UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Programme Specification
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 passes the programme. More detailed
information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment
methods of each module can be found in the programme handbook. The accuracy of
the information contained in this specification is reviewed by the University and may
be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
BSc (Hons) Anthropology with a Year in Europe
University of Kent
University of Kent
Canterbury Campus
N/A
BSc (Hons)
Anthropology with a Year in Europe
L603
Anthropology
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8.
Awarding Institution/Body
Teaching Institution
Teaching Site
Programme accredited by:
Final Award
Programme
UCAS Code (or other code)
Relevant QAA subject
benchmarking group(s)
9. Date of production/revision
10. Applicable cohort(s)
14/10/2011
2007 onwards
11. Educational Aims of the Programme
The programme aims to:
1. Prepare graduates for employment and/or further study in their chosen careers
through developing students’ transferable skills.(SB)
2. Develop the critical and analytical powers of the student with respect to biological
and social anthropology. (SB)
3. Develop critical, analytical problem-based learning skills. (SB)
4. Provide the student with the skills to adapt and respond positively to changes in the
discipline. (SB)
5. Acquaint students with theoretical and methodological issues relevant to
understanding anthropology. (SB)
6. Demonstrate to students the relevance of anthropological knowledge to an
understanding of a variety of local, national and international biological and social
phenomena arising from the changing nature of human organisation both in the
distant past and in the contemporary world. (SB)
7. Provide students with a broad range of knowledge in the discipline of
anthropology, stressing the need for a biological approach to the subject, and
showing how it is closely linked to other academic disciplines. (SB)
8. Provide a grounding in human and primate biological variation and make explicit
the links between biological and sociocultural processes. (SB)
9. Facilitate the educational experience of students through the provision of
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appropriate pedagogical opportunities for learning. (SB)
10. Ensure that the research of School staff informs the design of modules, and their
content and delivery in a manner that is efficient and reliable, and enjoyable to
students. (SB)
11. Provide the opportunity to study anthropology at a European university. The yearabroad experience will also expose students to life in a different culture and
thereby broaden their anthropological perspective. To achieve this, Stage 3
learning will be undertaken at a European University, selected from those with
whom the School has existing links for year-abroad programmes.
12. Programme Outcomes
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate
knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following
areas. The programme outcomes have references to the HEFCE QAA subject
benchmarking statement for Anthropology (with particular reference to the Biological
Anthropology section).
Knowledge and Understanding
Teaching/learning and assessment
methods and strategies used to enable
outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated
A. Knowledge and Understanding of:
1. Principles relevant to the study of
human biology, evolution and
sociality. (SB)
2. Human diversity and an appreciation
of its scope (SB)
3. The fossil evidence of human
evolution (SB)
4. Similarities and differences between
humans and other primates (SB)
5. Biological perspectives on human
ecology (SB)
6. The ethical implications of human
biological diversity (SB)
7. The principles of Mendelian and
population genetics, as well as
molecular biology (SB)
8. The relevance of anthropology to
understanding everyday processes of
social life anywhere in the world.
(SB)
9. Social anthropology as the
comparative study of human societies
(SB)
10. Specific themes in social
anthropology e.g. religion, politics,
kinship and religion (SB)
11. Several ethnographic regions of the
world. (SB)
Teaching and Learning
Acquisition of Programme Learning
Outcomes (PLOs) is through a
combination of lectures, seminars,
laboratory classes and field trips. Core
modules provide a thorough grounding in
core themes within biological and social
anthropology. At Stage 2, the compulsory
methodology module prepares students
with the analytical and statistical skills
needed to pursue the independent
research module at Stage 3. A broad
range of optional modules in biological
and social anthropology provide students
with the opportunity to develop their
knowledge and understanding of
anthropology in a holistic way.
Assessment
Assessment at all stages is via a
combination of assessed coursework,
unseen written examinations and project
work. Coursework assessments are very
varied and include analytical essays,
poster presentations, verbal presentations,
research theses, laboratory reports and
portfolios. Progress is monitored
throughout the year through a
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combination of assessed coursework and
discussions with academic staff.
Skills and Other Attributes
B. Intellectual Skills:
1. General learning and study skills
2. Critical and analytical skills
3. Ability to express ideas in writing and
orally
4. Communication skills
5. Computing skills
6. Statistical analysis
7. Practical skills specific to the
scientific study of anthropology
8. Hypothesis testing
The attainment of these skills and their
assessment are achieved through the
content and delivery of all the programme
modules in which students will be
specifically directed to all these matters
in the course of lectures, seminars and
classroom work in general.
Written assignments, project work and
oral work in seminars are specifically
designed to inculcate and enhance
intellectual skills over the whole period
of the programme.
C. Subject-specific Skills:
1. Ability to describe and analyse
aspects of biological diversity
2. Ability to identify the relationship
between environmental and cultural
influences in human ecology
3. Ability to engage in intelligent debate
on the process of human evolution
4. Ability to design and carry out a
research project in the field of
scientific anthropology
5. Understanding of the processes
involved in the development of
human variation, including a working
knowledge of the principles of
classical genetics and molecular
biology
6. A general knowledge of human
biology, and an appreciation of how
biological processes interact with
behaviour and culture in humans
7. Ability to compare and contrast the
morphology and behaviour of humans
to that of other animals, specifically
primates
8. Ability to understand how people are
shaped by their social, cultural and
physical environments while
nonetheless possessing a capacity for
individual agency which can allow
them to transcend environmental
constraints
Specific modules deal with major
concepts in biological and social
anthropology, facilitating the acquisition
of all subject-specific skills listed.
In addition, we encourage students to
make intellectual links between the
biological and social phenomena about
which they are learning, in the course of
their reflective learning, reading and
writing.
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9. Ability to perceive the way in which
cultural assumptions may affect the
opinions of others and oneself
10. An openness to trying to make
rational sense of cultural and social
phenomena which may appear at first
sight incomprehensible.
D. Transferable Skills:
1. Ability to make a structured argument
2. Ability to make appropriate reference
to scholarly data
3. Time-management skills
4. Familiarity with working with
equipment in a scientific laboratory
5. Knowledge of information
technology
6. Oral presentations
7. Organisation of poster and
PowerPoint presentations
8. Working in a team
Not assessed independently, all are
outcomes of programme specific skills
All modules require the acquisition of
one or more of these skills and instruction
and feedback is provided to students in
relation to their learning and
performance. The School is especially
strong on assisting students in acquiring
IT skills. Group work and communication
skills are particularly encouraged in small
seminar groups where students are
expected to share ideas and discuss
arguments and critical positions, working
sometimes in small groups and
sometimes being required to make
responses as individuals.
For more information on which modules provide which skills, see the module
mapping.
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13. Programme Structures and Requirements, Levels, Modules, Credits and
Awards
The programme is divided into 4 stages, each comprising 120 credits, and students
must achieve specified requirements before being permitted to proceed to the next
stage. For full-time students each stage represents an academic year of learning. The
BSc Anthropology programme with a year abroad in Europe has the same Stage 1 and
Stage 2 structure as the BSc in Anthropology (L601), with the exception that Stage A
is spent studying anthropology at a partner institution in a European Country with
which Kent has an existing exchange programme. Students then return to Kent to
complete Stage 3, which has the same structure as Stage 3 for the BSc Anthropology
programme.
The structure of the programme is divided into four stages.
At Stage 1 required modules cover basic topics in all aspects of anthropology, as well
as generic academic and study skills. This stage prepares students for the more
advanced and specialised modules at Stages 2 and 3.
In Stage 2 core and subject-specific knowledge and skills are developed. Required
modules provide the necessary grounding in biological and social anthropology and
the methodological training required for the successful completion of the Stage 3
dissertation module.
Stage A is spent at a partner university in a European country with which the
University of Kent has an existing year abroad exchange programme. In Finland,
Denmark and the Netherlands instruction is in English. Students proficient in the
appropriate modern European language (qualified to A-level grade B or better, an
equivalent qualification, or native speaker) may choose to study abroad at a
designated university in either Italy, Spain, France or Germany, where the instruction
is in that language.
Modules taken in the year abroad are generally at the Honours level, but students are
able to take modules at other levels (from C to M) following consultation with the
School Year Abroad convenor and the International Office (this is standard practice
for our existing Year Abroad programmes).
In Stage 3 knowledge and skills in the practice of biological and social anthropology
are consolidated. Students can choose modules alongside their required dissertation
module to contextualisation their knowledge of the broader discipline of
Anthropology.
Note: * indicates modules that are non-compensatable and non-condoneable for this
programme.
WILD MODULES: Students may, with approval of the Director of Studies, take up
to 30 credits of relevant language modules as part of their year abroad programme.
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Code
Title
Level Credits Term(s)
Year 1
*Required Modules
SE301 Introduction to Social Anthropology
C
30
1&2
SE302 Foundations of Biological Anthropology
C
30
1&2
SE307 Thinkers and Theories: An Introduction to
C
15
2
the History and Development of
Anthropology
SE308 Skills for Anthropology and Conservation
C
15
1
Recommended Modules
SE306 Animals, People and Plants
C
15
2
SE309 Violence and Conflict in the Contemporary
C
15
1 or 2
World
BI305
Fundamental Human Biology
C
15
1&2
OR
BI307
Human Physiology and Disease
C
15
1&2
Stage 2
*Required Modules
SE567 Methodology in Anthropological Science
H
15
2
SE581 Biological Anthropology: The Human
H
15
2
Animal
SE582 Comparative Perspectives in Primate
H
15
1
Biology
SE588 Advanced Social Anthropology I
H
15
1
SE589 Advanced Social Anthropology II
H
15
2
Stage A
Students are required to earn the equivalent of 120 credits in modules at the host
institution. These must be within the subject area of Anthropology, broadly defined.
Thus topics in Politics, Religion, Economics, Kinship, Development, Psychology,
Evolution, Human Biology are all permissible. Students may also partake in
methodology modules, depending on availability at the host institution. There will be
two 60 credit modules for the year abroad, each with an equivalent weighting of 30
credits in the classification process. Thus, the contribution the marks make to the final
classification of awards will be half-weighted. Student module choice will be guided
by advice from the programme convenor, and the School convenor for all year-abroad
programmes, and is deliberately as broad as possible. Students typically chose a
combination of modules at the H level, but are permitted to take modules across the
range (C, I, H, M) in consultation with the School convenor for all year-abroad
programmes and the partner university. This is standard practice across our
comparable year abroad programmes (BA) in Social Anthropology.
Stage 3
*Required Modules
SE533 Project in Anthropological Science
H
30
1&2
Stages 2 & 3: Students must choose AT LEAST 45 credits from the following
modules
SE541 The Evolution of Hominin Behaviour (Stage H
15
1
3)
SE565 Sex, Evolution and Human Nature (normally H
15
1
Stage 2)
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SE566
Human Osteology (Stage 2)
H
15
1
Current Issues in Evolutionary
Anthropology (Stage 3)
SE580 Primate Behaviour and Ecology (normally
Stage 2)
SE593 The Evolution of Human Diversity
(normally Stage 3)
Stage 2 & 3: Remaining credits are chosen from:
DI503 Evolutionary Genetics and Conservation
SE512 African Societies
SE542 Human Ecology
SE547 Southeast Asian Societies
H
15
2
H
15
2
H
15
2
H
H
H
H
15
30
15
15
2
1&2
2
1
SE548
SE549
H
H
15
15
1
2
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
2
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
H
H
H
H
15
15
15
15
2
2
2
1
H
H
15
15
2
2
H
H
H
15
15
15
1
1
2
SE570
SE550
SE551
SE552
SE554
SE555
SE568
SE569
SE573
SE575
SE579
SE583
SE584
SE585
SE590
SE591
SE592
SE594
SE595
Northern Mediterranean Societies
The Anthropology of Health, Illness and
Medicine
Anthropology of Gender
Anthropology and Language
Culture and Cognition
Visual Anthropology Theory (Stage 3)
Project in Visual Anthropology (Stage 3)
History of Evolutionary Thought
Palaeopathology (Stage 3)
Ethnicity and Nationalism
Medicinal Plants, Traditional Healing, and
Drug Discovery
The Anthropology of Amazonia
Pacific Societies
The Anthropology of Business
Anthropology of Eating: From the Raw to
the Cooked
The Anthropology of Law
Southern Mediterranean Societies: Mashriq
and Maghreb
The Ethnography of Central Asian Societies
Anthropology and Development
Social Computing
14. Work-Based Learning
Where relevant to the programme of study, provide details of any work-based
learning element, inclusive of employer details, delivery, assessment and support for
students.
 Not Applicable
15. Support for Students and their Learning
Year Abroad
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Arrangements for oversight and support at the European partner university, and
preparation for the year abroad follow the framework established for our existing
degrees with a year abroad. The School appoints a convenor for this programme
with expertise across the field of Anthropology. This programme convenor is
responsible for academic matters such as degree requirements, advising and
approving module choice, in consultation with the School convenor for
Anthropology year-abroad programmes. The School already runs successful year
abroad programmes in all of the destination universities.
The International Office will advise on all aspects of living and studying in the
destination country; The Office deals with the application and accommodation
forms to be sent to the host university and produces guides to explain all aspects
of the year. It has experience with each of the partner universities, and of
successful attendance at these universities by other anthropology students.
Acting in concert, the programme convenor and the International office will brief
students fully on the year abroad before departure and support them during their
time there. The student will have ample opportunity to discuss their year-abroad
study at first hand with members of the anthropology academic staff. In line with
existing practice regarding year abroad programmes, we will require students take
out adequate insurance before permitting them to undertake their year abroad. On
return from the year abroad, students’ grades will be transferred to the University
of Kent using the established formulae.
Three Years at Kent
 Students are provided with introductory information including access to
handbooks outlining programmes of study within the School and the Faculty as
well as general university information outlining the students' charter and
describing the facilities available on campus. All first year students are enrolled
in an academic skills module (SE308) which covers topics such as plagiarism,
good practice in writing essays and effective exam preparation.
 The School has its own computer room equipped with computers for student use.
These are in addition to the computers available for the general use of students in
common areas such as the library. One member of staff is a technical officer
responsible for IT provision within the School and has special responsibility for
assisting students with IT related problems. The technical officer also offers
support in statistics.
 For the purposes of students doing the modules in visual anthropology there is a
range of recording equipment to which they have access and in which the use of
which they are given instruction. There is also a small library of anthropological
videos and CDs which students are encouraged to use.
 There is also a biology teaching laboratory. This lab has range of specialist
equipment for use in biological and anthropological science teaching, including
equipment for use in anthropometry and morphometrics, basic molecular biology
equipment, skeletal material and a first rate collection of fossil primate and
human casts, heart rate monitors, and microscopes. These pieces of equipment are
used in taught practical sessions and are also available for use by students for
individual projects.
 The library is well provisioned with anthropological text-books, current journals,
monographs and new books are regularly ordered so that staff and students can
keep up to date with developments in the discipline.
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All members of staff keep special office hours during the week for any students
who wish to consult them. In addition students are from their initial registration in
the first year all assigned to individual members of staff who act as their tutors
throughout their time at the university. The role of the tutor is to provide advice
on matters ranging from the choice of modules that students should take and
general academic guidance to personal support in pointing students in the
direction of services which the university can offer the individual.
Among central support services which the university provides are:
1) A Medical Centre on the campus of the university.
2) The Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching which offers short
sessions on study skills as well as individual advice.
3) A counselling service for students facing personal difficulties.
4) A Careers Office.
5) A Statistics Help Desk
6) Disability and Dyslexia Support Service
16. Entry Profile
Entry Route
For fuller information, please refer to the University prospectus
 Standard offer of 340 UCAS points at A-level (AAB) with flexible offers down to
300 points at A-level (BBB) OR international equivalent OR satisfactory pass in
an approved Foundation or Access programme.
 A-Level Sciences (Biology preferred) or Psychology (B or better).
 International Baccalaureate (IB) 33 points with 17 at Higher level
 BTEC national diploma – 3 Distinctions
 In order to enter directly onto a degree programme foreign students will also need
to demonstrate a proficiency in English.
 Students wishing to take Stage 3 (year abroad) in Italy, France, Spain or Germany
will need to demonstrate proficiency in the relative native language.
What does this programme have to offer?
 Anthropology draws upon and connects with other disciplines within the social
and life sciences. Major, well-defined areas of study include human evolution,
behaviour and ecology, skeletal biology, primatology, kinship, religion, politics,
and economics.
 The programme offers a unique opportunity to study a comprehensive range of
subjects across anthropology that will prepare students for a variety of careers in
related and unrelated fields.
Personal Profile
 An interest in human behaviour, society and biology.
 A willingness to engage in informed debate about current and often controversial
issues relating to all spheres of humanity, including evolution, diversity, society
and social systems.
 Suitable levels of numeracy and/or a willingness to develop them.
 A commitment to develop the critical thinking and analytical skills required to
address real-life problems.
 The confidence to spend a year living and studying in another European country.
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17. Methods for Evaluating and Enhancing the Quality and Standards of
Teaching and Learning
Mechanisms for review and evaluation of teaching, learning, assessment, the
curriculum and outcome standards
 Reliance on external examiners' reports to evaluate the teaching and learning
standards.
 Compilation of annual reports evaluating the previous year's programme. The
annual report is itself based on evaluations of the teaching of all modules in the
School.
 Scrutiny of student evaluations for each module. In addition to giving numerical
scores relating to teaching and learning the students are also encouraged to write
extensive comments on what they liked and disliked about the module.
 Matters of teaching and learning are also regularly the subject of formal and
informal meetings among members of staff who often teach jointly together and
attend each other's lecture and seminars.
 Individual members of staff sit on national committees that discuss the teaching
and learning of anthropology and report back on discussions to their colleagues.
 Members of staff are actively involved in preparing readers and textbooks for the
teaching of their subject nationally and internationally.
Committees with responsibility for monitoring and evaluating quality and
standards
 A Board of Examiners meets to discuss examination procedures, exam question
papers and the results of exams.
 There is a School Learning and Teaching Committee which receives input from its
own sub-committees and from the Anthropology Academic Committee and
reports to the Faculty Committee of Learning and Teaching which in turn reports
to the University Learning and Teaching Board.
 A staff-student Consultative Committee meets three times a year to discuss
matters relating to teaching and learning. Students are encouraged to bring matters
to the attention of the committee via the Student Rep system.
Mechanisms for gaining student feedback on the quality of teaching and their
learning experience
 In addition to mechanisms mentioned above - committees and students module
evaluations - we encourage students to comment orally on the teaching of modules
mentioning for example aspects of practical work that they have or have not
enjoyed.
 Students have the opportunity to meet with the Programme Convenor (Director of
Studies) several times each year to discuss any problematic issues relating to the
structure or running of the programme.
 Students also have the opportunity to meet with their personal tutor on a regular
basis to discuss any aspect of their academic progress.
Staff Development priorities include:
 All new members of staff are required to take a programme of study leading to a
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher education.
 In addition all new members of staff are assigned mentors or supervisors with
whom they discuss teaching and learning practices and from whom they seek
advice on School learning and teaching procedures.
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The Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching organises regular inservice short courses and workshops which staff are encouraged to attend.
There is an annual appraisal system in operation that allows staff the opportunity
to discuss their performance of the previous year and outline their plans for the
coming year.
Members of staff belong to professional anthropological associations and
regularly attend conferences at which they share information with fellow
anthropologists from other institutions.
The Anthropology wing of the School holds a regular Tuesday afternoon seminar
for staff and postgraduates during the year and visiting speakers are invited to
discuss their research.
18. Indicators of Quality and Standards
 Our School is internationally recognised by anthropologists, including those
working in biological anthropology, social anthropology, ethnobiology and
additional sub-fields (e.g. primatology, palaeoanthropology etc). Members of staff
teaching on the programme have active research programmes, resulting in regular
published outputs. Staff are active in developing collaborative research links with
academics at a wider national and international level. Teaching Quality
Assessment: Excellent. Research Assessment Exercise: 5.
 Members of staff regularly sit on national anthropology committees and are
frequently asked to be external examiners for departments of anthropology
nationally and internationally.
The following reference points were used in creating these specifications:
 The national Subject Benchmark Statement for Anthropology (2007). ISBN 9781
844827787:
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/Subjectbenchmark-statement-Anthropology-.aspx
 The results of the periodic review on anthropology conducted internally within the
university.
 The School mission statement.
 The School RAE (Research Exercise) statement sent for peer review at a national
level.
 The University Plan.
 The knowledge and expertise of the anthropology teaching staff.
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