Anthropology is the discipline within the university which is concerned with the study of culture in general and of other cultures and their social organisation in particular. These other cultures may be the cultures of other societies, minority cultures within our own country, or the cultures of our own past. All anthropology staff have deep and intensive research experience in other societies and their cultures and bring to the subjects we offer, whether they be about others or ourselves, a distinctly anthropological perspective, an understanding of and respect for cultural difference. The ethnographic expertise of the department ranges through South and South-East Asia, Melanesia and southern Africa to the study of minority communities and their cultures in Australia, incorporating a range of theoretical perspectives. Anthropology staff provide students throughout the department with access to subjects which are crosscultural and comparative. Anthropology is only offered on the Clayton campus.
An honours year is available in anthropology and the department also offers a coursework MA program which allows for specialist interests in anthropology, comparative sociology, gender and feminism, as well as postgraduate research degrees.
Educational objectives for the Department of Anthropology and Sociology are to be found under the entry for Sociology and Comparative Sociology.
Pass courses
Major sequence
A major sequence in anthropology consists of one of ANY1010 or SCY1010 in the first semester, plus ANY1020 in the second semester and appropriate sequences of second-year ANY subjects totalling a minimum of sixteen points and appropriate sequences of third-year ANY subjects totalling sixteen points with an additional anthropology (ANY) subject of eight points at either second or third-year level. It should be noted that ANY1020 is also a `free subject' which can be taken on its own with no prerequisites for those not wishing to proceed to minor or major sequences in anthropology.
Minor sequence
A minor sequence in anthropology may consist of either appropriate subjects at the first-year level worth twelve points plus appropriate subjects at the second-year level worth sixteen points, or appropriate sequences in anthropology at the second-year level worth sixteen points plus appropriate sequences at the third-year level worth a minimum of twelve points.
Second-year anthropology
Students wishing to do an honours or major or minor sequence in anthropology may enrol at second-year level. Students who have not completed a first-year sequence in ANY or ANY and SCY subjects should consult the department about what are considered appropriate alternative first-year sequences for entry to second-year level.
Honours
Coordinator: D Ryan
Students enrol for honours at the end of their third year and must have obtained at least credit grades in anthropology subjects to the value of twenty-four points at second and third-year level combined of which sixteen points must be at third-year level.
Combined honours may be taken in anthropology and another discipline provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to the approval of the heads of both departments/centres. Mid-year entry is not offered in anthropology.
Although no specific second or third-year subjects are prerequisites for honours, prospective honours students may be advised to take additional subjects in second and/or third year, and certain subjects may be particularly recommended by the department.
Graduate studies
For postgraduate courses offered by the department, please refer to the Arts graduate handbook for 1995.
Clayton campus
First-year level
* ANY1010 Contemporary anthropology
* ANY1020 Anthropology of social change
Second-year level
Prerequisite: A first year ANY sequence or SCY1010 and ANY1020
* ANY2110 Magic, science and religion
* ANY2130 Race and sexual politics
* ANY2160 Understanding prejudice and discrimination
* ANY2190 Comparative social structures (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* ANY2230 Culture and society: introduction to cultural theory
Third-year level
Prerequisite: Second-year COS and/or ANY subjects to a total of at least sixteen points or permission of head of department.
Options available
* ANY3230 Culture and conflict in Indonesia
* ANY3250 The anthropology of witchcraft and sorcery
* ANY3290 Advanced anthropology, part I
* ANY3300 Advanced anthropology, part II
* ANY3370 Comparative sociology of `development' (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* ANY3430 Civilisation and its malcontents
* ANY3470 Australia in Papua New Guinea
* ANY3480 The third world
* ANY3490 Society and culture in mainland South East Asia (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* ANY3510 A comparative examination of cultures in South and South-East Asia
* ANY3570 Socio-ecology
* ANY3590 Systems theory
* ANY3610 Urbanisation in the third world (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* ANY3630 Feminism crossculturally
* ANY3640 Structuralisms and poststructuralisms (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* ANY3650 The social construction of disabilities (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
Fourth-year level
Prerequisite: A major sequence in anthropology with at least credit grades in subjects to the value of twenty-four points at second and third-year level combined, of which sixteen points must be at third-year level.
To gain an honours degree in anthropology a student is required successfully to complete ANY4380 (Thesis), ANY4400 (Ethics, theory and method in anthropological research) and ANY4440 (Asia and the West).
A student who is granted permission to complete fourth-year honours over two years will take ANY4400 (Ethics, theory and method in anthropological research) and ANY4440 (Asia in the West) in first year, and ANY4380 (Thesis) in the second.
* ANY4380 Thesis in anthropology
* ANY4400 Ethics, theory and method in anthropological research
* ANY4440 Asia and the West
Combined honours in anthropology and sociology
Students may take combined honours in anthropology and either comparative sociology or sociology. They will select a combination of subjects and a dissertation topic covering both disciplines. In all cases the choice must be approved by the head of the department.