Makerere University
Department of Sociology
Revised
Social Anthropology (SAN) Curriculum
July 2010
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
1. The Vision, Mission and Objectives of the Department of Sociology
Vision: To enhance excellence in training high-level human resources and the generation
of sociological knowledge directed towards understanding society, social relations and
problem solving at intellectual, policy and practical levels.
Mission: The Mission of the Department of Sociology is to use the methods, philosophy
and literature of Sociology and Social Anthropology to equip students with a sound
sociological understanding of societal issues and problems, problem solving and impart
analytical skills of relevance to societal development of Africa and the world.
Objectives:
a) To promote quality sociological research and output generation that will enhance
understanding of society, social relations and problems.
b) To foster quality teaching of Sociology that equips students with the necessary
sociological knowledge and analytical skills about society that is beneficial to the
student’s career in Sociology.
c) To provide academic, policy and practical guidance on social scientific
knowledge that enhances problem-solutions to societal needs and problems or
dilemmas.
d) To provide a solid foundation upon which students may progress to postgraduate
studies in Sociology, Criminology and Social anthropology and other related
disciplines.
e) To network with academic and actors working on development in still developing
countries as well as service occasional students from the region and abroad plus
other University programs.
2. Social Anthropology Courses and Structure of the Curriculum
First Year
Students will take six courses each semester, two (2) courses from Social Anthropology
and four (4) from the other subjects/area. Each course will have three (3) Credit Units.
Second and Third Year Courses
Major: Two core courses plus two elective in Social Anthropology and one course in the
minor subject in another Department per semester and a minor fields/areas may be
taken outside the Faculty.
Minor:One course in Social Anthropology plus three (4) courses in the field in which
they are majoring
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2.1. Arrangement of Courses
The academic workload will be three (3) contact hours per course for 1st year and four
(4) contact hours per course per week for 2nd and 3rd Years core courses and three (3)
contact hours per elective course (see the arrangement in this Sub-section below).
Year I
Core courses
Semester I
Code
Course Name
SAN1100 Introduction to Social Anthropology and African Studies
SAN1103 Understanding Human Culture
Semester II
SAN1200 Introduction to Theories of Anthropology
SAN1203 Introduction to Crime and Deviance
Year II – First Semester
Core courses
Semester I
Code
Course Name
SAN2100 Social Research Methods
SAN2107 Social Structure and Social Stratification
Semester II
SAN2200 Social Statistics
SAN2208 Ethnographic Theory and Methods
Electives
Semester I
Code
Course Name
SAN2108 Ethnicity, Migration, and Identity Studies
SAN2109 Urban Anthropology
SAN2110 Community Development
SAN2111 Anthropological Perspectives on Religion
SAN2112 Computer Modeling in Anthropology
SAN2113 African Family Studies
SAN2114 Language, Communication and Society
Semester II
Code
Course Name
SAN2209 Social Structure of East African Societies
SAN2210 Anthropology and African Development
SAN2211 Anthropology of Natural Resources
SAN2212 Economic Anthropology
SAN2213 Perspectives on Land Tenure and Use in Africa
SAN2214 Medical Anthropology in Africa
2
CH
45
45
CU
3
3
45
45
3
3
CH
60
60
CU
4
4
60
60
4
4
CH
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
CU
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
CH
45
45
45
45
45
45
CU
3
3
3
3
3
3
SAN2215
SAN2216
SAN2217
Year III
Core courses
Semester I
Code
SAN3100
SAN3108
Semester II
Code
SAN3200
SAN3207
Electives
Semester I
Code
SAN3109
SAN3110
SAN3111
SAN3112
SAN3113
SAN3114
SAN3115
SAN3116
Electives
Semester II
Code
SAN3208
SAN3209
SAN3210
SAN3211
SAN3212
SAN3213
SAN3214
SAN3215:
SAN3216
Feminist/Gender and Social Anthropology
45
Ecological Social Anthropology
45
Development and Management of Anthropological 45
Research
3
3
3
Course Name
Classical Anthropological Theory
Dynamics of African Livelihoods
CH
60
60
CU
4
4
Course Name
Contemporary Anthropological Theory
Anthropology of Globalization
CH
60
60
CU
4
4
Course Name
Political Anthropology
Criminal Anthropology
Power, Knowledge and Discourse
Anthropology of Social Change and Technology
Project Planning and Management
Emerging Themes in Anthropology
Religion in Contemporary World
Independent Study/special topics
CH
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
CU
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Course Name
African Cultures and Law
Anthropology and Human Rights
Peace, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution
Collective Behaviour and Social Movements
Social Organisation of African Societies and Tourism
Anthropology and Ethics
Anthropology of Material Culture
Culture Change and Applied Anthropology
Dissertation
CH
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
CU
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Course Description
SAN1100: Introduction to Social Anthropology and African Studies
This course introduces students to the study of Social Anthropology, concepts and
theories used in social anthropology. Aimed at developing a sense of the variation and
similarities in human cultures, make students appreciate culture as a holistic, and
integrated system in contemporary societies. Development of Social Anthropology as a
discipline and its relevance in contemporary situation and also explores the subject matter
and history of African Studies; contemporary debates in African studies, including setting
agendas, control of knowledge, relationships with other disciplines will be addressed.
Other areas of focus include international inequalities and the place of Africa.
SAN1103: Understanding Human Culture
This course provides an exciting insight to humans as the product of evolutionary
processes. We will explore primates and primate’s behavior, human growth and
development, elementary genetics, the evolution of our species, origins of agriculture and
cities, perceptions of race and ethnicity, and current research into human reproduction
and sexuality. Students will develop skills in synthesizing information from a range of
sources and learn to critically evaluate various hypotheses about human evolution,
culture, and behavior.
SAN1200: Introduction to theories of Anthropology
This course introduces students to the anthropological ways of knowing, understanding,
and explaining humankind. A special focus is to initiate students into understanding
contemporary theories and theory building. Through a comparative analysis of the
similarities and differences among anthropological theories and theorists, the course goes
further to discuss how anthropological theories have changed or remained consistent over
time adapting to the social, political, and economic trends in science, society, and the
world. Thus by focusing on specific contemporary theories, the students explore the
history of ideas and theorists that guide anthropological inquiry today. The course
introduces the work of major theorists, contextualizing their contributions both in
theoretical and historical terms.
SAN1203: Introduction to Crime and Deviance
This course introduces students to crime and deviance issues with a specific focus on
social anthropological approaches. The course surveys the descriptive, empirical, and
theoretical issues in the study of crime and delinquency in society. The course considers
the role of social, cultural, economic, political, psychological, chemical, biological, and
ideological factors in treating behaviors as criminal as well as in causing criminal
behavior. This course exposes students to selected perspectives in crime and deviance
and their critiques, including perspectives in prevention and response to crime. Students
will demonstrate skills in understanding of major theories used in crime and deviance,
understanding of crime, and critically think about crime and evaluate competing
theoretical perspectives of crime. In addition, students will learn the nature and extent of
crime and deviance, and demonstrate an understanding of societal reactions to crime.
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SAN2100: Social Research Methods
An interface between theory, research and practice, aimed at equipping students with
knowledge of the main research methods used in Social Anthropology and their
limitations, the techniques of identifying research topics, choosing samples, reviewing
literature, and collecting and analyzing data.
SOC2107: Social Structure and Social Stratification
This course provides an overview of the cultural/linguistic regions of Eastern Africa and
addresses methodological issues in the study of East African societies. Kinship, as a
concept, and linkages between kinship, economic and political spheres of life; the role of
age and gender in social stratification; the concept of ethnicity, religion and the social
functions of religion; politics, and the maintenance of order in stateless societies.
SAN2108: Ethnicity, Migration, and Identity Studies
This course will cover current issues related to ethnicity, migration and nationhood,
specifically focusing on debates about the concepts of ‘tribe’ or ‘ethnicity’ and how they
relate to personal identity and nationality. Students should be able to assess the impact of
ethnic migration on access to resources by different ethnic groups. Among the most
important issue is the resultant conflicts and competition over resources with case studies
from East Africa. (This course is similar to one under sociology)
SAN2109: Urban Anthropology
Students look at the cross-cultural analysis of urbanization and urban life: the origins and
evolution of cities, rural and urban contrasts in lifestyle, migration, adaptations of
migrants, and other topics relating to life in complex societies. (This course is the same as
Urban Sociology).
SAN2110: Community Development
This course focuses on the concept of Community Development, especially the need for
community development (community problems arising from underdevelopment,
development process, general poverty, deprivation and inequity). In addition, theoretical
explanations of existing community problems and response to community problems
through basic services: education, health, agriculture, water and sanitation will be
discussed. Students will also discuss the practice of Community development including
social organization, mobilization and sensitization, institutional capacity building, and
empowerment. Discussion of the roles and skills of community development agents and
other actors will form part of the core curriculum.
SAN2111: Anthropological Perspectives on Religion
Religion has always been one of the most important topics in anthropology. Since the
earliest expeditions, anthropologists have sought to understand the often unusual
religious practices they encountered. People’s views of their origins, the supernatural, and
a moral life are based on a set of shared ideas they learn as they grow up in a given
society. Anthropologists call these shared idea cultures and see religion as a central part
of a people’s culture. This course uses several case studies to look at themes that have
guided the anthropology of religion throughout this century. These include magic &
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sorcery, symbolism & ritual, spirit possession, shamanism, syncretism, and social change
through religious ideas. The course also introduces students to some major traditions of
social theory. Each tradition offers a different way of looking at the role of religion in
people’s lives. Students will be looking at religion as a source of community solidarity
(Durkheim), as a force in shaping people’s world view and motivating action (Weber), as
a basis for avoiding psychological conflict (Freud), and as an instrument in colonial
domination. (This course is the same as Sociology of Religion)
SAN2112: Computer Modeling in Anthropology
This course will help students apply computer knowledge in anthropology, such as
Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, and Power Point). Others include Data Analysis
Packages: Scientific Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), QSR N6 – Nudist, ATLAS.ti,
Anthropac and other basic Management and accounting Packages. Most of these software
programs are powerful workbench tools for the qualitative analysis of large bodies of
textual, graphical, audio and video data that are essential in anthropological research.
SAN2113: African Family Studies
This course introduces concepts and methodologies for studying African families, Social
change and family life, Livelihoods and intra-household economic relations, kinship
marriage, reproduction, childcare and protection, and the youth. The impacts of
epidemics and other types of disasters on families, including aging and family support are
part of the focus of the course. Others include the role and influence of socio-economic
and other policies on the African family. Students will have to write an extended essay
on a case study as part of the course.
SAN2114: Language, Communication and Society
Historical development of linguistic anthropology; origins of language; language and
kinship structure; African language groups; language and other communication systems;
non verbal communication in human social interaction; cultural environment in language
acquisition and use; language and analysis of social laws; culture and cognition;
language, development and mass media; standardization of language; language and
educational policies. The expression of cultural meaning in language is an example of
how people use language to classify and categorize various aspects of the world in which
they live: Folk taxonomies; color terminology Sociolinguistic, ethno-linguistic and
psycholinguistic theories that have been proposed to account for the relationship between
language and culture: Sapir-Whorf hypothesis; Prototype theory. In addition, the status of
language in community as a reflection of the prevailing power structure. Illustrations
from the rise and fall of empires (colonialism in Africa and its legacy in the languages we
use today), for instance, the economic, military, political power of the U.S.A. and the
process of the globalization being facilitated by the English language.
SAN2200: Basic Statistics
The course offers basic skills and techniques of quantitative and qualitative analysis, to
enable students to understand and apply basic descriptive, inferential and applied
statistics. It addresses the sampling theory and sample size, measuring and scaling, data
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analysis and interpretation, and application of statistical techniques in quantitative
analysis and qualitative analysis.
SAN2208: Ethnographic Theory and Methods
This course introduces students to ethnographic theory and methods, including
addressing traditional problems associated with broad-ranging views on social sciences
and ethnographic research techniques, including positivist, interpretivist, feminist, and
postmodernist frameworks. Ethnographic methodology, in the broadest sense of the
concept, is evaluated, including current debates informing the writing, research, and
theory. Students conduct research exercises and set up an ethnographic research exercise.
SAN2209: Social Structure of East African Societies
This course is a thematic, development-oriented approach to explore the contributions of
Social Anthropology to understanding social change in Eastern Africa during the
twentieth century. It addresses the concept of social change, impacts of social change on
marginalized communities, land, agriculture, urbanization, family life, religion, the
informal sector.
SAN2210: Anthropology and African Development
This course will focus on applied anthropology and development, including ethical issues
in development and the broader understanding of development. The students will cover
areas in ethical and cultural issues in development, including the meaning of putting
people first. Other areas of focus are development theory and practice, i.e. its impacts on
development efforts in Africa and anthropologist’s contributions to the study of change
and development. Anthropological critique of development and the interface between the
subject matter of Social Anthropologists, civil society and government, International and
local NGOs are covered, including opportunities for meaningful development from the
three actors.
SAN2211: Anthropology of Natural Resources in Africa
Students will learn key concepts in National Resource Management and Human ecology,
including types and importance of natural resources, culture, environmental protection or
degradation. Students should also cover issues related to human needs and effect on the
environment and the importance of common resources in Uganda and East African
region. Others are the tragedy of the common resources debate amidst the present
economic realities e.g. Privatization. In addition, issues related to anxiety due to myths
about the imminent commons extinction. Others are natural resource-based livelihoods:
fishing, pastoral life styles, and management of natural resources including national
policies.
SAN2212: Economic Anthropology
The course looks at how traditional subsistence economies continue to be very important
in Eastern Africa as well as the rest of the world. It looks at how people’s behavior
(including economic behavior) is influenced by culture and varies across time and space.
It addresses issues of division of labor (gender), economic changes and their impact on
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people, reciprocity, and the relationship between kinship and economics. (This course is
similar to Economic Sociology. See synopsis in Sociology above)
SAN2213: Perspectives on Land Tenure and Use in Africa
The major issues covered include, land and identity, land tenure systems and patterns of
land use in Eastern Africa, social stratification and access to land. Others include
common property resources, land tenure, poverty and development. Comparative studies
of land law in Eastern Africa.
SAN2214: Medical Anthropology in Africa
This course examines beliefs about illness, healing, and the body across cultures.
Lectures and readings will use case materials drawn from Africa, and Asia. The course
start by distinguishing physical “disease” from cultural understandings of “illness” and
will explore the ways that cultural conceptions shape the experience of illness. Students
will then examine healing rituals in non-Western societies to explore the ways these
rituals mobilize a community and help the patient to understand his/her condition. Next,
students will turn to alternative healing cults within East Africa and to critiques of the
standard “biomedical” approach to illness. Students will also look at ways approaches to
childbirth, menstruation, and menopause is influenced by culture and politics. Finally,
students will examine how beliefs about the body and illness are linked to social and
political agendas examining case material from Africa, Australia, and the Americas. (This
course is similar to Sociology of Health)
SAN2215: Feminist/Gender and Social Anthropology
This course introduces students to the development of feminist theory in social
anthropology, theoretical and methodology shifts in feminist anthropology and
ethnography. It will also cover feminist ethnography within the discipline as a whole;
current debates concerning the reading and writing of ethnography.
SAN2216: Ecological Social Anthropology
This covers concepts, theories, and methods of ecological social anthropology (cultural)
show how humans interact with the biophysical environment. Compare biological and
cultural interactions with the environment and examine adaptive strategies crossculturally.
SAN2217: Development and Management of Anthropological Research
Training seminar on research development, coordination, grant management,
field/laboratory research management, and fundraising (See also Research Management
description under Sociology).
SAN3100: Classical Anthropological Theory
This course examines the development and contributions of classical Anthropological
theory to the understanding of human societies. Focusing on classical theories in Social
Anthropology, the course aims at enabling the students gain a critical understanding of
theory, assist them to garner insights into the main theoretical arguments of classical
anthropology, and to debate the best way of understanding human societies. It guides the
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students to be able to understand what theory and epistemology mean in anthropology;
provide a critical reading of the arguments by the founding figures in Anthropological
science. In addition, this course also helps the students to appreciate human diversity and
unity in an analytical way using the different classical theoretical paradigms defining to a
large extent the discipline of Social Anthropology. Through studies of selected classical
anthropological monographs, the students are expected to develop insights in the
comparative analytical use of anthropological theory on complex empirical cases.
SAN3108: Dynamics of African Livelihoods
This course focuses on discussing African livelihoods in pre-colonial and post-colonial
Era and the interdependence between these livelihoods. Major issues covered include
different modes of subsistence or human adaptation and how these links to social
organization in selected societies will be analyzed. Other areas of focus are foreign
intrusion of Africa and effect on people’s livelihoods and the evolutionary model of
livelihoods and its critique.
SAN3109: Political Anthropology
Students examine political action and political systems around the world and different
approaches to studying politics in anthropology. Students should also be able to take a
historical perspective on the development of anthropological studies of politics.
Throughout, the course will address the nature of power and its roots in coercion,
ideology, and control of economic resources.
SAN3110: Criminal Anthropology
This course covers introductory concepts of deviance, crime, punishment and justice. It
also covers African perceptions of ‘crime’ and the control of crime: Cultural variations in
the perception of crime and punishment. Physical and Psychic characteristics or attributes
to crime: Natural history of the criminal. Students cover criminal law and treatment of
offenders and criminal investigative processes as well as ICT and crime. Criminal justice
processes, institutions, social change, and impact on crime and dispensation of justice.
SAN3111: Power, Knowledge and Discourse
The class will focus on analyzing concepts of power, knowledge and discourses that
emerge in contemporary world, including use and application. Students will be able to
trace the forms these concepts take in the intellectual development of humankind. The
course integrates theory and knowledge in explaining the existence of society, examines
the theories of social determination of knowledge, problems of technique in historical –
social anthropological research and demonstration of the partial nature of traditional
epistemology. Key scholars addressed include Michael Foucault, Randy Collins, Karl
Marx, and Pierre Bourdieu.
SAN3112: Anthropology of Social Change and Technology
The aim of this course is to examine the relationship between social change and
technology in the broadest sense, from the role of human tools to the impact of high
technology in both pre- and post-industrial societies. The course begins with an overview
of the theoretical approaches to the linkage between technology, culture and society.
9
Following this, the course follows an adaptation approach in which, for each level of
socio-cultural development (i.e., tribal, peasant, industrial, post-industrial), the students
will examine the role of technology as a determinant of culture. Particular attention will
be given to the diffusion and transfer of new technology and its impact on social
development and change. While the course aims to encourage students to think about the
influence of technology in all types of societies at all levels of development, this course
will lay emphasis on the Third World and the underdeveloped fringes of the industrial
world. The course uses case studies that social consequences of technological change as
examples.
SAN3113/SOA3100: Project Planning and Management (see Synopsis of SOA3100)
SAN3114: Emerging Themes in Anthropology
The course will discuss current issues that affect day-to-day activities of human beings
such as corruption, globalization, destitution, liberalization and privatization, wars, ritual
murders, HIV/AIDS pandemic, etc depending on what will be taking place at the time.
This is good for students to focus on regional and global issues where they need to be
involved in searching for solutions.
SAN3115: Religion in Contemporary World
Religion being at the centre of cultural worldview, different definitions of religion:
etymological; theological, moral, philosophical; psychological; social, anthropological
will be explored. Religion is discussed as a dynamic activity that human beings
universally engage in, deeply influences their feelings, thoughts and actions, positively or
negatively. Causes of such difficulties in discussion depending on the dimensions from
which the interlocutors view it: ritual; mythological; doctrinal; ethical; experiential;
social; and material will be investigated. It helps the student to think in a systematic,
holistic way about religious experience in general and in particular the African religious
experience in the context of those features that are common to all religions. The
Functionalist theory of religion: culture; knowledge; beliefs; values; adjustment; man and
environment; contingency; powerlessness and scarcity will be analyzed in order to help
students appreciate the significance of religion, even in the modern “global village” and
its role in today’s secularized world.
SAN3116: Independent Study (Special topics in Anthropology)
This course will involve tutorial for individual students and review of literature on a
particular topic. A student and member of staff can jointly work on a project for
publication. In addition, student field research work activities.
SAN3200 Contemporary Anthropological Theory
The course provides an initial overview over the most important anthropological debates
by looking at contemporary theoretical approaches in Anthropology. The course explores
the major contemporary approaches, helping students to understand how they fit within
the larger social, historical and political contexts. The course specifically equips the
students with some of the main theoretical assumptions, concepts and patterns of
determination identified by each contemporary theorist in his/her approach to the study of
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the modern human society. It trains the students to master the skills necessary to continue
and deepen their reading and understanding of theories and debates in Anthropology on
their own. By the end of the course, the students should be able to demonstrate abilities
for comparative analytical reasoning over different ethnographic cases and different
theoretical representation.
SAN3207: Anthropology of Globalization
Globalization refers to a variety of political, economic, cultural, and social changes that
are currently transforming our world. Countries are increasingly interconnected by flows
of information, trade, money, immigrants, technology, and culture. Trans-national
corporations and political organizations (e.g., the UN) have grown in size and influence,
as have the organized social movements that lobby or oppose them. The goal of the
course is clarify what globalization is and how it is affecting societies around the world.
For instance, how does global trade affect jobs and the economy? Moreover, how do
those effects differ depending upon whether you live in the Uganda, the U.S., India, or
South Africa? How does the spread of political ideologies affect politics in the countries
of Africa, Asia, and Latin America? How do international social movements and
protesters affect government policies in different societies? This course provides an
overview of globalization and its consequences, drawing on new theoretical ideas from
sociology and related fields.
SAN3208: African Cultures and Law
The course is designed to cover an introduction to classifications of legal systems and a
comparative study of customary law in Africa. Other areas include law and social change
and laws related to marriage, inheritance, domestic relations and children’s rights. Some
examples of bye-laws and vigilante groups in Eastern Africa and Culture, law making
and law reform will be covered.
SAN3209: Anthropology and Human Rights
This course is designed as an introduction to human rights. It provides students with an
overview to the historical, theoretical, political and legal underpinnings that have shaped
and continue to shape the development of human rights. Students will discuss where the
concept of human rights originates, how these ideas have been memorialized in
international declarations and covenants and how they develop over time and are
enforced and monitored. Students will also examine a variety of issues, some
controversial, that fall under the rubric of human rights. The overall goal of the course is
to encourage students to think differently - to be able to analyze the events of the world
and of our community through a human rights framework, including serious violation of
human rights, such war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The main goal is
to provide students with some of the necessary tools to investigate, research, and think
critically about human rights and the roles that we may assume within this arena.
SAN3210: Peace, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution
Students will cover conceptual definitions of peace and conflict, conflict control and
conflict resolution processes in African traditional societies. In addition, types, causes
and implications of conflicts in contemporary Africa and an examination of the social
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origins of violence in Uganda and Great Lakes region. International dimensions of
African conflicts, including actors and interest groups in conflict resolution. The
philosophy of non-violence, principles, and strategies for conflict resolution, as well as
peace making and Peacekeeping are a few of the topics covered.
SAN3211: Collective Behavior and Social Movements
This course will review theory and research on social movements, with an empirical
emphasis on recent African and East African movements such as the struggle for
independence movement, the women's movement, and numerous “issue” movements
such as debt relief, peace, environment, neighborhood, etc. The course will give some
attention to movements in other countries, especially in Asia and Latin America, and to
developing some understanding of the ways in which movements differ between
countries, with particular attention to political structures and political cultures. The
course will talk explicitly about the differences between movements around enduring
social cleavages such as ethnicity, class, and gender and those around narrower issues.
The course will also talk about the interrelation among movements. It will address how
social movements shift across time and differ among nations. This course generally
operates from the intellectual standpoint of the activist who is concerned about an issue
and wants to do something about it. This leads to an emphasis on questions of
mobilization and strategy and, even for the confirmed non-activist, provides an anchor for
analysis. Theoretical issue organizes the class outline, but we will weave discussions of
current issues and particular movements into this outline.
SAN3212: Social Organization of African Societies and Tourism
Tourism is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. It affects most countries and
peoples of the world, either as “hosts” or “guests.” By the year 2020, the number of
people traveling annually as tourists is expected to double. Tourism’s impact on receiving
societies is hotly debated and contested. Many poorer nations consider tourism to be the
road to economic development and an improved quality of life. Others see it as a new
form of Western imperialism that is destructive of the environment and people’s cultural
identity. Anthropology is uniquely positioned to study tourism since it adopts a holistic
and comparative approach to the study of social phenomena.
SAN3213: Ethics and Anthropology
This course allows students to learn introduction to the concept of ethics. The students
will cover principles of ethics, ethical theories, the nature and rationale of Ethics as well
as ethics and Morality. Other topics include ethical relativism: African ethics and
morality, ethics and culture, and ethics in Uganda.
SAN3214: Social Anthropology of Material Culture
This course examines material culture as a social creation, studied from multiple
perspectives, i.e. social anthropology, archeology, primatology. Conceptions of how
humans articulate with material world they construct.
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SAN3215: Culture Change and Applied Anthropology
This course takes a comparative study of change in cultural systems. Impact of global
processes on local cultures and roles of social anthropology and anthropologists in policy,
planning, implementation, and evaluation are among the specific focus of the course.
SAN3216: Dissertation
The research project will be base on fieldwork leading to a dissertation not exceeding
10,000 words. The course is compulsory for Major students. Research students will
prepare a research proposal as part of their coursework while still in second year. Only
students who have earned a Grade Point of 4.0 and above, and for whom an appropriate
supervisor is identifiable will register for the research project. Notification of acceptance
into the course will be given by the last week of Year 2. Research fieldwork should
normally begin during the long vacation of the second year. The course is examined by
continuous assessment and the final dissertation. (This course is the same as dissertation
in Social Anthropology).
3.0
Examinations Regulations and Assessment
3.1
Assessment
The courses shall be assessed in two (2) parts. There shall be a Progressive/continuous
assessment during the course of each semester and an examination at the end of each
semester.
3.1.1
Coursework (Progressive/continuous assessment
(a) Coursework shall contribute 40% of the Total Marks.
(b) It shall consist of a minimum of at least one (1) Test and one (1)
Homework/Take-Home Assignment OR two (2) Tests per course.
(c) The first coursework should be administered within the first five (5) weeks and
the second one by the tenth (10) weeks on commencement of the semester.
Course works marks shall be displayed by the fifteenth (15) week of the
semester. In administering tests, regulations pertaining to the university
examinations shall apply.
(d) Certificate of Due Performance: A student who has not handed in the required
course-work assignment(s) without reason shall be denied the Certificate of Due
Performance and will not be allowed to sit the University examinations.
3.1.2
Examinations
(a) Examinations of three (3) hours each shall be held in the courses offered per
semester.
(b) The University Examinations shall contribute a maximum of 60% of the Total
Marks.
3.1.3
The Composite Mark
The end of semester examination marks (60%) will be added to the coursework
marks (40%) to get the total mark of each course as shown below:
End of Semester Examination
60%
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Course-work
Total
40%
100%
3.1.4
Pass Mark
a) The pass mark in each course shall be 50%.
b) A candidate who fails one course in any semester may be allowed to re-take the
failed course when it is next offered.
3.1.5
Grading
a) The overall marks a candidate obtains in each course he /she offered shall be
graded out of a maximum of one hundred (100) marks and assigned appropriate
Letter Grades and Grade Points as follows:Marks (%)
Letter Grade Grade Point
i. 80 - 100
A
5
ii. 75 - 79.9
B+
4.5
iii. 70 - 74.9
B
4.0
iv. 65 - 69.9
B3.5
v. 60 - 64.9
C+
3.0
vi. 55 - 59.9
C
2.5
vii. 50 - 54.9
C2.0
viii. Below 50
Fail
0
b) Additional letters shall be used where appropriate:
i. W Withdrawal from a course
ii. I Incomplete course
iii. AUD
Audited courses only
c) The course pass grade is 2.0
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