BA (Hons) Anthropology (with Foundation Year)

- Get up close and hands-on with a range of materials, from primate skeletons to religious relics, in our University’s cutting-edge departmental laboratory- Embark on thoroughly rewarding research projects in Barbados and Georgia- Become a sought-after employee by diverse industries, from medicine and museums to academia and advertising- Develop intercultural understanding – a key asset in today’s job marketOur Anthropology programme is a fascinating exploration of human societies, looking at present-day western and non-western groups, social development through time as seen in the material culture and biological aspects of humanity.The Foundation Year (first year of study) gives you the chance to commence your studies with us if you have not quite achieved the entry qualifications required or if you feel you would benefit from the opportunity to develop your study skills and subject knowledge prior to embarking on your degree. Through a range of engaging, small-group lessons and practical placements, you will be equipped with the academic, professional and personal skills to help you succeed at university. Modules will cover broad topics as well as an introduction to your chosen subject area. You will also have the opportunity to study alongside students undertaking a range of degree programmes.This four-year course enables you to get to grips with questions commonly posed by anthropologists: How has evolution shaped us? What is culture? Do any universals of human behaviour exist?Due to the broad nature of the topic, anthropologists are highly valued by employers in many industries for their cross-cultural communication skills and their ability to analyse human behaviour. As Margaret Mead, the great American anthropologist, once said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”The course strikes a balance between academic learning and hands-on application, so you don’t spend all your time nose-deep in library books. You can tinker with extensive archaeological materials, from primate skeletons to religious relics, in our University’s cutting-edge departmental laboratory.Our programme uses a wide range of assessment methods including fieldwork projects and work placements, so you can join thoroughly rewarding research projects locally or further afield in places such as Barbados and Georgia.Classes are taught by passionate and highly-respected leaders in the field who specialise in all aspects of human evolution, from Palaeolithic humans who first occupied Europe two million years ago to modern funerary practice.The degree consists of three strands which extend throughout the entire course: social anthropology, biological anthropology and archaeology/material culture.In Year 1 (second year of study), you receive an introduction to social and biological anthropology, archaeology and material culture, as well as primate and human evolution.Year 2's (third year of study) core modules focus on research methods, theory, society, art and visual culture. A wide range of possible optional modules are available, covering aspects of religion, global environmental change, race, ethnicity, migration and the archaeology of death and burial.The third (fourth year of study) and final year allows for specialisation in areas including social and biological anthropology. You can explore in-depth topics such as African America, Geographies of Inequality, Indigenous Religions, and Magic and Esoteric Traditions in Post-Medieval Britain.As an anthropology student, you learn how to understand, interpret and respond to human behaviour. Alongside such specialist skills, you also develop valuable transferable skills highly prized by employers, including the ability to t