BA (Hons) History & Anthropology
This degree is a challenging, critical introduction to two disciplines key to understanding human life, culture and society in the past and present, allowing you to explore contemporary cultural issues from an historical perspective.
Jane Bryan, BA History & Anthropology
3 years full-time or 4 years part-time.
LV61.
ABB or equivalent; see entrance requirements for alternative qualifications.
An understanding of cultures and societies; an understanding of human behaviour and social organisation, and their historical development; inter-cultural communication; independent research skills; proficiency in assessing evidence - oral, written, visual; critical and analytical skills; IT skills; written and oral communication skills.
Central and local government; social and community work; overseas development; journalism and the media; research and teaching; commerce.
Please see Undergraduate tuition fees.
Download a booklet [PDF, 738KB] or contact one of the Admissions Tutors, Roger Sansi-Roca or Dr Rebekah Lee.
Taught jointly by the Departments of History and Anthropology, this programme emphasises a creative engagement with processes of social change and cultural interaction. You also examine the history of past societies (non-Western and Western) through a culturally informed framework. You'll be introduced to debates surrounding the nature of evidence, the role of memory, cultural representation and interpretation, and the use of oral, literary and visual sources.
What you Study
A range of courses will give you a comprehensive understanding of both disciplines and the areas of debate that connect them. The first year introduces you to key methods and perspectives in history and anthropology. You'll also learn about the role of ethnography by focusing on the linguistic and cultural groupings of a particular region. In addition, you'll pick another history option; you could choose to study Dictators, War and Revolution; Religion, Peace and Conflict; Identity, Power and Society, or The Nature of Humans: Being, Emotion, Environment, and Organisation.
In the second year you investigate ‘classic’ theories and key anthropological texts on religion, magic, myth, ritual, morality, symbolism and belief, and you’ll explore interactions between changing economic and political structures in modern life via ethnographic examples. You also choose two history options, enabling you to learn more about areas including heresy and the occult in early modern Europe; medieval Islamic empires; the cultural history of Buddhist Asia; South Asian and African history; and 20th-century British, Italian, German and East European history. You can also take a course in a modern foreign language or apply to take a ‘related study’ – an approved module from another department.
At third year stage you make an in-depth exploration of the tensions and connections between history and anthropology. You also design and undertake an individual project that will develop your own personal interests and demonstrate an integrated understanding of both disciplines. You take a range of history and anthropology option courses, and have the option of taking a Special Subject course from the 40 or so available through other University of London institutions. These are based on the use of original sources in a detailed study which further develops your skills in understanding and interpreting historical evidence.
Assessment
Each course unit is examined at the end of the year in which you've taken it, using either written exams, a dissertation, or coursework; all courses contribute to your final result.
Application enquiries
Please see how to apply for information on applying to this programme.