Anthropology is the study of cultural differences and similarities in a globalised world. As a field of study anthropology is uniquely placed to interpret the widest range of contemporary social phenomena - from migration to religious fundamentalism, online communities and new social movements, contemporary indigenous cultural expression and identity politics, consumption and commodification, and many changing forms of social relationships. The School of Archaeology and Anthropology offers a diverse range of undergraduate courses which cover these themes and more.
The discipline's distinctive methodology—long-term ethnographic fieldwork—provides anthropologists with finely grained and in-depth understandings of complex social phenomena. With a commitment to a comparative and holistic framework, anthropologists' treatment of cultural diversity provides insights into the different ways people comprehend their place in the world and relationships to each other, as well as new ways for us to think about our own relationships and society. It is an ideal foundation for a contemporary liberal-arts degree. Students of non-English languages can find anthropology especially useful.
Learning Outcomes
- demonstrate understanding of the major dimensions of analysis of societies and cultures (e.g., gender, environment, identity, violence, economies and values, state, nation, globalisation);
- analyse and engage the cutting edge of anthropological theories and ethnographic methods, and apply them to key global challenges and events;
- demonstrate understanding of engaged and ethical anthropological research; and
- communicate with and engage specialist and non-specialist audiences in the analysis of socio-cultural issues and processes.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This Anthropology major requires the completion of 48 units, of which:
A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
A minimum of 18 units must come from completion of 3000-level courses
The 48 units must consist of:
18 units from the completion of the following courses:
ANTH1003 - Anthropology: Critical Foundations
ANTH2027 - EthnoLab 1: Anthropological Methods
ANTH3059 - EthnoLab 2: Applied Anthropology
18 units from the completion of the following courses:
ANTH1002 - Culture and Human Diversity: Introducing Anthropology
ANTH2005 - Traditional Australian Indigenous Cultures, Societies and Environment
ANTH2009 - Culture and Development
ANTH2017 - Culture, Social Justice and Aboriginal Society Today
ANTH2020 - Cultures of Innovation: Anthropology of Science and Technology
ANTH2025 - Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective
ANTH2026 - Medicine, Healing and the Body
ANTH2122 - Economic Anthropology: cross-cultural alternatives to capitalism
ANTH2129 - Crossing Borders: Migration, Displacement and Im/mobility
ANTH2130 - Violence and Terror
12 units from the completion of the following advanced courses:
ANIP3003 - Australian National Internships Program A
ANTH3010 - Contemporary Anthropological Theory: Special Topics
ANTH3018- Unfreedoms: Anthropological Explorations of Oppression, Tyranny, and Domination
PASI3005 - Pacific Islands Field School
12 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH1002 | Culture and Human Diversity: Introducing Anthropology | 6 |
| ANTH1003 | Anthropology: Critical Foundations | 6 |
24 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 2004: Spirit Rising | ||
| ANTH2005 | Traditional Australian Indigenous Cultures, Societies and Environment | 6 |
| ANTH 2006: Anth New Guinea Melanes | ||
| ANTH2009 | Culture and Development | 6 |
| ANTH 2010: Anthropology of Art | ||
| ANTH2017 | Culture, Social Justice and Aboriginal Society Today | 6 |
| ANTH2025 | Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective | 6 |
| ANTH2026 | Medicine, Healing and the Body | 6 |
| ANTH 2033: Rels & Soc India | ||
| ANTH 2049: Filming Cultures | ||
| ANTH 2050: Themes in Anthropology I | ||
| ANTH 2051: Themes in AnthropologyII | ||
| ANTH 2056: Belonging Identity & Nat | ||
| ANTH 2057: Culture and Person | ||
| ANTH 2128: Media and Modernity | ||
| ANTH2129 | Crossing Borders: Migration, Displacement and Im/mobility | 6 |
| ANTH2130 | Violence and Terror | 6 |
| ANTH 2132: Food for Thought | ||
| ANTH3010 | Contemporary Anthropological Theory: Special Topics | 6 |
| ANTH 3014: Indonesia Field School | ||
| ANTH 2133: Human-Animal Relationships | ||
| ANTH 2135: Vietnam Field School |
12 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA 3610: Globalising Southeast Asia | ||
| ASIA2516 | Indonesia: Politics, Society and Development | 6 |
| ASIA 2517: Indonesia: Language, Media | ||
| ARCH 2108: Animals, Plants & People | ||
| BIAN3113 | Human Evolution | 6 |
| BIAN2064 | Anthropology of Environmental Disasters | 6 |
| BIAN 2115: 'Race' & Human Genetic Var | ||
| BIAN2119 | Nutrition, Disease and the Environment | 6 |
| BIAN 2120: Culture, Biol & Pop Dyn | ||
| BIAN 2126: Primate Evolutionary Biology | ||
| BIAN3127 | Primate Behaviour and Conservation | 6 |
| ENVS2017 | Vietnam Field School | 6-12 |
| INDN 3107: Intro SEAsian Performing Arts | ||
| LING2015 | Language, Culture and Translation | 6 |
| PASI2001 | Pacific Studies in a Globalising World | 6 |
| PASI2002 | Australia in Oceania in the 19th and 20th Centuries | 6 |
| PASI3013 | Environment and Development in the Pacific | 6 |
| PASI 2005: Pacific Politics | ||
| PASI3001 | Politics and Development in the Contemporary Pacific | 6 |
| PASI 3003: Spirit Islands | ||
| PASI 3006: Navigating the Pacific |