ANTH4010 – Advanced Anthropological Theory
Course description
Course content
This course gives you a broad and advanced grounding in the major theoretical approaches in Social Anthropology whilst positioning Anthropology in a developing and changing intellectual and social context. The aim is to enable you to understand the unique perspectives on social life facilitated by anthropological theoretical perspectives, and in so doing, to encourage you to use these insights as the basis for the development of your own research projects.
The course covers a number of key concepts and debates in classical and contemporary anthropological theory. It invites you to develop an understanding of what anthropological theory can add to our understanding of contemporary global social issues as a part of your preparation for your own research contribution to this field. Topics covered include:
- The nature of anthropological theory
- Understanding systems and structures
- Anthropological approaches to materialism and symbolism
- Anthropological approaches to gender
- The role of anthropological theory in the 21st century
Learning outcome
Knowledge
- Deep postgraduate level overview of key perspectives in classical and contemporary anthropological perspectives.
- Appreciation of their relevance for contemporary academic and public policy debates.
- Understanding of ongoing theoretical debates and the potential position of the student’s own original research to the development of these debates
Skills
- Ability to synthesise and critique a variety of theoretical positions and to use this understanding to contribute to the construction of a unique research agenda.
- Construction of an academic argument.
- Writing academic texts.
General competence
- Enhance oral presentation skills.
- Enhanced team-work capability and group-presentations.
- The ability to express arguments in solid academic written English (via essay writing and shorter reflection papers).
Admission to the course
This examination is available only to students enrolled in the master's programme in Social Anthropology prior to Autumn 2025. Please contact the administration to apply:?info-master@sai.uio.no
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Overlapping courses
- 7.5 credits overlap with ANTH4115 – Advanced Anthropological Theory.
Teaching
There is no teaching in the course after Autumn 2024.
3-hour teaching blocks with a combination of lectures and in-class group discussions moderated by the lecturer until Autumn 2024.?
Examination
The examination consists of a 3-day take-home examination (maximum 2500 words).
Previous exams and assessment guidelines
Examination support material
All exam support materials are allowed during this exam. Generating all or part of the exam answer using AI tools such as Chat GPT or similar is not allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English. You may submit your response in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Also see?Grading guidelines in social anthropology
Resit an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.