Monash University: University handbooks: Postgraduate handbook: Units indexed by faculty
Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents

Anthropology and sociology

Anthropology is the discipline within the university that is concerned with the study of specific cultures and their social organisation. All anthropology staff have intensive research experience in other societies and their cultures and bring to the units we offer, whether they are about others or ourselves, a distinctly anthropological perspective, an understanding of, and respect for, cultural difference. The ethnographic expertise of the staff ranges through indigenous Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific to the study of minority communities and their cultures in Australia, incorporating a range of theoretical perspectives.

Sociology addresses many dimensions of social life and social change. It presents the categories of individual, culture, society, community, organisation and policy across a range of themes. Issues of identity, politics, meaning, and social change are addressed theoretically, practically and methodologically at the graduate level. The discipline provides theoretical and methodological tools to explore the interface of subjectivities and social worlds in a rapidly changing globalised world. Research degrees in sociology build knowledge and skills for students who want to analyse and understand issues facing contemporary societies.

Research degrees

Anthropology and sociology offers the PhD and Master of Arts by research (100%).

Supervisory expertise

Anthropology

Specialist supervision can be offered for MA and PhD theses with regard to contemporary Indonesia, Fiji, indigenous Australia, ethnicity, nationalism, violence, religion, and migration as well as the complex historico-cultural transformations of modernity and the contemporary forms of theorising culture.

Sociology

Research experts are available to supervise in the areas of gender relations and feminism; population, cultural identities and migration; religion and spirituality, youth, the family and childhood; work; citizenship and social movements; social theory and social change; public policy; the media and popular culture.

Research activities

Research seminars are an important part of the graduate experience. Students are involved in seminars within the disciplines and the school to help them develop a range of research skills, receive feedback on their work, and share and learn with others in the intellectual community of the school. They are encouraged to organise and attend conferences, summer schools and enrichment programs, and to publish and present their work in a variety of forums.

Research student achievements

Students who have completed graduate degrees have won scholarships for study, travel and further research. Many have had the opportunity to conduct and speak about their research across Australia and around the world. All our postgraduate programs aim to provide students with a broad range of research skills and equip them for careers in social research, government, industry and the public service.

Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents