University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2016/17 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Arts > Department of Anthropology and Archaeology > Anthropology (MA) > Specification
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Programme code | 1ARCH025T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Fiona Jordan
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Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
In the Bristol MA programme, we aim to give students a broad base of the fundamentals of Anthropology, followed by an option to choose more specific pathways, guided by a small but diverse staff with a range of complementary specialities. The optional pathways are Social Anthropology and Evolutionary Anthropology. These pathways are consistent with specific interests of recent students, which have included the anthropology of politics and conflict, reproduction and kinship, business anthropology, social networks and collective behaviour, material culture and more.
This programme aims to develop the student's interesting in and knowledge and understanding of social anthropology as both a theoretical and empirical discipline. Students are introduced to contemporary issues and debates, foundational studies, and research methods in ethnography and anthropology, and are trained to carry out a piece of empirical or library research for their dissertation (MA). The principal aim of the programme is to equip students to understand and interpret human behaviour, as studied by anthropologists, and to become, albeit in a modest way, practitioners as well as analysts within the field of anthropology. The programme will develop students' interest in and knowledge of human behaviour, and to appreciate the interconnections between different aspects of social and cultural life (e.g. religion, politics, kinship, material culture, and so on). The programme uses case studies as well as theoretical and methodological analyses. The MA is designed for people with a first degree in anthropology, but it can also accommodate students from other disciplines who wish to carry out anthropological research beyond the Masters level, or who wish to gain an appreciation of either social or evolutionary anthropology. The range of options, which allow students to focus on more evolutionary or more cultural aspects of the subject, open up the possibility of specialisation within a number of sub-areas of social or evolutionary anthropology. The programme provides a wide range of transferable skills for work in areas in which an understanding of our own and other cultures is applicable.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Acquisition of knowledge and understanding through seminars, tutorials and directed reading. Independent learning is achieved through written coursework and the dissertation. The programme starts with courses in anthropological debates and research methods in anthropology and the social sciences. In these core units students with a background in anthropology and those who are new to the subject get to grips with key theories and personalities in the development of the discipline, and gain an understanding of how empirical material is gathered and analysed by anthropologists. This combination of theoretically and practically orientated courses serves to introduce students to these two important elements of anthropology. All tutors have carried out their own research, and draw on these experiences in their teaching. Each student is assigned an individual supervisor for their dissertation, and given the appropriate training and confidence to carry out a piece of original anthropological research, either in the UK or abroad, which culminates in a seminar presentation and the submission of a Master’s thesis. |
Methods of Assessment | |
The breadth and depth of the student’s knowledge base is tested through a variety of formative and summative methods of assessment. These include written coursework for each unit, seminar presentations and a 15,000word dissertation, which acts as a focal point for the student to apply their knowledge and understanding. Numbers are limited to approximately 16 or less to communicate subject-specific knowledge, through participation in discussion with students and the tutor. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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|
Acquisition of knowledge and understanding through seminars, tutorials and directed reading. Independent learning is achieved through written coursework and the dissertation. The range of options allows students to focus on more sociological or more cultural aspects of the subject, open up the possibility of specialisation within a number of sub-areas of social and evolutionary anthropology. |
Methods of Assessment | |
The breadth and depth of the student’s knowledge base is tested through a variety of formative and summative methods of assessment. These include written coursework for each unit, seminar presentations and a 15,000word dissertation, which acts as a focal point for the student to apply their knowledge and understanding. Numbers are limited to approximately 16 or less to communicate subject-specific knowledge, thorugh participation in discussion with students and the tutor. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
Acquisition of knowledge and understanding through seminars, tutorials and directed reading. Independent learning is achieved through written coursework and the dissertation. |
Methods of Assessment | |
The breadth and depth of the student’s knowledge base is tested through a variety of formative and summative methods of assessment. These include written coursework for each unit, seminar presentations and a 15,000-word dissertation, which acts as a focal point for the student to apply their knowledge and understanding. Numbers are limited to approximately 16 or less to communicate subject-specific knowledge, thorugh participation in discussion with students and the tutor. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
The structure of the degree programme has been designed to engage the student in a cumulative process of developing skills and knowledge through a sequence of complementary stages. In Teaching Block 1 the student develops foundational knowledge and understanding of social science research methods and issues through the major methodological and theoretical approaches to the study of human society. This stage offers mandatory units in social science research methods and theoretical debates in anthropology. Students who need basic library and IT skills are provided with these early in the course. By the end of Stage 1 students should be capable of evaluating anthropological methods and key theoretical traditions (which differ substantially between the social anthropology and evolutionary anthropology pathways), and to have an understanding of the relationship between anthropology and other social science disciplines. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
In Teaching Block 2, the students have a range of regional and thematic options, depending on pathway. At least half of these must be in anthropology (and all 60 credit points may be)/. Up to 30 credit points may be from related disciplines (see pathway options in programme structure). Students are developing the skills to make connections between the theoretical, methodological and regional and thematic studies, and to see how these articulate within the dicipline. By the end of stage 2 students should have a broad understanding of anthropological concerns in a number of specific subject areas and/or regions of the world, and be able to relate these to the theoretical and methodological studies carried out at stage 1. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
The dissertation acts as the culmination of the student's progress through the degree programme, as s/he applies the appropriate technical, methodological and intellectual skills that have been developed to a piece of research devised in consultation with and supervised by one or more staff advisors. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
The MA is designed as (i) a conversion course for students from other disciplines who wish to carry out anthropological research at Masters level; (ii) an advanced training for students with a first degree in Anthropology; (iii) and as preparation for further postgraduate research leading to an MPhil or a PhD. We start the year with a fieldtrip, which provides an opportunity for students and staff to get to know one another, and to undertake a practical project. Then, during the first semester, students receive their theoretical and methodological training. During the second semester, students take a course in Contemporary Issues in Anthropology and choose two additional options. The final element of the MA is the dissertation, which allows students to explore their individual research interests in the form of a fieldwork or library-based project.
The MA in Anthropology provides a theoretical and empirical understanding of issues and debates in anthropology and offers the chance to carry out a piece of original research. It is offered by the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology and allows for the opportunity to explore the relationship between anthropology and cognate disciplines. Students are introduced to contemporary issues and debates, foundational studies, and research methods in ethnography and anthropology. The principal aim of the programme is to equip students to understand and interpret human social behaviour, as studied by anthropologists, and to become practitioners as well as analysts within the field of anthropology. Both pathways of the MA will develop students' interest in and knowledge of human social behaviours.
Both pathways of the programme will use case studies as well as theoretical and methodological analyses, but the pathways will differ substantially in theoretical approach. The Evolutionary Anthropology pathway will use human behavioural ecology, evolutionary psychology and a detailed analysis of the evolutionary process itself as the components of an explanatory framework for cultural norms and diversity. The Social Anthropology pathway will encourage an understanding of the interconnections between human nature and different aspects of social and cultural life (such as, religion, politics, kinship and material culture).
The programme provides a wide range of transferable skills for work in areas in which an understanding of our own and other cultures is applicable, such as commercial business, the tourism industry, heritage and museum sectors, creative industries, or in academic and applied research.
Please note that this programme is not running in 2016/17.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Contemporary Issues in Anthropology Not available in this year | ANTHM0015 | 20 | Mandatory | |
Research Methods in Anthropology Not available in this year | ANTHM0016 | 40 | Mandatory | |
History and Theory in Anthropology Not available in this year | ANTHM0004 | 20 | Mandatory | |
Dissertation | ANTHM1000 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Pathway in Evolutionary Anthropology: Students choose 40 credit points from: | ||||
Evolutionary Psychology | PSYC30001 | 20 | Optional | TB-1A |
Nutrition, Disease and Public Health | PHEDM4012 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Advanced Quantitative Research | SOCIM3133 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Psychology of Language | PSYC31051 | 20 | Optional | TB-1A |
Personal Option Unit | AFACM0007 | 20 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 |
Supervised Individual Study | AFACM0008 | 20 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 |
Pathway in Social Anthropology: Students choose 40 credit points from: | ||||
The Anthropology of Childhood and Youth | ARCHM0066 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Advanced Quantitative Research | SOCIM3133 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Interpreting Gender | SOCIM3103 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Buddhism: The Foundations | THRSM0015 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Contemporary Sociological Theory | SOCIM3101 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Understanding Popular Culture in/and World Politics | POLIM0002 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Nations & Nationalism | SOCIM0003 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Care, Labour and Gender | SOCIM0004 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
The Theory and Politics of Multiculturalism | SOCIM3026 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Personal Option Unit | AFACM0007 | 20 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 |
Supervised Individual Study | AFACM0008 | 20 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds. An exit award with Merit or Distinction may be permitted where students are prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing the intended award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
The award of an MA with Merit in the Faculty of Arts requires at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component and at least 65 out of 100 for the dissertation.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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