Anthropology and Geography

Anthropology and Geography

Overview

Anthropology is the study of human evolution, what makes us human—through examination and research of past and current civilisations. Geography is the study of the earth’s place and the relationship between people and their environments.

In simple words, geography is the study of the environment surrounding us, and anthropology is the evolution of humans.

Objectives

  1. Understand Human Diversity
  2. Examine Human Evolution
  3. Explore the relationship Between Culture and Society
  4. Understand the Impact of Globalisation and Modernity
  5. Understand Human-Environment Interaction
  6. Develop Geospatial and Analytical Skills
  7. Examine Social, Economic, and Political Geography

Prerequisites

  1. Basic understanding of biology, geography, and mathematics
  2. Basic knowledge of anthropology
  3. Language Skills

Curriculum Outline

  1. Anthropology in the World
  2. Beliefs and Ways of Thinking
  3. Living with Environmental Change
  4. Space, Place and Society
  5. Geography: A Controversial Discipline
  6. Political and Economic Issues in Anthropology
  7. Practising Anthropology
  8. Climate Politics
  9. Colonialism, Migration and Global Racism
  10. Critical Perspectives on International Development
  11. Ethnicity, Migration and Identity
  12. Ethnography in South Asia
  13. Ethnography of a Selected Region
  14. Global Health: an Anthropological Perspective
  15. Human Geography and Anthropology Dissertation
  16. Cities, Power and Social Change
  17. Contemporary Anthropological Theory
  18. Critical Perspectives on International Development
  19. Environmental Justice
  20. Environment and Sustainability
  21. Introduction Geographical Research and Fieldwork

Teaching Method

  1. Lectures
  2. Seminars
  3. Cohort meeting

Modules

  1. Human Geographies of the Modern World
  2. Key Concepts in Anthropology
  3. Skills and Concepts in Geography I: Becoming a Geographer
  4. The Anthropological Imagination
  5. Anthropology of Capitalism, Care and the Environment
  6. Geographies of Cities and Mobilities
  7. Skills and Concepts in Geography II: Quantitative and Analytical Skills
  8. Worlds and Selves
  9. Ethnographic Research Methods
  10. Global Geographies of Economic Change
  11. Religion and Ritual
  12. Understanding Global Migration
  13. Politics and Power
  14. Advanced Sustainable Development: Sustainability in Policy and Practice
  15. Anthropology of the Body
  16. Cultures of Colonialism
  17. Death, Dying and the Corpse
  18. Development, Business and Corporate Social Responsibility
  19. Disasters, Environment and Development
  20. Environmental Protest: Past and Present
  21. Geographies of Money, Finance, and Debt
  22. Geographies of Rising and Declining Powers
  23. Human Rights
  24. Mobilities and Global Inequalities
  25. Refugees, Migrants and Religion
  26. Slavery, Emancipation and Legacies
  27. The Anthropology of Geopolitics
  28. Class, Community, Nation
  29. Cults, Conspiracies and Political Religion
  30. Decolonial Movements
  31. Environmental Anthropology
  32. Global Food Security
  33. Political Ecology and Environmental Justice
  34. Race, Ethnicity and Identity
  35. Re-Designing Life: Anthropological Approaches to New Biotechnologies
  36. The global and the intimate: home cultures, belonging and personal life

Assessment Methods

  1. Coursework
  2. Exam
  3. Dissertation

Course Duration

The course duration may vary by institute and location. In the UK, full-time study might take about 3 to 4 years, and part-time might take about 4 to 6 years.

Facilities

  1. Human Evolution Labs
  2. Forensic Anthropology Labs
  3. Primate Research Facilities
  4. Archaeological Lab
  5. Excavation Materials
  6. Artifact Storage and Curation
  7. Cultural Anthropology Lab
  8. Digital Anthropology Tools
  9. Remote Sensing Labs
  10. Spatial Analysis Software
  11. Cartography Labs
  12. Geospatial Drones
  13. Hydrology and Geomorphology Labs
  14. Environmental Simulation Labs
  15. Specialised Libraries

Career Pathways

  1. Sustainable Development Specialist
  2. Cultural Resource Manager
  3. Human-Environment Interaction Specialist
  4. Environmental Risk Assessor
  5. Geospatial Development Analyst
  6. Environmental Policy Analyst
  7. GIS Analyst/Technician
  8. Cartographer
  9. Ecologist
  10. Urban Planner
  11. University Professor or Lecturer
  12. Researcher in Social Science
  13. Museum Curator or Archivist

Fees and Fundings

The fees may vary by university and location. However, in the UK, the tuition fees may lie between £11,000 and £30,000 a year.

Entry Requirements

  1. High School Diploma or equivalent
  2. English Language Proficiency
  3. Statement of Purpose
  4. Recommendation Letters

Field Work and Internships

  1. Cultural Anthropology Fieldwork
  2. Archaeological Fieldwork
  3. Biological Anthropology Fieldwork
  4. Physical Geography Fieldwork
  5. Human Geography Fieldwork
  6. Geospatial Fieldwork
  7. Urban Planning Internships
  8. Environmental and Conservation Internships
  9. Geospatial Data Analysis Internships

Certifications

  1. Certified Professional in Archaeology
  2. Certified Cultural Resource Manager
  3. Field Archaeology Certifications
  4. Humanitarian and International Development Certifications
  5. Certified Geographic Information Systems
  6. Certified Remote Sensing Professional
  7. Certified Urban Planner
  8. Certified Environmental Planner
  9. Certified Environmental Professional
  10. Certified Floodplain Manager

Intakes

In the UK, the primary intake happens in September/October, and the secondary intake happens in January/February.

Student Testimony

"Here’s the selling point… the Brunel placement year. I spent 3 months travelling Mexico, with my best friend. Yep, this dreamy version of a university placement year was my reality! In Anthropology, you can literally study anything anthropologically, anywhere. So, on a whim with my course mate, we randomly picked Mexico. " [Chrisyl Wong-Hang-Sun from Brunel University of London]

Frequently asked questions

The four fields of anthropology are archaeology, bioanthropology, linguistic anthropology, and social-cultural anthropology.

Additional courses of interest