Thinking Like an Anthropologist (820L6)

30 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Autumn teaching

This module explores debates and approaches to the study of processes of social change. You'll critically examine theoretical insights and examples drawn from different disciplines, such as anthropology, history, sociology and social theory.

Throughout the module, you'll engage in current debates about modernisation and change, using your analytical skills to relate wider theories to ethnographic case studies. It's important to understand the nature and direction of social and economic change against the background of planned development. Development refers to planned change, in whatever form it may occur, while not all change in society is of this kind. A wide range of social, cultural, economic and political changes also occur, and often arise out of less planned and more internal transformations. It is with the latter that this module will primarily focus on.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 300 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 267 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.