social anthropological perspective will be explored, with a focus on ethnographic research.

This module introduces students to the discipline of biological anthropology and provides an overview of the key principles and approaches to the study of humans from a biological and evolutionary perspective. There will be a focus on primate and human evolution, with discussion of key fossil finds.

This module explores the history of anthropology from its origins to the present day, with a focus on key debates and controversies in its development. It also investigates key themes from the perspectives of biological anthropology, social anthropology, and archaeology in order to compare and contrast these approaches to the study of humanity.

An exploration of the archaeological evidence for ancient societies and civilizations from earliest prehistory through to the contemporary period. 

This module considers key theoretical approaches in archaeology, anthropology and in the humanities and social sciences more generally. It also provides training in anthropological research methods and encourages students to apply both theoretical and methodological approaches to their own research interests.

This module explores identity categories such as gender, sexualities, race, ethnicity, language, age and disability from both a biological and social point of view. It will evaluate theories related to the evolution of human behaviour, and include discussion of how identity categories are constructed and contested in relation to specific cultures or geographic areas.

This module investigates art and visual culture from an archaeological and anthropological perspective to explore Western and non-Western approaches to art in the present and the past. It includes a focus on the role of museums in the production of knowledge about global art worlds, and provides practical experience in researching and writing about cultural objects.

Students may pick one of the following. 

AC Death, Burials and Bioarchaeology - 30 credits
This module examines a range of approaches, methods and themes within archaeology and anthropology relating to the study of death, burial and funerary customs in the past. The module will also have a practical component which will introduce students to working with human remains from archaeological sites to gain an understanding of how bioarchaeologists determine age-at-death, biological sex, and evidence for pathology from skeletal remains.

Global Religions: Spaces and Places - 30 credits
This module explores a range of global religions and spiritual traditions in their home locations and in diaspora, unpacking key concepts and considering understandings of religions in a global world where sacred material culture can be found in non-religious settings such as museums and shops.

All humanities subjects are grounded in theory. These bodies of theory may or may not be explicitly stated, but you use them, whether you are aware of them or not. It is easiest to think of theory as the set of tools that you can use to ‘fix’ or understand a problem. This module considers contemporary theory in archaeology, social anthropology and biological anthropology, drawing on areas of social and cultural theory that have been relevant to archaeologists and anthropologists. You will be encouraged to read and discuss a range of key historical texts and case studies will be used to demonstrate how the theories have been applied in recent archaeological or anthropological research. In this way, you will be able to understand the appropriateness of theories which may be relevant to your research interests and to gain a wider appreciation of how we think through problems and issues.

This module considers key theoretical approaches in archaeology, anthropology and in the humanities and social sciences more generally. It also provides training in anthropological research methods and encourages students to apply both theoretical and methodological approaches to their own research interests.

This module explores identity categories such as gender, sexualities, race, ethnicity, language, age and disability from both a biological and social point of view. It will evaluate theories related to the evolution of human behaviour, and include discussion of how identity categories are constructed and contested in relation to specific cultures or geographic areas.

This module investigates art and visual culture from an archaeological and anthropological perspective to explore Western and non-Western approaches to art in the present and the past. It includes a focus on the role of museums in the production of knowledge about global art worlds, and provides practical experience in researching and writing about cultural objects.

Students may pick one of the following. 

AC Death, Burials and Bioarchaeology - 30 credits
This module examines a range of approaches, methods and themes within archaeology and anthropology relating to the study of death, burial and funerary customs in the past. The module will also have a practical component which will introduce students to working with human remains from archaeological sites to gain an understanding of how bioarchaeologists determine age-at-death, biological sex, and evidence for pathology from skeletal remains.

Global Religions: Spaces and Places - 30 credits
This module explores a range of global religions and spiritual traditions in their home locations and in diaspora, unpacking key concepts and considering understandings of religions in a global world where sacred material culture can be found in non-religious settings such as museums and shops.

All humanities subjects are grounded in theory. These bodies of theory may or may not be explicitly stated, but you use them, whether you are aware of them or not. It is easiest to think of theory as the set of tools that you can use to ‘fix’ or understand a problem. This module considers contemporary theory in archaeology, social anthropology and biological anthropology, drawing on areas of social and cultural theory that have been relevant to archaeologists and anthropologists. You will be encouraged to read and discuss a range of key historical texts and case studies will be used to demonstrate how the theories have been applied in recent archaeological or anthropological research. In this way, you will be able to understand the appropriateness of theories which may be relevant to your research interests and to gain a wider appreciation of how we think through problems and issues.

Students choose one of two tracks for this final-year module: 1. A 10,000 word dissertation on a topic or theme in social or biological anthropology developed through independent research under the supervision of a member of staff; or 2. a project based alternative involving a period of prolonged practical experience of working within an external organisation.

This module will focus on the importance of migration and movement throughout human evolution from both biological and social perspectives. From the first hominins to move out of Africa we will explore the archaeological evidence for the migration of past populations as well as gain a systematic understanding of migration and transnationalism as key issues in contemporary society and for the study of social anthropology.

This module will explore the public communication of anthropological topics in a variety of media including, for example, newspapers, research blogs or television programmes. It will also explore the diversity of interpretation that can be applied to archaeological data from different perspectives and using different types of evidence. Throughout the module students will be encouraged to critically analyse the interpretations provided for anthropological and archaeological data in a variety of forms.

Students can pick one of the following.

Rites, Religions and Rituals - 30 credits
This module examines the ranges of approaches, methods and themes relating to the study of religion, ritual and belief in past societies.

Alternative Spiritualities: New and Indigenous Religions - 30 credits
This module introduces students to a range of indigenous spiritual lifeways and to the study of new religions, encouraging them to critically consider, through the anthropological and sociological study of religions, how the study of religions and religious people has developed over time, and consider the historical events that have helped shaped the discipline.

Themes in European Prehistory - 30 credits
This module discusses a series of major areas for debate in European prehistory, from the Palaeolithic to the Iron Age, such as the emergence of modern humans, the impact of climate change, the development of social elites, the appearance of states and civilisations, and periods of greater and lesser cultural similarity across the continent.

Students choose one of two tracks for this final-year module: 1. A 10,000 word dissertation on a topic or theme in social or biological anthropology developed through independent research under the supervision of a member of staff; or 2. a project based alternative involving a period of prolonged practical experience of working within an external organisation.

This module will focus on the importance of migration and movement throughout human evolution from both biological and social perspectives. From the first hominins to move out of Africa we will explore the archaeological evidence for the migration of past populations as well as gain a systematic understanding of migration and transnationalism as key issues in contemporary society and for the study of social anthropology.

This module will explore the public communication of anthropological topics in a variety of media including, for example, newspapers, research blogs or television programmes. It will also explore the diversity of interpretation that can be applied to archaeological data from different perspectives and using different types of evidence. Throughout the module students will be encouraged to critically analyse the interpretations provided for anthropological and archaeological data in a variety of forms.

Students can pick one of the following.

Rites, Religions and Rituals - 30 credits
This module examines the ranges of approaches, methods and themes relating to the study of religion, ritual and belief in past societies.

Alternative Spiritualities: New and Indigenous Religions - 30 credits
This module introduces students to a range of indigenous spiritual lifeways and to the study of new religions, encouraging them to critically consider, through the anthropological and sociological study of religions, how the study of religions and religious people has developed over time, and consider the historical events that have helped shaped the discipline.

Themes in European Prehistory - 30 credits
This module discusses a series of major areas for debate in European prehistory, from the Palaeolithic to the Iron Age, such as the emergence of modern humans, the impact of climate change, the development of social elites, the appearance of states and civilisations, and periods of greater and lesser cultural similarity across the continent.