Anthropology BA (Hons)

Program Overview

The Anthropology BA (Hons) at the University of Sussex explores cultural and societal diversity globally. Emphasizing interdisciplinarity, it allows students to tailor their studies with electives and options from various perspectives. The program equips graduates with transferable skills and prepares them for careers in NGOs, media, and global development organizations. It is ranked among the top 15 programs in the UK, with a focus on real-world challenges and opportunities for independent research.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This 3-year full-time program explores the diversity of cultures and societies around the globe. Students delve into how people address contemporary issues like climate change, health inequalities, environmental degradation, racial discrimination, gender-based violence, and human rights. The program emphasizes interdisciplinarity, encouraging students to study global challenges from various perspectives. Students can choose electives from other subjects like philosophy, law, and modern languages, tailoring their degree to their interests. The program aims to equip students with the skills and confidence to make a positive impact on the world. Graduates are prepared for careers in NGOs, global development organizations, media, international research organizations, charities, and journalism.

Outline:

Year 1:

• Core Modules:
• Key Concepts in Anthropology
• Practising Anthropology
• The Anthropological Imagination
• Anthropology of Capitalism, Care and the Environment
• The Anthropology of Kinship and Relatedness
• Worlds and Selves
• Electives: Students choose four electives across Years 1 and 2 from other subjects to enrich their learning experience.

Year 2:

• Core Modules:
• Ethnographic Research Methods
• Key Debates in Contemporary Anthropology
• Religion and Ritual
• Politics and Power
• Options: Students choose options to broaden their horizons and tailor their course to their interests.
Options may be grouped, and students can choose a set number of options from the selection available in each group.
• Spring Teaching:
• Cities and Urban Lives
• Culture and Representation
• Ethnographic Field Research
• Visual Anthropology
• Electives: Students choose four electives across Years 1 and 2 from other subjects to enrich their learning experience.

Year 3:

• Core Modules:
• Anthropology Thesis
• Options: Students choose options to broaden their horizons and tailor their course to their interests.
Options may be grouped, and students can choose a set number of options from the selection available in each group.
• Autumn Teaching:
• Anthropology of the Body
• Death, Dying and the Corpse
• Development, Business and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Global Work Experience
• Human Rights
• Slavery, Emancipation and Legacies
• The Anthropology of Geopolitics
• Autumn and Spring Teaching:
• Anthropology Thesis
• Spring Teaching:
• Cults, Conspiracies and Political Religion
• Environmental Anthropology
• Political Ecology and Environmental Justice
• Race, Ethnicity and Identity

Teaching:

• The program emphasizes interdisciplinarity and encourages students to study global challenges from various perspectives.
• Students are taught by experts tackling real-world problems.
• The program includes a diverse range of modules covering topics like gender, body and sexualities, racial injustice, ethnographic film, economic precarity, and violence in postcolonial contexts.

Careers:

• The program equips students with transferable skills in analysis, written communication, and cultural understanding.
• Graduates are prepared for careers in:
• NGOs and global development organizations
• Media
• International research organizations
• Charities
• Journalism

Other:

• The program is ranked 7th in the UK for research in Anthropology (REF 2021).
• The program is ranked 12th in the UK for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).
• The program is ranked 13th in the UK for Anthropology (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024).
• The program is taught by a diverse and experienced faculty.
• The program offers opportunities for students to engage in independent research projects and fieldwork.
• The program provides support for students seeking part-time work while studying.
• The program offers specialist careers events and workshops with industry representatives and employers.
• The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in anthropology and prepare them for a variety of career paths.
• The program is taught in a supportive and welcoming environment.
• The program is designed to help students develop their critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills.
• The program is designed to help students develop a global perspective and an understanding of different cultures.
• The program is designed to help students make a positive difference in the world.