In addition to developing linguistic proficiency in French, students on the Anthropology and French degree learn to critically reflect on identity, culture and society. In Anthropology, they examine patterns of social interaction, interrogate how social identities bind groups together, and understand how conflict arises and resolutions are found across the world’s cultures.
In French, they analyse Francophone cultures (literature, cinema, linguistics, art, history) in the broadest sense. Students often spend their year abroad in a francophone country such as Martinique or Réunion, where they can complete anthropological fieldwork for their final-year project.
In The Guardian University Guide 2021, Queen's Anthropology was ranked 2nd in the UK.
French at Queen's has consistently been in the top 10 in a range of league tables over the last five years.
Anthropology and French highlights
Career Development
Anthropology combines an understanding of cultural diversity through human behaviour and expression, with a hands-on method of study that focuses on lived experience.
Queen's offers the only anthropology course in the UK that combines the study of expressivity (through art and music) with thematic strands on conflict, religion, cognition, and applied anthropology.
World Class Facilities
The Performance Room includes a variety of musical instruments from around the world, a collection that has grown since the 1970s when Ethnomusicology was first established as an International Centre at Queen’s by the late Prof John Blacking. These instruments, together with the sprung performance room floor, facilitate music and dance ensembles, enabling our unit to remain one of the leading departments in Ethnomusicology.
Career Development
French at Queen’s reflects the dynamism and cultural diversity of the French-speaking world, focusing on the language, culture and society of metropolitan France, and opening up perspectives on a range of global cultures. French language, written and oral, is at the centre of the course. Students will also explore a variety of contemporary issues, historical periods and geographical areas through a range of media, including art, cinema, linguistics and literature. All students spend an academic year in a francophone country.
Global Opportunities
Undergraduate anthropology students, as part of their training, have carried out ethnographic field research around the world. Projects have focused on gender and fashion in Martinique; nationalism and ethnic identity in Réunion; orphanages in Kenya; AIDS in southern Africa, education in Ghana; dance in India, NGOs in Guatemala, music in China, marriage in Japan, backpacking in Europe, and whale-watching in Hawaii.
Industry Links
Anthropology students develop a range of skills (organizational skills, interpersonal skills, information-handling skills, and project management skills) that prepare them for later employment. Many of our students work with NGOs and other organisations (e.g. Operation Wallacea, Belfast Migration Centre, Heavy Sound) as part of their fieldwork.
Student Experience
Our National Student Survey results have shown Anthropology received a 100% teaching score in 2021.
Internationally Renowned Experts
Anthropology at Queen’s has international renown in the following areas:
• Ethnomusicology and performance
• Conflict and borders
• Religion
• Cognition and culture
• Migration and diasporas
• Irish studies
• Material culture and art
• Human-animal relations
• The cross-cultural study of emotions.
Anthropology at Queen's also connects with the following research institutes: Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice; Institute of Cognition and Culture; Institute of Irish Studies.
French at Queen’s is taught by world-leading experts in nineteenth and twentieth-century French and Francophone culture, with particular expertise in visual culture, linguistics, popular culture, medical humanities and postcolonial writing. Research in Languages at Queen’s was ranked 3rd in the UK in the Research Assessment (REF 2014).
Prof Janice Carruthers is an internationally renowned expert on linguistics. She is currently the Leadership Fellow in Modern Languages with the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Student Experience
Students run a lively French Society, and staff offer support through a personal tutoring system, skills development programme and a structured framework for feedback.
Further Study Opportunities
Further study is also an option (eg MA Anthropology, MA Conflict Transformation and Social Justice); see the School website for details.
Student Experience
In the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021, Anthropology was ranked:
2nd in the UK for: Teaching Quality
5th in the UK for: Student Experience
3rd in the UK for: Research
Career Development
In the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023, Anthropology was ranked 10th in the UK for graduate prospects.
Student Experience
In the Complete University Guide 2023, Anthropology was ranked 5th in the UK for student satisfaction.
In the Guardian University Guide 2020, Anthropology was ranked 9th in the UK for Course satisfaction.
Anne Maguire Memorial Prize
The prize is awarded to an Anthropology student who, in the judgement of the Board of Examiners for Social Anthropology, produces the best dissertation for this module in any year.
Improved Performance Undergraduate Prize
This prize is awarded by the Board of Examiners of the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics (HAPP) to the student registered on any HAPP UG programme with the most improved performance between Level 2 and Level 3.
The Joint Honours Undergraduate Prize
This prize is awarded to the student with the highest final
degree mark in a School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics (HAPP)-owning Joint Degree programme, excluding any combination with History or Politics.
Student Testimonials
"The fieldwork and dissertation have been central to my experience as a Anthropology student. While I am sure it will stand me in good stead in my future search for employment, its central value was as a practice which revealed what Anthropology is really about; through fieldwork, the abstract and theoretical concepts which we had absorbed in two years previous study became immediate and concrete; the subject came alive. Observing and analysing patterns of human action and thought, and later attempting to relay any inferred information (in the form of a dissertation) was a stimulating and challenging process, which seemed to me to be of value in and of itself."
Samuel Ward https://youtu.be/mubluBjb9Ds
‘’Doing an anthropology dissertation is great for allowing you to use your own creativity and actually apply your knowledge rather than simply learning from others. It is a fantastic way of building confidence for any future career as it gives you the opportunity to expand on something independently and looks great on the CV!’'
Genevieve Bigger
‘’Recently the dissertation experience has been really useful in my job search. Because it involves different research methods and demonstrates good written and verbal communication skills, it's great for the CV and even better for coming up with examples for competency questions in interviews. It's also brilliant for networking because it provides easy conversation and an awareness of social issues etc.”
Lucy Proudlock
Anthropology at Queen’s is constructed around four innovative, engaged themes:
What Makes Us Human?
Key modules explore core elements of anthropology. They examine social groups, from families to nations, and social dynamics, from village politics to globalisation. In understanding social groups we examine individual life trajectories against the background of diverse social expectations.
Modules may include: Being Human: Evolution, Culture and Society; World on the Move; How Society Works.
Conflict, Peacebuilding and Identity
Modules on this theme deal directly with large-scale Global Challenges such as conflict, security, and peacebuilding. Issues such as migration, ethnic conflict, and globalisation will be covered across all three years of the degree, with specialist modules looking at Ireland and at the role of anthropology in policy.
Modules may include: Us & Them: Why We Have Ingroups and Outgroups; Remembering the Future: Violent Pasts, Loss and the Politics of Hope; Migration, Mobilities and Borders.
Arts, Creativity and Music
Globally renowned for long-standing research expertise in the area of ethnomusicology and the arts, our modules examine issues of sound and music making; art, aesthetics and emotion; and performance and identity around the world. We explore the production, appropriation and use of material artefacts and images in a world of interconnectedness through migration, trade, and digital communication technology.
Modules may include: Being Creative: Music, Media and the Arts; Radical Musics: Understanding Sounds of Defiance across Disciplines.
Morality, Religion and Cognition
These modules examine a number of important themes in religion and morality, including the origins of religion, apocalyptic movements, sacred values, and the relationship of emotion and religion. We will explore our moral worlds and beliefs through the socio-cultural, psychological, and evolutionary sciences.
Modules may include: Apocalypse!: The End of the World; In Gods We Trust: The New Science of Religion; Human Morality; Love, Hate, and Beyond.
Stage 1
French
• Intermediate French
• French for Beginners
• Intro to French Studies 1
• Intro to French Studies 2
Anthropology
• Being Human: Evolution, Culture and Society
• A World on the Move: Anthropological and Historical Approaches to Globalisation
• Us and Them: Why Do We Have In-groups and Outgroups?
• Being Creative: Music, Media and the Arts
• Understanding Northern Ireland
Stage 2
French
• Modern Autobiography
• Myth and Biography in Recent French Fiction
• French Noir
Anthropology
• How Society Works: Key Debates in Anthropology
• Skills in the Field: Dissertation Preparation
• Hanging out on Street Corners: Public and Applied Anthropology
• Anthropology of Media
• Human Morality
• Apocalypse! The History and Anthropology of the End of the World
Stage 3
Placement Year
Stage 4
French
• Modernism(s)
• Contemporary Francophone Chinese Fiction
• Ambition & Desire
Anthropology
• Dissertation in Social Anthropology: Writing-Up
• The Politics of Performance: From Negotiation to Display
• Human-Animal Relations
• In Gods We Trust: The New Science of Religion
• Love, Hate and Beyond: Emotions, Culture, Practice
• Music, Power and Conflict
• Remembering the Future: Violent Pasts, Loss, and the Politics of Hope
• Anthropology and Roma
Note that this is not an exclusive list, and these options are subject to staff availability.
6 (hours maximum) In a typical week you may have up to 6 hours of lectures, depending on the level of study
Medium Group Teaching
9 (hours maximum) In a typical week, you may have up to 9 hours of practical classes, workshops or seminars, depending on the level of study.
Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial
6 (hours maximum) In a typical week, you will have 3-6 hours of tutorials (or later, project supervision).
Personal Study
10 (hours maximum) 10 per module (30 hours per week), revising in your own time
Learning and Teaching
Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:
E-Learning technologies
Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree programme through the use of, for example, interactive support materials, podcasts and web-based learning activities.
Fieldwork
Single-honours anthropology students have the opportunity to study research methods and carry out anthropological fieldwork for an 8-week period. This crucial period of skill-formation and research forms the basis of a dissertation they write up in the first semester of their third year.
Lectures
Lectures introduce foundation information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures, which are normally delivered in large groups to all year-group peers, also provide opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification on key issues as well as gain feedback and advice on assessments.
Self-directed study
This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student. It is during self-directed study when a student completes important private reading, engages with e-learning resources, reflects on feedback, and completes assignment research and preparation.
Seminars/tutorials
A significant amount of teaching is carried out in small groups (typically 10-12 students). These sessions are designed to explore in more depth the information that has been presented in the lectures. They provide students with the opportunity to engage closely with academic staff, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of their peers. During these classes, students will be expected to present their work to academic staff and their peers.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used throughout the programme.
The assessment methods used include coursework essays (submitted during or at the end of the semester), oral presentations by individual students, video logs, artwork and performance workshops, weekly online commentaries on set readings, written examinations, and dissertations.
Feedback
As students progress through their course at Queen’s, they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms.
Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
Placement employer comments or references.
Online or emailed comment.
General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.
Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.
Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.
The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2025/26). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.
This module aims to consolidate and develop the students existing written and oral language skills and knowledge of French and Francophone culture, equip them with professional and employability skills and prepare them to go further in the study of French. It consists of four elements designed to provide a comprehensive consolidation of French language competence:
1. Language Seminar (1hr per week)
Seminar aims to develop students ability to understand, translate and compose French language materials in a range of forms: text, image, audio-visual. Language will be engaged in context, guided by themes such as University life, Culture and Identity and Culture and Communication. Linguistic competence will be developed through a range of methods that may include: group discussion, comprehension, translation, responsive and essay writing.
2. Grammar Workshop (1hr per week)
Workshop designed to consolidate and enrich students' knowledge and understanding of French grammar and syntax. All major areas of grammar will be encountered, laying the foundations for future study of the language and its nuances. It focuses particularly on developing competence in the key area of translation into French.
3. Professional skills (1hr per week)
The class focuses on language skills for special purposes and contains two strands: Language for Business and Language for Law. Both provide linguistic and socio-cultural knowledge important to work-related situations in different fields.
4. Conversation class (1hr per week)
Conversation class is led by a native speaker of French and compliments the content of the Language hour. Students will meet in small groups to discuss, debate and present on the main themes of the course.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the modules students should:
1. Be able to read French texts in a variety of forms and demonstrate a sensitivity to their detail and nuance in speech, writing and when translating.
2. Be able to produce French texts appropriate to different requirements and registers.
3. Be able to investigate, structure and present a complex argument in longer pieces of written work.
4. Be able to communicate using more sophisticated grammatical and syntactical constructions with a good level of accuracy (without basic errors).
Skills
On successful completion of the modules students should have developed the following range of skills: comprehensive dexterity using French grammar; translation skills; text analysis; comprehension; essay writing; lexicographical skills; report writing skills; IT skills; presentation skills; spoken language skills
This modules aims to provide students with little or no previous knowledge of French with the grammatical, written, and spoken language skills necessary go further in the study of French. It will also equip them with professional and employability skills complimentary to their studies. It consists of:
1. Language Seminars (3 hours per week)
Seminars will equip students with the knowledge and understanding of grammatical constructions (both basic and more complex) and syntax required to use the French language independently in written and spoken form. Language skills are practiced in a range of activities: grammar exercises, reading, spoken and listening comprehension, translation, expressive and descriptive writing. All major areas of grammar will be encountered, laying the foundations for future study of the language and its nuances.
Seminars also introduce students to language in context. Students are exposed to new vocabulary, expressions and nuances of use through reading, translation and writing exercises based on sources from the Francophone world.
2. Conversation Class (1hr per week)
Led by a native speaker, this class develops students’ listening and speaking skills in French. The content from seminars is deployed in a range of practical scenarios likely to be experienced in French -speaking countries.
Learning Outcomes
This modules aims to provide students with little or no previous knowledge of French with the grammatical, written, and spoken language skills necessary go further in the study of French. It will also equip them with professional and employability skills complimentary to their studies. It consists of:
1. Language Seminars (3 hours per week)
Seminars will equip students with the knowledge and understanding of grammatical constructions (both basic and more complex) and syntax required to use the French language independently in written and spoken form. Language skills are practiced in a range of activities: grammar exercises, reading, spoken and listening comprehension, translation, expressive and descriptive writing. All major areas of grammar will be encountered, laying the foundations for future study of the language and its nuances.
Seminars also introduce students to language in context. Students are exposed to new vocabulary, expressions and nuances of use through reading, translation and writing exercises based on sources from the Francophone world.
2. Conversation Class (1hr per week)
Led by a native speaker, this class develops students’ listening and speaking skills in French. The content from seminars is deployed in a range of practical scenarios likely to be experienced in French -speaking countries.
Skills
On successful completion of the modules students should have developed the following range of skills: A comprehensive dexterity using French grammar; Translation skills; text analysis; essay writing; lexicographical skills; report writing skills; IT skills; presentation skills; spoken language skills.
This course is designed to introduce students to social anthropology through a discussion of the key concepts in the discipline, and a consideration of the principles which underlie family life, kinship, sexuality and gender relations, and gaining a livelihood in different parts of the world.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have been introduced to social anthropology, and should be aware of how social and cultural differences constitute variations on a number of basic themes. Students should also be aware of the ways in which anthropology is useful for the understanding of their own society as well as for the understanding of others.
Skills
Skills in literacy, oral communication, the organisation of arguments, effective presentation of written work, critical reflection on one's own cultural assumptions and biases.
This module will introduce students to key areas of contextual studies in French, i.e. literature, culture, the visual arts and linguistics. There will be two 'strands' within the module, and across the two strands, students will be introduced to all four areas. The core material will include both French and francophone texts, film, images and data. Each strand will form a coherent whole in terms of both teaching and assessment.
Learning Outcomes
Students will acquire an introductory knowledge of key fields in French Studies, notably literature, culture, the visual arts and linguistics. They will acquire key skills in how to approach these fields in preparation for optional modules in Levels 2 and 3. They will further acquire skills in time management, written and oral communication, and skills in marshalling complex information and constructing an argument.
Skills
Skills in how to approach and analyse texts, images and data for future work in literature, the visual arts, linguistics; skills in oral and written communication; skills in marshalling large amounts of data and structuring an argument; skills in time management.
Beyond the Hexagon: French language, politics and culture in a global frame
Overview
This module will introduce students to key areas of contextual studies in French, ie. literature, culture, the visual arts and linguistics. There will be two 'strands' within the module, and across the two stands, students will be introduced to all four areas. The core material will include both French and francophone texts, film, images and data. Each strand will form a coherent whole in terms of both teaching and assessment.
Learning Outcomes
Students will acquire an introductory knowledge of key fields in French Studies, notably literature, culture, the visual arts and linguistics. They will acquire key skills in how to approach these fields in preparation for optional modules in Levels 2 and 3. They will further acquire skills in time management, written and oral communication, and skills in marshalling complex information and constructing an argument.
Skills
Skills in how to approach and analyse texts, images and data for future work in literature, the visual arts, linguistics; skills in oral and written communication; skills in marshalling large amounts of data and structuring an argument; skills in time management.
Us And them: Why do we have ingroups and outgroups?
Overview
Drawing theoretically on both cognitive and social anthropology and utilizing a wide range of case studies, from personal passions for particular sub-cultures of music and sport to national politics in Northern Ireland to global divides of religion and class, this module will introduce students to social groups.
We will explore what makes human social groups different from those of other animals, psychological explanations of group commitment, and anthropological literature on symbols, rituals, and politics to examine how particular social groups are created and sustained and how some individuals become willing to fight and die for their fellow group members.
Learning Outcomes
Be able to describe and consider the implications of:
1) The importance of social groups for individuals.
2) How group identities and traditions are created.
3) How groups continue from generation to generation.
4) The similarities and differences between national, religious, sporting, class, and interest groups.
5) How groups can convince individuals to die for them
6) Why intergroup prejudice and conflict is so common.
Skills
The module will help foster the students’:
Ability to consider the findings of multiple disciplines in addressing questions of human society.
Ability to present ideas clearly in both oral and written formats
Ability to research and analyse material from multiple disciplines
Ability to debate and defend arguments
Ability to engage in civil discourse about strongly held convictions
Ability to prepare concise and focused presentations
A World on the Move:Historical and Anthropological Approaches to Globalization
Overview
This modules provides an anthropological introduction to the study of globalisation, using comparative case studies from the contemporary and the historical record, and outlining links with perspectives in the field of history. Among the issues discussed are: global and local linkages in a world of economic, cultural and political connectivity; cultural convergence and the expression of cultural difference; migration, refugees, trafficked people, tourism; diasporas, the idea of home and national borders; transnational family networks in the contemporary world; global and local regimes of power and resistance.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, student should be aware of the complex ways in which globalising forces have influenced people's everyday experiences in different socio-cultural settings and changing historical contexts.
Skills
Students should develop skills in literacy; oral communication; the organisation of logical arguments; effective presentation of written work; and teamwork.
Anthropologists have analysed how people with different cultures' express themselves in a variety of ways through sound, text and image. Who is involved in specific expressive practices, who controls these practices, and which media are emphasised by different groups? Can textual, verbal, musical and material forms of expression be communicated across cultural boundaries? How do processes of cultural translation affect their meaning and impact on different lifeworlds? In this module, we will explore performative genres including musical activities and rituals; language-based forms of expression and processes of visual and material expression around artworks, objects and film documentation.
Learning Outcomes
Students should have acquired a basic understanding of key issues relating to the performative dimensions of cultural expression through a comparative analysis of ethnographic studies pertaining to sound, text and image. Students should be able to discuss how anthropology has approached expressive cultures and understand a range of cultural differences between themselves and others in this arena. The module should prepare them for further study in the fields of performative, textual and visual analysis.
Skills
Students should develop skills in literacy; oral communication; the organisation of logical arguments; effective presentation of written work; critical reflection on their own cultural assumptions and biases; and teamwork.
'Understanding Northern Ireland: History, Politics and Anthropology'
Overview
This level 1 module will use a variety of historical, political, sociological and anthropological perspectives to look at key issues relating to Northern Ireland. The course will provide an overview of the history and politics of the state of Northern Ireland. It will use anthropological understandings of ethnicity and nationalism to examine how Unionism and Irish Nationalism developed. It will look in detail at the various political solutions which have been applied to ‘the Province’, with a particular focus on the Peace Process. It will examine the realities and legacies of the conflict since the signing of the 1998 Agreement. It will explore the development of cultural and political 'traditions' examining, in particular, change and continuity in Irish society.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should
•be aware of how to utilise a range of disciplinary approaches (historical, political, sociological and anthropological) in helping to develope an understanding of division and conflict within Northern Ireland.
•be aware of how to examine how contemporary political communities use the past to construct traditions, ideologies and identities.
•understand how to explore the role of history in understandings of Northern Ireland.
•To develop a broad understanding of the politics of the state.
•understand and look at key contemporary issues in Northern Irish society.
•be able to assess and highlight various research approaches to Northern Ireland, and to explore how academic work can be applied.
Skills
Students will acquire skills in understanding written material, skills in weighing evidence and skills in debating controversial topics. The ability to read material, weigh judgements and engage with the topics being discussed. They should also develop oral presentation skills, essay writing skills and skills in accessing and analysing information, research evaluation. They will also gain experience of coping with controversial topics.
Course contents: Building on skills acquired at Level 1, this module aims to consolidate productive (writing and speaking) and receptive (reading and listening) skills in French language. Key components are: comprehension, translation into English and into French, résumé, grammar, CV preparation. The oral French component includes presentations and preparation for job interviews. Languages for special purposes strands equip students in law or business with skills for legal and professional contexts.
This module will contain the following elements:
1.Written language (2 hrs per week)
This component will focus on enhancing ability in written French through engagement with a range of journalistic and literary written texts at appropriate level. A variety of topics will be covered, dealing with current themes in society and topical issues. Written language tasks include translation (from and into French), résumé, comprehension and grammar exercises.
2.Oral language (1 hr per week)
This component will focus on enhancing ability in oral French. A variety of topics and themes are covered, which aim to develop knowledge of issues in present-day France, prepare students for the year abroad and for job interviews in the target language. Stimulus materials from a range of media (textual, visual, audio, video) are used.
3.Contextual Study (filière; 1 hr per week)
This component will raise awareness of cultural and linguistic issues in French and allow students to deepen their perspective of the field, as well as preparing students for a residence in a French-speaking country.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of the modules students should:
1) be able to demonstrate fluency, accuracy and spontaneity in spoken and written French, with a broad range of vocabulary and expression, so as to be able to discuss a variety of complex issues;
2) be able to read wide variety of French texts and identify important information and ideas within them;
3) be able to translate a range of texts into and from French;
4) have developed a detailed critical understanding of representative textual and other material;
5) be able to engage in complex problem-solving exercises.
Skills
On successful completion of the modules students should have developed the following range of skills:
Skills in written and oral expression; critical awareness and problem-solving; close textual analysis; translation; comprehension; presentation; IT skills; employability skills, such as interview technique and cv preparation.
This team-taught course examines social anthropology by looking at a number of its main theoretical debates. The course aims to develop in students a sound understanding of the different theoretical traditions in anthropology and an ability to identify and analyse the ideas, principles and assumptions on which these traditions are based
Learning Outcomes
This course also aims to impart the following:
The ability to paraphrase and summarize basic anthropological ideas encountered in texts
The ability to compare and contrast anthropological theories
The ability to identify the rhetorical devices used in theoretical exposition
A familiarity with the language and key concepts of anthropological theory
An understanding of the relationship between theory and ethnography – how theory informs ethnography and how ethnography affects theory.
Skills
More generally, the course aims to develop and enhance communication skills, including the ability to participate in discussions in class and the ability to deliver clear oral presentations. In addition to these oral skills, students will also practice and develop their skill in written communication in the form of the coursework essay.
Drawing on anthropological approaches to the study of religion, this course explores key themes and methods in the study of religious beliefs and practices. The course begins with a questioning of the notion of religion, drawing on key anthropological studies in the field. The course will also explore the intersection of religion, colonialism and post-colonialism (especially in relation to Christianity), religion and politics, and religion and science. The overall aim is to explore the role of religion in the structure of different societies, as well as the intersection of religion, community and identity.
The module will place a particular emphasis on more recent issues in the study of religion and in the practice of religious beliefs. Some of the topics covered in this direction are the relation of religion and modern scientific thought, Evangelism and global politics, religion and sex, atheism and non-belief, spirituality and mindfulness, religious humanitarianism. The overarching goal is to explore the diversity of religious practices and the ways in which contemporary religious beliefs and practices can be explored from an anthropological perspective
Learning Outcomes
Be able to understand: 1) Anthropological approaches to the study of religion 2) The intersection of religion, identity and belonging 3) How religion relates to morality and spirituality 4) The relationship between religion and science 5) The contributions of anthropology to the study of religious beliefs and practices 6) The role of religion in contemporary society
Skills
The module will help foster the students’: · Ability to consider the role of anthropology in engaging with key debates in contemporary societies · Ability to present ideas clearly in both oral and written formats · Ability to research and critically analyse material from multiple sources · Ability to debate and defend arguments · Ability to engage in groupwork · Ability to prepare concise and focused presentations
Apocalypse: Cultures, communities, and the end of the world
Overview
The aim of the course is to introduce students to historical and anthropological reflection on millennial / millenarian beliefs and movements across space and time. Taking a long view of historical events and using case studies of present-day groups that attend to ideas about the end of the world, taking advantage of the interdisciplinary character of the School, and using a wide range of primary sources, including novels, film, websites, and ethnographic case studies and film, this course will invite students to consider the ancient roots of millennial theory; its foundational texts, exponents / prophets and movements; examples of well-known failed and successful millennial claims and movements, including the Crusades, radical puritans, Mormons, Jewish Zionists, American evangelicals, new religious movements, including UFO and suicide cults, and radical Islamists; the use of millennial theory as presentist critique; the development of millennial majorities, and the social, cultural and political implications of their dominance; millennialism’s place in utopian theory; and a final consideration of theoretical rejoinders, in which the course leaders encourage students to consider whether millennial claims might be right – for example, in terms of global warming – and whether that might change the way in which historians and anthropologists should approach the subject.
Learning Outcomes
An understanding of the broad history and anthropology of millennial movements across space and time; An ability to discuss millennial ideas and movements using heuristic tools from history and anthropology; An ability to use electronic resources and to develop key research skills; Effective communication skills; An ability to write an informed analysis of historical problems discussed in the module; An ability to work independently.
Skills
Enhanced ability to think critically, reason logically, and evaluate evidence; Further develop communication skills, both written and oral; Critical appraisal of, engagement with, and effective use of a variety of historical and anthropological sources.
Preparing and guiding students for a period of personal research in the long vacation. Includes the selection of a research topic, documentary and bibliographical search, training in quantitative and qualitative research techniques. In addition, students will consider the ethical implications of their research, as well as show awareness of the risk factors involved.
Learning Outcomes
Students should develop the ability to devise an anthropological research topic and plan field research using existing social skills and standard research techniques. Students should also be able to assess the potential risks involved in their chosen research, and assess the ethical implications of their planned work.
Skills
Skills in devising a research proposal and in collecting and sorting information. Students should develop skills in the following areas:
- bibliographical research;
- design a manageable research project;
- assess usefulness of different research techniques
- assess ethical implications of research
- oral and written presentations
- time management
Hanging out on Street Corners: Creative, Public and applied Anthropology
Overview
The module is designed to introduce students to qualitative, ethnographic, methodologies, explore creative methods, and examine the applied use of ethnographic methods in the social sciences and policy analysis. It will discuss the differences between qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and the strengths and weaknesses of each. This will enable students to argue for the utility of ethnographic methodologies in further modules (dissertation).
Introducing the students to a range of ways of engaging with and understanding the social world, the module will look at the utility of ethnography and anthropology in applied situations. In doing so it will present an understanding of environments in which ethnography can be used in ‘problem solving’ and as a critical tool for ‘policy’ understanding.
Students will be exposed to specific case studies and examples and asked to develop their own skills through presentations, analysis of case studies, and workshops. The course will encourage internships and act as a preparation for dissertation modules in semester 2 (year 2) and semester 1 (year 3).
Students should develop an awareness of how qualitative/anthropological methods – ethnography and participant observation - might provide skills that have practical applications away from the academy.
Learning Outcomes
• To develop and understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• To engage with creative methods
• To develop skills necessary in the utilisation of anthropology such as report & proposal writing, team work, presentation and communication skills.
• To develop confidence and ability to work within a team and under pressure of time.
• To develop a critical understanding of ethnographic research when applied to areas of policy.
• To critically analyse ethical issues related to ethnographic fieldwork.
• To analyse the relationship between anthropology and other disciplines and professional areas.
• To develop early engagement with dissertation topics, possibly through internships.
Skills
• Ability to consider the findings of multiple disciplines in addressing questions of human society.
• Ability to utilise interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in teams
• Ability to present ideas clearly in both oral and written formats
• Ability to research and analyse material from multiple disciplines
• Ability to debate and defend arguments
• Ability to engage in civil discourse about strongly held convictions
• Ability to prepare concise and focused presentations
Northern Ireland’s peace process, the legacy of conflict and enduring divisions present a range of ongoing challenges for politics and society. Drawing on expertise from across the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics – combined with that of relevant practitioners, where possible – this interdisciplinary, team-taught module will examine a range of thematic challenges with respect to conflict, conflict transformation, peacebuilding, community relations, public representations of the past, and democratic governance. Rooted in the case of Northern Ireland, the module will also routinely consider broader comparisons with other cases and possible generalisation to other cases. It will be structured into three main parts. First, it will critically engage with Northern Ireland’s past. What were the underlying sources of division, and what can we learn about the complexities and nuances of identity over time? Second, it will explore how the past continues to interact with contemporary Northern Ireland. How is this past represented and understood in today’s public history landscape? Is it possible for Northern Ireland’s contested past to be publicly represented in ways that promote mutual understanding? Can Northern Ireland now be characterised as a ‘post-conflict’ region? Finally, the module will look ahead. Does the current political settlement represent a sustainable form of governance for the region? What do internal developments, such as demographic change, and external challenges, such as climate change, mean for Northern Ireland’s future? By critically engaging with these interrelated themes through relevant disciplinary perspectives, this module ultimately seeks to better understand contemporary Northern Ireland, the history that has shaped it, and the future directions that are possible.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the successful student should be able to demonstrate in assessed essays, coursework and tutorial contributions:
- A familiarity with a range of topical issues and debates in Northern Ireland, including their historical roots, their contemporary political significance, and their relevance for the region’s future;
- An understanding of the Northern Ireland conflict and the peace process, including the factors that contributed to both;
- A critical appreciation of the challenges associated with conflict transformation, peacebuilding, community relations, public representations of the past, and democratic governance in a divided society from a variety of disciplinary perspectives in the humanities and social sciences;
- Awareness of the role that arts, culture, heritage and public engagement with the past can play in reducing political and social divisions;
- A heightened sense of the complexity of identity, politics and place in Northern Ireland.
Skills
Intellectual skills
• Managing & Prioritizing Knowledge: identify relevant and subject-specific knowledge; manage such information in an independent manner;
• Analytical Thinking: identify, understand, interpret and evaluate relevant subject-specific arguments made by others; construct independent arguments;
• Critical & Independent Thinking: ability to think critically and construct one’s own position in relation to existing and ongoing debates in the field.
Professional and career development skills
• Communication Skills: ability to communicate clearly with others, both orally and in writing;
• Teamwork: ability to work with others in a team, negotiate conflicts and recognize different ways of learning;
• Diversity: ability to acknowledge and be sensitive to the range of cultural differences present in the learning environment;
• Self-Reflexivity: ability to reflect on one’s own progress and identify and act upon ones own development needs with respect to life-long learning and career development;
• Time Management: ability to negotiate diverse and competing pressures; cope with stress; and achieve a work / life balance .
Technical and practical skills
• Information Technology: demonstrate the knowledge and ability to use contemporary and relevant ICT.
Organizational skills
• Efficient and effective work practice: demonstrate ability to work efficiently to deadlines;
• Clear organisation of information: show efficiency in the organisation of large amounts of complex information and the ability to identify, describe and analyse the key features of the information;
• Organisation and communication: demonstrate ability to use evidence to develop logical and clear argument; show aptitude for the effective use of information in a direct and appropriate way;
• Enterprising thinking: Demonstrate ability to think and argue in novel and enterprising ways, to display originality of thought and argument and the ability to clearly support arguments in innovative ways.
Being the most complex social species, human beings possess many competencies to deal with social interaction, including the capacity to make moral judgments that evaluate and regulate human behaviour (i.e., judgments on whether an action is right or wrong, and on whether someone deserves reward or punishment). Drawing from the anthropological and psychological literature on the matter, the module introduces the student to the various aspects of human morality, discussing the following types of issues:
- Are moral judgments totally relative to one’s culture or are there universal components of human morality?
- Is human morality based solely on religion?
- Are moral judgments framed by distinct concerns such as care/harm, justice/injustice, loyalty/betrayal, hierarchy/subversion, and purity/impurity or are they always related to a specific concern with basic human rights?
- Can the configuration of different moral concerns shed light on different political attitudes and ideologies, such as conservatism and liberalism, and their disagreement on a variety of topics, such as abortion, homosexuality, and economic equality?
- Although the intentional causation of harm is normally prohibited, why in many situations (e.g., in the punishment of heinous crimes, in the interrogation of suspected terrorists, or in the context of wars and revolutions) people have conflicting intuitions about the boundaries of such prohibition?
Learning Outcomes
Be able to describe and consider the implications of:
- current anthropological and psychological approaches to the various aspects of human morality;
- the interplay between cultural learning and basic psychological dispositions in the domain of morality
- moral judgments to politics and the law.
Skills
The module will help foster students’:
- Ability to consider the findings of multiple disciplines in addressing the topic of morality.
- Ability to present ideas clearly in both oral and written formats.
- Ability to research and critically analyse material from multiple disciplines.
- Ability to debate and defend arguments.
This module will bring together staff from a range of disciplinary fields including anthropology, film studies, and museum studies, in an examination of media, visual, and digital anthropology. The aim of the module is to offer students analytical skills to engage with the notion of the ‘visual’ and ‘media’ in research practice. A key focus will be placed on visual ethnographic methods, from ethnographic film, to photography, museum display and performance, as well as an examination of digital/social media and their anthropological significance. Some additional key themes will be those of the crisis of representation in anthropology, globalization and the dominion of the ‘visual’, sensorial and digital methods in the field, media and the social, the ethics of visual/digital anthropology and virtual/collaborative practices in ethnographic fieldwork.
Learning Outcomes
On completion, students will:
· be familiar with key issues in the study of the ‘visual’ and media in anthropology
· be able to recognize and critically assess the role of visual and other media in different cultures
· understand how visual methods can be utilized in ethnographic fieldwork
· understands the ethics and responsibilities involved in the use of visual and virtual/digital methods in ethnographic fieldwork
· be able to historicise the development of visual and media anthropology
· be able to employ different visual media (photography, ethnographic film, visual blogs, visual material) in interactive critical discussions with peers and employ visual methods in the practice of ethnographic fieldwork.
Skills
Academic reading and writing
Oral communication of theoretical and ethnographic data
Media literacy and criticism
Effective presentation of written work
Critical reflection on ethnographic films, museum displays and photography in anthropology
Creative work with electronic audio/visual media.
An exploration of linguistic varieties of contemporary French, including regional variation, the role of socioeconomic status, age, gender etc and varieties of French spoken outside France.
Learning Outcomes
A detailed critical understanding of linguistic varieties of contemporary French, including phonological, syntactic and lexical variation.
Skills
Marshalling and synthesising diverse material; critical awareness; skills in written and oral expression, and in linguistic analysis.
Algeria and France: Trauma, Forgetting, Re-Membering
Overview
Algeria was a prized French colony between 1830 and 1962. Its bloody liberation struggle from France was marked by atrocities on both sides. France’s role in such practices as torture, the enforced disappearance of Algerian nationalists, and most shockingly, in the police massacre of dozens of peaceful Algerian protesters, who were thrown into the Seine in October 1962, was for many years repressed and denied. The legacy of this conflict continues to determine relations between France and North Africa, has had a profound influence on politics and culture in contemporary France, and indeed impacts contemporary international relations more generally.
This module explores this contested, and still unprocessed, past, examining a number of films and texts that interrogate the war and its aftermath. It also introduces students to a number of significant theoretical ideas (Pierre Nora’s lieu de mémoire; Cathy Caruth’s trauma and latency; Henri Rousso’s ‘passé qui ne passe pas’; Michael Rothberg’s multidirectional memory) that help us to better understand the operation—and manipulation—of memory, the impact of trauma, and the difficulty in coming to terms, over generations, with a painful past.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of French colonialism in general, and a more in-depth understanding of the French colonial presence in North Africa
2. Be able to analyse in detail a range of literary and cinematic works, in order to understand how the story of the Algerian war and its aftermath is presented, and to what political ends
3. Be able to engage critically and sensitively with a range of fictional materials, presented from radically different political perspectives (eg French setter/pied noir; harki, Algerian Muslim) and have reached an understanding of what this multiperspectivity brings in terms of understanding a still very unsettled narrative
4. Have understood the evolution in our understanding of this conflict, taking account of French denial of its very existence, the role that propaganda played for both sides, the significance of intergenerational memory and forgetting/repression, and the effect of the opening of the archives
5. Understand the continuing importance of this historical moment for contemporary politics
6. Demonstrate understanding of contemporary theories of memory, trauma and repression
Skills
· Close textual analysis
· Close visual analysis
· Comparative analysis
· Critical engagement
· Independent research and time management
As the effects of political and industrial revolution in the nineteenth century transformed Paris into one of the great metropolises of the modern world, it became identified as a place of contrasts and contradictions which challenged, fascinated and even appalled observers. This module explores representations of modern life following Haussmann’s controversial redesign of Paris in the 1850s and l860s. Focusing on the impact of a changing urban space on gender, class, politics, capitalism and social experience, we examine the multiple and shifting identities of this city of modernity in a variety of texts (both literary and non-literary), as well as the narrative techniques used to represent its material, cultural and emotional effects.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
a. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the chosen texts, including reference to their place in the historical / literary / cultural context of their time;
b. Understand better how a variety of writers integrated Paris into their writings, and how they depicted social, cultural and economic transformations;
c. Discuss, in oral and written form, the essential features of urban space and life in Paris as depicted by a number of French writers
Skills
This module will equip students with the capacity to:
a. Analyse selected target language texts, relating them to significant elements in their cultural / historical / generic context.
b. Deploy close reading skills and make meaningful contrasts and comparisons between the various texts studied.
c. Adopt a critical approach to the selection and organisation of material in order to produce, to a deadline, a written or oral argument.
d. Research, plan and present a cogent and sustained essay, in English or French, on a topic chosen from a range of options provided.
e. Demonstrate general competence in word-processing and in use of the Internet.
This module introduces students to key concepts and topics in French sociolinguistics. It explores language variation and change in French along a number of social dimensions, including the age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status of the speaker. It will also look at the effect of situational variables such as style, register, medium and context on language use. The module will examine linguistic data on variation in pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary, and we will also consider some key theoretical and methodological issues which arise in the study of sociolinguistics.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, students will:
• be able to identify and explain the main dimensions of sociolinguistic variation and the ways in which these affect language use;
• be able to identify and explain the main dimensions of situational variation and the ways in which these affect language use;
• be able to assess the significance of linguistic data relating to areas of variation ;
• be able to critically assess some theoretical and methodological issues concerned with the study of sociolinguistics;
• have an understanding of some topics of language variation in French in pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary;
• develop the ability to marshal large amounts of information and to construct a detailed argument;
• develop transferable skills in critical thinking, approaching the analysis of data, written and oral expression, group work, and presentation.
Skills
Critical thinking; approaching the analysis of data; written and oral expression skills; group work; presentation
Students complete a work, volunteer or study placement in fulfilment of the residence abroad requirements of their Modern Languages degree.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to demonstrate:
- Advanced linguistic skills
- Enhanced cultural and intercultural awareness
- An understanding of the work environment and professional skills OR an understanding of a different university system and enhanced academic skills
- Personal development
These skills will be assessed as part of the co-requisite module, either FRH3050 or SPA3050
Skills
Students undertaking the placement will develop their skills in the following areas: linguistic skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking); professional or academic skills; cultural and intercultural awareness; personal development.
This module will require the student to reflect on their extended period of residence abroad and the skills acquired as a result. It will include a written assessment in the target language or languages. There will also be an oral examination in the target language or languages to be completed before re-enrolment into Level 3.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module it is intended that you will have developed skills in the following areas: (i) Linguistic Skills: demonstrate advanced competence in the target language in both oral and written contexts; be able to understand the spoken language at near-native level; have developed enhanced strategies for independent language acquisition; be able to prepare and deliver an analytical report and oral presentation in the target language (ii) Academic/Professional Skills: have demonstrated an ability to adapt to a new educational/professional context; be able to analyse and reflect critically on these experiences, and to communicate your conclusions orally and in writing; have developed an awareness and understanding of the structures and ethos of an educational institution (school/university) or workplace in a foreign country, and draw comparisons with the UK/Ireland; have enhanced your employability profile (iii) Cultural Awareness: have gained an enhanced understanding of the culture and society of the foreign country through the experience of living and working/studying there; be able to draw comparisons with those of the UK/Ireland, and reflect critically on your own culture and society.
Skills
At the end of the module, it is intended that you will: have enhanced personal skills in six key areas (self-management & development, managing tasks, communication, working with others, applying knowledge, problem solving); be able to articulate these skills in such a way that you are able to maximise personal development during residence abroad for your future career.
Building on skills acquired at level 2, this module aims to develop the skills and understanding required to deal with a broad variety of language tasks. Linguistic, sociolinguistic and cultural awareness will be consolidated and deepened. The module will contain the following elements:
1. Written Language Skills (2 hours per week) which will offer students an opportunity to enrich their linguistic skills, consolidate grammatical awareness and develop facility in handling the structures of standard, modern French, across a variety of genres, by means of practical engagement with a range of texts carefully selected for both their linguistic interest (varying in style and register) and the insights they offer into aspects of contemporary France and the Francophone world. Emphasis is placed on accuracy, fluent and idiomatic expression, and linguistic flair. A variety of language acquisition and development methods will be employed: grammar practice, editing work, essay-writing, translation into English and into French.
2. Spoken Language (1 hour per week), which will focus on aspects of contemporary France and the Francophone world, with the aim of training students to speak accurately and fluently in French, to express a range of different ideas and opinions, and to organise material logically and coherently when presenting. This component of the module includes a presentation and extended discussion.
3. Contextual Study (1hr per week). This component, which will vary across the two semesters, will deepen and contextualise the other elements of the module by placing them in a broader cultural context and will include, for example, literary texts, films, art and linguistics. A specific languages for special purposes strands equip students in law or business with skills for legal and professional contexts.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of the modules students should:
1) be able to demonstrate a high level of fluency, accuracy and spontaneity in written and oral French, including the use of a broad variety of linguistic structures and vocabulary;
2) be able to deal with a broad variety of material in the target language, including material which is complex and abstract, and which involves a variety of genres and registers; 3) be able to demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the structures of the language and their broader linguistic context and the ability to use appropriate reference works effectively;
4) be able to structure and present arguments at a high level in a range of formats and registers.
Skills
On successful completion of the modules students should have developed the following range of skills: Communication skills; translation skills; textual analysis; essay writing; lexicographical skills; IT skills; presentation skills; employability skills, such as report writing and editing skills; problem solving and critical thinking.
The writing and presentation of a dissertation normally based on first-hand field research.
Learning Outcomes
To organise and analyse research data and to be self-reflexive.
Skills
Students should develop skills in the following areas:
- bibliographical research and documentary analysis;
- organising and retrieving information;
- writing a long piece of work;
- time management
In Gods We Trust: The New Anthropology of Religion
Overview
Drawing on anthropological approaches to the study of religion, this course explores key themes and methods in the study of religious beliefs and practices. The course begins with a questioning of the notion of religion, drawing on key anthropological studies in the field. The course will also explore the intersection of religion, colonialism and post-colonialism (especially in relation to Christianity), religion and politics, and religion and science. The overall aim is to explore the role of religion in the structure of different societies, as well as the intersection of religion, community and identity.
The module will place a particular emphasis on more recent issues in the study of religion and in the practice of religious beliefs. Some of the topics covered in this direction are the relation of religion and modern scientific thought, Evangelism and global politics, religion and sex, atheism and non-belief, spirituality and mindfulness, religious humanitarianism. The overarching goal is to explore the diversity of religious practices and the ways in which contemporary religious beliefs and practices can be explored from an anthropological perspective
Learning Outcomes
Be able to understand: 1) Anthropological approaches to the study of religion 2) The intersection of religion, identity and belonging 3) How religion relates to morality and spirituality 4) The relationship between religion and science 5) The contributions of anthropology to the study of religious beliefs and practices 6) The role of religion in contemporary society
Skills
The module will help foster the students’: · Ability to consider the role of anthropology in engaging with key debates in contemporary societies · Ability to present ideas clearly in both oral and written formats · Ability to research and critically analyse material from multiple sources · Ability to debate and defend arguments · Ability to engage in groupwork · Ability to prepare concise and focused presentations
This module introduces students to the field of Cognition and Culture and is composed of three sections. The first addresses the question of why social anthropologists might wish to consider developments in the cognitive and evolutionary sciences. The second introduces students to different approaches on the intersection of cognition and culture (e.g. cultural epidemiology, gene-culture coevolution, cultural schema theory, etc.). The final section applies these approaches to particular anthropological topics (e.g. kinship, religion, morality, and gender), allowing students to consider the contributions of different theories and methodologies.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
a) Discuss arguments for and against the inclusion of the cognitive and evolutionary sciences in social anthropology.
b) Describe and compare different approaches on the intersection of cognition and culture, including evolutionary psychology, cultural epidemiology, gene-culture co-evolution, cultural group selection, and cultural schema theory.
c) Critically discuss the different approaches in relation to both evidence and theoretical coherence.
d) Critically evaluate the contributions of cognitive and evolutionary approaches to enduring anthropological topics and questions such as kinship, gender, religion, hierarchy, and morality.
e) Describe how a cognitive and evolutionary approach can contribute to ethnographic research.
Skills
The module will help foster the students’:
Ability to consider the findings of multiple disciplines in addressing anthropological questions.
Ability to present ideas clearly in both oral and written formats.
Ability to research and critically analyse material from multiple disciplines.
The aim of this course is to offer students a comprehensive introduction to key themes and issues emerging from the anthropological study of Roma, Gypsies and Traveller communities.
We will start by critically examining some of the main ideas through which Roma communities have been imagined and represented in popular discourse and academia.
We will do this by engaging with key anthropological studies of Roma, highlighting the connection between the study of Roma and central anthropological themes: such as kinship, exchange, personhood and cosmology.
We will then look at what happens when broader processes of globalisation and Europeanisation take place, with a focus placed on migration and political mobilisation.
Finally, we will engage with new approaches to the anthropological study of Roma, with a focus placed on the analysis of representation, misrepresentation and collaboration between anthropologists and Roma communities.
Some of the key themes the course will explore are: cosmology and personhood, marginality and identity, migration and borders, politicisation of Roma issues and religious mobilisation, hybridity and collaboration.
Learning Outcomes
The main objectives of this course are to:
- Enable students to familiarise themselves with ethnographic studies of Roma communities
- Enable students to engage with some of the main anthropological themes in the study of Roma and other minority groups
- Help students draw on different ethnographically informed studies in order to critically challenge homogenising representations
- Use ethnographic studies on Roma in order to engage with anthropological theory and debates in the discipline
- Consolidate students’ knowledge of anthropological methodology with a focus on minority groups
- Familiarise students with the socio-political changes brought about by the process of Europeanisation in relation to minority groups in Europe
- Enable students’ comparative analysis of anthropological themes in relation to marginalised communities
- Develop basic conceptual tools for approaching the subject and analysis of the assigned texts
Skills
Transferable skills:
- Ability to critically engage with ethnographic texts
- Develop basic conceptual tools for approaching the subject and analysis of the assigned texts
- Develop presentation skills
- Ability to research critically and analyse material from multiple disciplines
- Ability to debate and construct arguments
- Ability to present ideas clearly in both oral and written formats
From national anthems to Hip-Hop, and from K-Pop to the Proms, music is a means of performing and contesting power. Drawing on perspectives from ethnomusicology, sound studies, and the anthropology of music, this module provides students with the opportunity to work intensively on a series of topics related to music, power, and conflict in both historical and contemporary contexts. We will explore a range of key themes, including sounds of protest and resistance; music, conflict, and reconciliation; and the performance of race and gender. This will be carried out through interactive class sessions and innovative assignments, as well as listening to and reflecting upon music itself. As anthropologists, we are less concerned about the ‘notes on the page’. Instead, we will focus on music as a social and cultural practice, as a site of contestation, and a source for ways of (re)imagining, (re)conceptualising and (re)organising society.
In this module, we will use music as a window into the lives of others (and ourselves), which will help us understand different social, cultural, and political agendas and the issues that matter most to people in society. In so doing, we will grapple with a range of questions, including: how does music reflect the cultures that produce it? How is music used to represent a nation or group of people? Can music play a role in conflict transformation? How does musical performance intersect with identity? Can music be used as a tool for social justice? Should some music be banned? Does music need to be decolonised? Our classes will engage with diverse case studies such as: western classical music and the legacy of white supremacy; musical populism in Latin America; nationalism and identity politics in the Eurovision song contest; soundscapes of torture and detainment; and rap, drill, and moral panic.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students will:
• understand anthropological and ethnomusicological theory associated with the study of music and humanly organised sound(s)
• be able to identify and critically assess a variety of music and sound cultures
• understand how performance and aesthetics impacts the construction of sociocultural identities and political circumstances
• have written critical texts engaging with academic and popular debates about diverse music and sound scenes
present work in a variety of formats, including a synthesis of class readings and discussions, oral presentations, and a well-crafted research paper that demonstrates a firm understanding of the connections between music, power, and conflict.
Skills
By the end of the module, students should have developed the following key skills:
Generic
• Effective presentation of written work at a level appropriate to the year of studies.
• Competency in presenting orally findings from readings and primary research.
• The ability to research both independently and as part of groups.
Module-Specific
• have created and curated a digital playlist on a topic related to music, power, and conflict
• have written an ethnographic vignette on the use of sound as a creative practice
• have written critical texts engaging with academic and popular debates about diverse music and sound scenes
Human-Animal Relations: An Anthropological Perspective
Overview
Anthropology is 'the study of Man', but this module sets out to explore the boundaries of 'humanity'. The focus is on human relationships with animals in different societies and cultures around the world. We shall look at useful animals, at harmful animals, and at symbolic animals. We shall also look at animals as objects (which are exploited in myriad ways) and at animals as persons (with which humans enter into intimate relations). These themes will be examined by means of a number of detailed ethnographic case studies of human-animal relations in different societies.
Learning Outcomes
Students should have developed a critical understanding of the relationship between humans and animals across time and space a sound knowledge of the relevant ethnographic and comparative research in these areas. The module introduces students to theoretical approaches to understanding human-animal relations as a complement to their training in anthropological theory and methodology acquired in their other courses.
Skills
To develop critical analytical skills and presentational skills both oral and written. Bibliographic search skills and the ability to develop written argument.
Extra-muros: language, film and literature in the banlieues
Overview
This interdisciplinary module allows students to critically examine the cultural representation of France’s densely populated and multicultural urban suburbs or banlieues, through the analysis and critique of the language, film, literature, and music which has developed in that context. Students will examine the contentious label of ‘banlieue’ as a genre in film and literature, and its contested status as applied to varieties of Modern French language use.
The module situates the banlieues in their sociological background, drawing on a range of press reports concerning key events like the 2005 and 2023 riots and the Justice pour Adama movement to critically evaluate the representation of these urban zones in French-language media. Students will be enabled to use techniques from linguistics such as Critical Discourse Analysis to engage with and evaluate media discourse about the banlieues, and to assess the realism of dialogue in fictional representations.
The module interrogates the diachronic development of cultural representations of the banlieues of Francophone Europe, as well as regional specificities in representation through the examination of a variety of texts across time-periods and regions.
Texts studied will vary from year to year in response to current events and student interests, but examples of likely texts include Kassiovitz, La Haine (1994), Sciamma, Bande de filles (2016), Ly, Les Misérables (2020), Begag, Le gone du chaâba (1986), Guène, Kiffe kiffe demain (2004) and Diallo, Deux secondes d’air qui brûle (2022) which will be approached alongside pertinent current music and Netflix’s Nouvelle École rap-reality show.
The module fosters media literacy and builds on literary, linguistic and film analysis approached in earlier modules. The module problematises representations of banlieue societies across contemporary cultural outputs and language use.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to:
- explain the cultural importance of the banlieues in contemporary francophone Europe
- synthesise material from a variety of primary sources to critically evaluate cultural and linguistic representations of francophone society
- evince detailed understanding of the linguistic properties and social meanings of specific French varieties
- analyse societal representations in fictional and real-life contexts with reference to appropriate scholarship
Skills
This module will develop your skills in:
- intercultural awareness
- critical judgement
- textual, literary and linguistic interpretation and analysis
This module will introduce to the art and structures of storytelling in multimedia cultural industries. It will discuss and analyse how contents are presented in various textual and media forms, from the novel to film, popular songs, TV series, news items, commercials and stand up comedy. Discourse analysis and media criticism will provide some of the tools and theoretical frames for reading the sources studied. Special attention will be paid to the challenges faced by each medium in relation to verisimilitude and how narrative codes can be used to emphasize romance or realism in order to influence the audience.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should;
Be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of discourse analysis and media criticism and will be able to apply these for both contextual analysis and textual commentary purposes in their academic and professional cursus.
Be able to operate understanding of key concepts of social, media, literary and film criticism.
Have a familiarity with French mass media discourse and icons of French culture and an ability to contextualize them within historical, political and ideological debates.
Demonstrate engagement with seminal critical texts and reflected on issues of representation and the construction of discourse/images.
Skills
On successful completion of this module the students should have developed:
- Analytical skills in relation to both still and moving images and be able to draw upon relevant critical sources in order to present structured and cohesive arguments in oral and written form.
Transferable skills in group work, time management and in the use of Powerpoint.
This module considers the link between linguistic and societal issues with a focus on three topics that regularly appear in French discourse on language. The first, lexical borrowing and the influence of English on French, has traditionally provoked strong opinions in the French-speaking world, and the growing influence of American culture in recent years has brought these concerns to the fore.
The second topic, spelling reform, addresses questions around whether written language is capable of reflecting spoken registers, and whether spelling should be updated to reflect language change.
The third topic, écriture inclusive, relates to contemporary debates around gender and social justice, and to the role of language as a political tool. Together, these three topics encourage reflection on the broader question of whether linguistic forms should be explicitly prescribed, and by whom, and how this reflects both wider power structures in French-speaking society and how we should learn and teach French as a second language. In studying these issues, students will gain insight into key theories and debates in the field of linguistics
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
Recognise contentious areas in contemporary French language use and use appropriate linguistic terminology to describe them.
Understand the social factors underpinning contemporary debates in linguistics.
Reflect on how social issues underpin the forms of language we learn and teach, and how this has influenced their own trajectories as learners and speakers of French.
Skills
Reading and analysis of academic and press articles
The course focuses on an emerging field of Francophone Studies interested in Chinese-born artists and their use of French as the medium for their works, including novels, plays, poetry, paintings, calligraphy, films and essays. They reveal a unique perspective on the themes of migration, exile and identity, while raising questions about language, translation and minority literature. Situated between two cultures, these works are also considered in the light of East-West power relations, notably relating to theories in Orientalism and Chinese overseas writing.
Learning Outcomes
It is intended that students, by the end of this module, will:
- be able to debate various perspectives relating to migration, exile and identity in the four primary works;
- have a critical awareness of the historical and cultural backgrounds of the works;
- possess knowledge of the artists and apply relevant biographical information to analyses;
- be able to construct and sustain an argument providing appropriate examples and drawing on relevant critical and theoretical material.
Skills
Students will develop useful transferable skills in the areas of participation in discussion, debate and communicating ideas effectively to a small group.
They will be able to argue a point of view with the aid of relevant examples and referring to secondary materials.
They will become familiar with the retrieval of information from a range of sources, including the library.
Post A-level French
ABB including A-level French.
Note: for applicants who have not studied A-level French then AS-level French grade B would be acceptable in lieu of A-level French.
Beginners French
ABB + GCSE French grade B or evidence of linguistic ability in another language.
Note: the Beginners' option is not available to those who have studied A-level or AS-level French.
A maximum of one BTEC/OCR Single Award or AQA Extended Certificate will be accepted as part of an applicant's portfolio of qualifications with a Distinction* being equated to a grade A at A-level and a Distinction being equated to a grade B at A-level.
Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3 including Higher Level grade H3 in French
International Baccalaureate Diploma
33 points overall, including 6(French),5,5 at Higher Level
Graduate
A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree, provided any subject requirement is also met
Note
All applicants must have GCSE English Language grade C/4 or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.
How we choose our students
Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by individual University Schools. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.
Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form, which is considered by the Selector for that particular subject or degree programme along with a member of administrative staff from the Admissions Service. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.
For entry last year, applicants for this BA programme must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of 5 GCSE passes at grade C/4 or better (to include English Language). Normally A-level French is required for the French option. A beginners French option is also available to applicants who have not studied the subject to any level but who show evidence of linguistic ability, normally GCSE grade B/6 or higher in another language.
Offers are normally made on the basis of 3 A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered. The offer for repeat applicants is set in terms of 3 A-levels and may be one grade higher than that asked from first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.
Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification), or one A-level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.
For applicants offering the Irish Leaving Certificate, please note that performance at Junior Certificate is taken into account and applicants must hold a minimum of 5 IJC grades C/Merit. The Selector also checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of Leaving Certificate subjects can be satisfied.
BTEC Extended Diplomas/National Extended Diploma , Higher National Certificates, and Higher National Diplomas can be considered, provided the language requirements for entry are also fulfilled.
The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of BA degrees, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.
A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking 4 A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.
Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview, though there are some exceptions and specific information is provided with the relevant subject areas.
If you are made an offer then you may be invited to an Open Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.
If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.
International Students
Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.
English Language Requirements
An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.
International Students - Foundation and International Year One Programmes
Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.
These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.
Skills to enhance employability
Studying for an Anthropology degree at Queen‘s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are increasingly valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions. Through classroom modules, optional placements and your own anthropological fieldwork, you will gain valuable skills in critical thinking, cross-cultural understanding, researching, interviewing, writing, and presenting.
Employment after the Course
Career pathways typically lead to employment in:
• User Experience
• Consultancy
• Civil Service
• Development, NGO work, International Policy, Public Sector
• Journalism, Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, Community Work
• Arts Administration, Creative Industries, Media, Performance, Heritage, Museums, Tourism
• Market Research
• Public and Private Sector related to: Religious Negotiation, Multiculturalism/Diversity
• Teaching in schools
• Academic Teaching and Research
• Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, Community Work, Journalism
Employment Links
A growing number of internship opportunities will match dissertation students with organisations and institutions relevant to their career paths by building on local and international staff networks and professional connections.
Current placement partners include
• Operation Wallacea, which works with teams of ecologists, scientists and academics on a variety of bio-geographical projects around the globe.
• Belfast Migration Centre
• Heavy Sound (Edinburgh)
Professional Opportunities
International Travel
As part of undergraduate training, students have the opportunity to use practice-based research skills during eight weeks of ethnographic fieldwork in areas of their specialisation, which can entail working with organisations around the globe.
Prizes and Awards
Students of languages receive a certificate of distinction for first class performance in the Level 3 oral. There are a number of undergraduate prizes for top-performing students from the School of HAPP and AEL eg Anne Maguire Memorial Prize
Degree Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase in each year of the course. Fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Tuition fee rates are calculated based on a student’s tuition fee status and generally increase annually by inflation. How tuition fees are determined is set out in the Student Finance Framework.
Additional course costs
Students are required to take the Social Anthropology dissertation module. This will involve undertaking fieldwork in the summer vacation period between years 2 and 3. The cost will vary depending on the location of the fieldwork, ranging from £100-£500. The School will provide financial support up to a maximum of £300.
Students are required to take the Social Anthropology dissertation module. This will involve undertaking fieldwork in the summer vacation period between years 2 and 3. The cost will vary depending on the location of the fieldwork, ranging from £100-£500. The School will provide financial support up to a maximum of £400.
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.
Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.
Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.
If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.
Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.
There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
How do I fund my study?
There are different tuition fee and student financial support arrangements for students from Northern Ireland, those from England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain), and those from the rest of the European Union.
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at:www.ucas.com/students.
When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in autumn 2025 from early September 2024.
The advisory closing date for the receipt of applications for entry in 2025 is still to be confirmed by UCAS but is normally in late January (18:00). This is the 'equal consideration' deadline for this course.
Applications fromUK and EU (Republic of Ireland)students after this date are, in practice, considered by Queen’s for entry to this course throughout the remainder of the application cycle (30 June 2025) subject to the availability of places. If you apply for 2025 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.
Applications fromInternational and EU (Other) studentsare normally considered by Queen's for entry to this course until 30 June 2025. If you apply for 2025 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.
Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.
The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.
Additional Information for International (non-EU) Students
Applying through UCAS Most students make their applications throughUCAS(Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen's. The UCAS application deadline for international students is 30 June 2025.
Applying direct The Direct Entry Application form is to be used by international applicants who wish to apply directly, and only, to Queen's or who have been asked to provide information in advance of submitting a formal UCAS application.Find out more.
Applying through agents and partners The University’s in-country representatives can assist you to submit a UCAS application or a direct application. Please consult theAgent Listto find an agent in your country who will help you with your application to Queen’s University.
