Anthropology

Program Overview

Core units include cultural anthropology, disaster studies, sustainability, and ethnographic research. Graduates can pursue careers in heritage management, community development, policy analysis, and more. The program is ranked top 150 globally in Anthropology.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Anthropology is the comparative study of human diversity, past and present. It examines behaviour, relationships and meaning within and between different societies and cultures. This major incorporates the study of key anthropological theories, and the history of the discipline, and introduces students to anthropological perspectives on religion and ritual, politics, kinship and land rights, and ecology and environment.

Objectives:

• Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in social and cultural anthropology.
• Understand anthropological perspectives on religion and ritual, politics, kinship and land rights, and ecology and environment.
• Critically review, analyse, summarise and synthesise anthropological research and theory using case studies from Australia and all over the world.
• Formulate, investigate and discuss anthropologically informed research questions and develop arguments based on a critical evaluation of written evidence and material culture.

Outline:

Level 1:

• ANTH1001 Being Human: Culture, Identity and Society (6 points): This core unit introduces students to the fundamental concepts and theories of anthropology, exploring the relationship between culture, identity, and society.
• GEOG1104 Disasters!
• (6 points): This core unit provides an interdisciplinary perspective on disasters, examining their causes, impacts, and responses.

Level 2:

• ANTH2225 Human Futures: Energy, Food and Sustainable Environments (6 points): This core unit explores the challenges and opportunities facing humanity in the 21st century, focusing on the interconnectedness of energy, food, and the environment.
• ANTH2406 Society, Law and Politics (6 points): This core unit examines the relationship between society, law, and politics, exploring how these institutions shape and are shaped by human behaviour.
• ANTH2902 Entangled Objects (6 points): This core unit delves into the material culture of human societies, exploring the ways in which objects are imbued with meaning and significance.

Level 3:

• ANTH3001 Ethnography (6 points): This core unit introduces students to the methods and practices of ethnographic research, providing hands-on experience in conducting fieldwork and analyzing data.
• ANTH3401 Engaged Practices (6 points): This core unit explores the ways in which anthropological knowledge can be applied to real-world problems, focusing on issues such as community development, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

Careers:

A degree in anthropology can lead to careers in areas such as:

• Heritage sector including applied, legal and policy work
• Community and international development and the broader health field
• Non-government organisations – such as those working with Indigenous peoples, refugee and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, and environmental groups
• Government and policy analysis
• Museum and heritage sector
• Cultural media
• Social marketing, design and advertising
• Global banking and finance

Further Study:

• Honours in Anthropology
• Master of International Development

Other:

• The University of Western Australia is the only university in Western Australia to offer Anthropology as a major.
• Anthropology has a 50-year history at UWA.
• There is a demand for Anthropologists in Australia and globally, especially in the fields of heritage, land rights, social and community development, food security and environmental protection.
• The program is ranked in the top 150 in the world for Anthropology (QS WUR by Subject 2024).