Programme Specification: BA/BSc Social Anthropology
1. Awarding Body
2. Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body, e.g. ESRC;
BPS etc
LSE
N/A
3. Name of final award
4. Programme Title
5. Duration of the course
6. Based in the Department/Institute:
7. Relevant QAA subject benchmark statements
8. UCAS Code
BA/BSc
Social Anthropology
36 months full-time
Anthropology Department
Anthropology (2007)
BA L601 BA/SocAnth
BSc L603 BSc/SocAnth
2003 / Nov 2012 9. First written/last amended
10. The programme aims:
 to provide an understanding of social anthropology as the comparative study of human societies;
 to impart an appreciation of the importance of ethnography as the basis for generating anthropological theory;
 to give students a comprehensive overview of the discipline, as well as providing them with the basis for pursuing PhD research training;
 to provide a knowledge of the theory and history of anthropology (British, French and
North American), and an advanced understanding of specific themes in social anthropology: religion, gender and kinship, economic, political and legal anthropology;
 to enable students to reflect self-critically on their own society and culture.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
On successful completion of the programme, students will have developed:
 an understanding of and ability to use major theoretical perspectives and concepts in anthropology, both orally and in written form;
 the ability to read and interpret ethnographic texts;
 an awareness of the diverse issues arising in different regional contexts, and an ability to analyse these anthropologically ;
 an ability to evaluate scholarly arguments, to put forward one’s own analyses in written and oral forms, and to plan and write essays that demonstrate an understanding of anthropological theory and ethnographic settings.
See information relating to careers .
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
Teaching and learning strategies:

Content imparted in weekly lectures enables students to develop an understanding of major theoretical perspectives and concepts;

Weekly classes enable critical discussion of these issues, and opportunities to apply

anthropological knowledge to diverse ethnographic settings;

Informal presentations to peers during seminars enable individual students to develop a closer appreciation of specific topics;

Hour-long tutorials in groups of three, with discussion of individual essays, enable students to develop their critical and writing skills in preparation for assessment essays and for the exams.
Assessment strategies:

Two assessment essays, counting 30% of the final mark for each course, enable students to pursue and develop particular themes explored during the course. Detailed feedback is provided by essay markers;

Unseen examination papers in the Summer Term, counting 70% of the final mark for each course and marked by two examiners, enable assessment of students’ mastery of theoretical perspectives in anthropology seen in their ethnographic contexts.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See the BA/BSc Social Anthropology programme regulations
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
Usual standard offer:
GCE A level: grades A A B
International Baccalaureate: Diploma with 37 points including 6 6 6 at higher level
Other qualifications are considered and applications from mature students are welcomed.
15. Indicators of quality

Student assessment returns show the Department is normally above average in relation to overall figures in the School;

Successful completion of internal (LSE) and external (QAA) audits of teaching quality;

Research quality: The Department has consistently been awarded very high scores in the Research Assessment Exercise. In 2001 it was the only Anthropology department in the country to obtain 5* based on 100% staff submission. In 2008 it obtained a higher proportion of 4* (quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour) than any other Anthropology department (40%);
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Authorship of key texts: members of the department have published important texts in the areas which we teach;
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The LSE Careers Centre website provides data on career destinations of LSE graduates.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and learning

Student feedback during small group tutorials throughout the year;

Student assessment surveys for specific courses;
 External examiners’ reports;

Mentoring/review/promotion process includes an assessment of teaching;

Departmental TLAC review once every five years;


The Teaching Learning and Assessment Committee which regulates all aspects of teaching quality;

The Undergraduate Studies Sub-Committee which oversees all undergraduate programmes and ensures that significant changes to programmes and courses pass through a sequence of formal stages, so that curricular changes are appropriate and compatible with other developments;

The Teaching and Learning Centre offers advice and training towards enhancement of teaching skills;