PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Anthropology
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
BSc
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
L602
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
2002 intake onwards
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Social and Historical Sciences
Parent Department:
Anthropology
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Length of the programme:
AAA-AAB at A Level + pass at AS level
International Baccalaureate 36 points + 17 at Higher
Other qualifications: see website
3 years
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
Level 6
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-andguidance/publication?PubID=2909
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology/studying/bsc_anthropology
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Board of Examiners in Anthropology
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
n/a
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
Develop learners’ interest in and knowledge and understanding of a broad based approach to
Anthropology through the study of humankind in the widest sense. The programme aims to develop
students’ understanding of Biological Anthropology as the study of past and present human evolution
and the causes of physical diversity; Social Anthropology through the comparative study of societies,
historically and culturally, in interaction with one another as well as separately, and Material Culture
through the evidence of people’s construction of their material world in both the past and the present,
focusing on the social life of things in different cultural settings.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
- broad based anthropology including
social and biological and material culture
aspects
- specialist anthropology and
multidisciplinary breadth spanning social,
biological and cultural fields
- core topics in human evolution, kinship,
material culture and social theory
- methods used in biological and social
anthropology and material culture
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Lectures, seminars, small group presentations and
discussion, tutorials, laboratory and practical work,
independent directed reading, interactive teamwork,
video, film and web based courses, intensive contact
with and feedback from research active staff and
postgraduate teaching assistants, Non-assessed
formative coursework helps students gain confidence in
dealing with a range of complex theoretical and
empirical material.
Assessment:
Assessed formative coursework, assessed summative
coursework, unseen examination (essay, short answer,
Multiple Choice Questions MCQ), lab books, posters,
final year dissertation (oral (PowerPoint) presentation of
dissertation and written report are both assessed).
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
1. reason critically;
2. apply social and evolutionary
anthropological approaches;
3. identify and solve problems;
4. demonstrate and exercise
independence of mind and thought.
5. critical reading, analysis and
interpretation evaluate and integrate
conflicting sources, evidence,
theories and interpretation
6. evaluate and integrate conflicting
sources, evidence, theories and
interpretation.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching
and learning programme outlined above. Each course,
whatever the format of the teaching, involves discussion
of key issues, practice in applying concepts both orally
and in writing, analysis and interpretation of material,
and individual feedback sessions for students on work
produced.
Assessment:
The variety of assessment methods employed all place
great emphasis (as shown in their assessment criteria)
on the learner's ability to demonstrate skills (1-6)
through the production of coherent written and practical
responses either to problems or tasks set. The
individual studies report is the culmination of their
development and their demonstration of their skills and
also allows the students to develop an in-depth
knowledge of an aspect of anthropology which interests
them.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
1. search, retrieve, sift and select and
analyse material from a variety of
sources;
2. plan, undertake and report a
bibliographically-based piece of
research;
3. use basic anthropological field
methods within each of the three subdisciplines in order to collect data to
answer specific questions.
4. apply key methods and concepts of
social and evolutionary theory and
analysis.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All learners receive initial guidance on how to identify,
locate and use both electronic and printed material
available in libraries and elsewhere. Comprehensive
bibliographies are provided for each course at the
outset, as are guidelines for the production of
coursework essays and extended essays. Lectures,
practicals, tutorials and seminars are given on key social
anthropological, material culture and biological
anthropological concepts, theories and ethnographies.
Throughout the first two years of their studies, learners
have to follow courses in all three subdisciplines, giving
them a broad overview of Anthropology. Practical
classes enable learners to understand the different
methods used in anthropology and to have hands on
experience in analysing fossil and cultural material.
Ethnographic courses ensure all learners understand the
key role of ethnography in social anthropology.
Assessment:
Skills 1,2 and 4 are assessed through assessed essays,
unseen examinations, projects and the third year
extended individual studies report. Skill 3 is assessed
through practical books written up during and after
practical classes.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
1. structure and communicate ideas
effectively both orally and in writing;
2. manage time and work to deadlines;
3. participate constructively in groups;
4. work independently;
5. find information and use information
technology, including word
processing and Powerpoint
6. be self-reliant;
7. assess the relevance and importance
of the ideas of others.
8. understand graphical and quantitative
material and undertake simple
quantitative analysis
9. optional – opportunities to develop
research skills to higher levels in
field/lab work, genealogical , textual,
archival analysis among other
possibilities
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All courses require regular written work, usually in the
form of essays, and regular feedback on this is given to
the learner to develop not only their understanding but
also their powers of expression (skill 1). Skill 2 is learnt
(rather than taught) through the management of time to
meet the various and sometimes conflicting deadlines
(all notified at the outset of each course) for submission
of coursework. Skills 3 and 7 are developed in classes,
seminars and tutorials, which rely on discussion and
interaction, as well as presentations given by individuals
or groups of students. Skills 4, 6 and 9 are particularly
developed during the individual studies project which is
the student’s personal research interest. IT skills are
largely developed through individual learning and
through some of the practical classes. Quantitative
analysis is developed through biological anthropology
practical classes. An assessed presentation forms an
integral part of the individual studies project, and both
group and individual presentations are required for many
of the optional courses.
Assessment:
Effective communication of ideas is an important
criterion in assessing all areas of a learner's work, and
the regular feedback as well as the final mark reflect
this. The products of skills 4, 6 and 7 are assessed by
both the coursework and extended essays produced,
which, although supervised, are nevertheless the results
of independent thought and work/research by the
learner. Skill 5 is assessed through the assembly of
necessary information for essays, etc., and their
production on PCs. Skills 2 and 3 are not formally
assessed. Skill 8 is assessed through the practical
books submitted for practical courses and through
students ability to synthesise quantitative data in essays
and exams. Skill 1 is formally assessed in the
presentation component of the individual studies project
and in some optional courses. It is not formally
assessed in other components of the programme. IT
skills are not formally assessed but are an essential
aspect underlying the production of most pieces of
assessed work.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Professor Sara Randall (Chair of Departmental Teaching Committee)
Name(s):
Date of Production:
5th March 2003
Date of Review:
November 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
November 2015
November 2015