PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
MSc in Social and Cultural Anthropology
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MSc
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
L6U4
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
2009 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:
www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology/
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time and Part-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospstudents/gradprospectus/shs/anthropology/taught/index.shtml
Length of the programme:
1 calendar year full-time, two calendar years part-time
(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 7
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/default.
asp
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
Core course assessed by unseen written exam and essays.
Methods course assessed by project report. Three optional
courses assessed by essay. Dissertation of 15-18,000 words.
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Masters Board of Examiners in Anthropology
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
n/a
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
To develop knowledge and understanding of major theoretical, ethnographic and methodological debates
in Social Anthropology. The programme aims to develop students’ understanding of human cultural worlds
through in-depth study of the history of the discipline, knowledge of a range of specific societies and
specialist approaches, practical training in research methods, and the development of independent
research skills in the preparation of a Dissertation
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 social anthropological
and social theory
- ethnographic cases
- specialist substantive areas of social
anthropology
- research methods used in social
anthropology
- analytical and ethnographic material
relating to the professional areas that
anthropologists might anticipate
encountering in employment
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Many different teaching and learning methods and
strategies are used including 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. Coursework helps students gain
confidence in working at an advanced level, dealing with
a range of complex theoretical and empirical material.
Assessment:
A variety of methods of assessment is used in different
core and optional courses, including assessed formative
coursework, project report, unseen examination and
dissertation.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
1. reason critically;
2. apply social anthropological
approaches;
3. identify and solve problems;
4. demonstrate and exercise
independence of mind and thought.
5. critical reading, analysis 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
Dissertation 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 anthropological field methods
4. in order to collect data to answer
specific questions.
5. apply key methods and concepts of
social theory and analysis.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All students 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 concepts, theories and ethnographies.
Practical methods classes enable students to
understand the different research techniques used in
anthropology and to have hands on experience in
analysing cultural material. Ethnographic courses
ensure all students understand the key role of
ethnography in social anthropology. A methods 'MiniProject' prepares students for the fieldwork aspect of
their Dissertation.
Assessment:
Skills 1,2 and 4 are assessed through assessed essays,
unseen examinations, projects, and the Dissertation.
Skill 3 is assessed through the methods mini-project,
field-based project and Dissertation.
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. 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 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 8 are particularly developed during the
Dissertation work, which reflects the student’s personal
research interest. IT skills are largely developed through
individual learning and through some of the practical
classes. Students present their own research in
Dissertation and Field Project workshops, 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
coursework 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 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)
Name(s):
Allen Abramson (Tutor to MSc in Social Anthropology)
Date of Production:
16 May 2008
Date of Review:
January 2014
Date approved by Head of
Department:
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee