PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Anthropology
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MRes Anthropology
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
L6UA
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
2011 intake onwards
(e.g. from 2008 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London, University of London
Teaching institution:
University College London, University of 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
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 year Full-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)
M level
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/crntwork/benchmark/phase2/anthropology.
pdf
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/graduate/taught/degrees/anthropology-mres
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Board of examiners in MRes Anthropology
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
n/a
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
Develop learners’ interest in and knowledge and understanding of advanced topics in one of the subdisciplines of Anthropology (Biological, Social or Material Culture) and to prepare them for advanced level
research. The programme aims to develop students’ understanding of sub-disciplinary issues and debates
and to offer both a general training in social science research methods and specialised research training in
broad based Anthropological research methods and specialised techniques relating to the specific subdiscipline. Students follow different streams in optional courses depending upon their sub-disciplinary
interest.
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:
- philosophical and theoretical
underpinnings of anthropological
research
- specialist anthropology and
multidisciplinary breadth spanning social,
biological and cultural fields
- core topics in the subdiscipline of social
anthropology, biological anthropology or
material culture
- methods used in social science
research, anthropological research and in
the specialist sub-discipline (biological
anthropology, social anthropology or
material culture) including statistical
reasoning and basic methods.
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 fellow
postgraduates. Non-assessed formative coursework
helps students gain confidence in dealing with a range of
complex theoretical and empirical material.
Demonstration of all the skills is provided through the
design, carrying out and writing up of an individual
research project.
Assessment:
A wide variety of methods of assessment are used in
different core and optional courses, including assessed
formative coursework, assessed summative coursework,
unseen examination, take-home exam, lab books,
posters, final year dissertation (oral presentation of
dissertation and written report are both assessed).
Progress is logged by completion of an MRes log-book.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
1. reason critically;
2. apply social, biological and material
culture 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 advanced social science and
anthropological field methods in order
to collect data to answer specific
questions;
4. apply key methods and concepts of
social or biological 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
anthropological concepts, theories, monographs,
collections and ethnographies as relevant to the
specialist subdiscipline. As advanced researchers,
learners are expected to supplement course
bibliographies with independent library research.
Practical classes enable learners to understand the
different methods used in each sub-discipline of
anthropology. Detailed case studies ensure all learners
understand the key role of research methods and
grounded data in their specialist field.
Assessment:
Skills 1,2 and 4 are assessed through assessed essays,
unseen examinations, projects, take-home examinations
and the dissertation. Skill 3 is assessed through
practical books written up during and after practical
classes on methodology and research skills.
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 quantitative
analysis of data;
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 dissertation 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 methodological and research skills
practical classes. An assessed presentation forms an
integral part of the dissertation 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/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.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)
Charles Stewart (Chair of Board of Examiners and Course Tutor)
Name(s):
Date of Production:
April 2015
Date of Review:
April 2015
Date approved by Head of
Department:
April 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
August 2015
April 2015