Note about optional modules (if available): The below is indicative of the typical modules offered, but is not intended to be construed or relied on as a definitive list of what might be available in any given year. The module content and availability is subject to change.
Overview
In the first two years, you'll concentrate on basic anthropological concepts – such as kinship, politics, economics and religion, as well as world systems and development – and on methods of studying and analysing these. You will also study ethnography and at least one region of the world in depth.
There's a substantial practical component to this degree, constituting a sixth of the course load in all three years. This includes training in:
- Photography
- Videography
- Editing
- Specialist software
In your final year you can specialise by choosing from a selection of option topics, and will produce a documentary film and dissertation based on individual study.
Year 1 (credit level 4)
In your first year, you'll take five compulsory modules, and choose between two optional modules of either Anthropological Ideas or Being Related. You'll complete the following compulsory modules:
| Module title |
Credits |
|
Introduction to Visual Practice
|
30 credits |
|
Approaches to Contemporary Anthropology
|
30 credits |
|
Anthropological Methods
|
15 credits |
|
Ethnographic Film
|
15 credits |
|
Advancing your Anthropology
|
15 credits |
You'll also choose one of the following two optional modules:
| Module title |
Credits |
|
Anthropological Ideas
|
15 credits |
| or |
|
Being Related
|
15 credits |
Year 2 (credit level 5)
In your second year, you'll take six compulsory modules and one optional module. The compulsory modules are:
| Module title |
Credits |
|
Advanced Visual Practice
|
30 credits |
|
Critical Ecologies: black, indigenous and transnational feminist approaches
|
15 credits |
|
Anthropology and Political Economy
|
15 credits |
|
Thinking Anthropologically
|
15 credits |
|
Thinking Through Race
|
15 credits |
|
The Goldsmiths Elective
|
15 credits |
You also choose one of the following modules:
| Module title |
Credits |
|
Anthropology and Public Policy
|
15 credits |
|
Indigenous Cosmopolitics, Anthropology and Global Justice
|
15 credits |
|
Anthropology of Religion
|
15 credits |
|
Working with Images
|
15 credits |
|
Goldsmiths’ Social Change Module
|
15 credits |
Year 3 (credit level 6)
In your final year, you'll complete the compulsory module Individual Studies with Practice for 30 credits. You can then choose optional modules from an approved list in the Department of Anthropology to the value of 90 credits.
| Module title |
Credits |
|
Individual studies with practice
|
30 credits |
You will also take 90 credits of option modules, recent examples of which include:
| Module title |
Credits |
|
Anthropological Approaches to History
|
15 credits |
|
Anthropology of Health 1
|
15 credits |
|
Anthropology and Gender Theory
|
15 credits |
|
Anthropology in Public Practice
|
30 credits |
|
Borders and Migration
|
15 credits |
|
Learning from Social Movements
|
15 credits |
|
Psychological Perspectives in Anthropology
|
15 credits |
|
Anthropology of Art
|
15 credits |
|
Anthropology of Rights
|
15 credits |
|
Digital Anthropology
|
15 credits |
|
Anthropology of Violence
|
15 credits |
|
Anthropology of Development
|
15 credits |
|
Gender Theory in Practice
|
15 credits |
|
Staff/Student Research Project
|
15 credits |
Teaching style
This programme is mainly taught through scheduled learning - a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. This includes carrying out required and additional reading, preparing topics for discussion, and producing essays or project work.
The following information gives an indication of the typical proportions of learning and teaching for each year of this programme*:
- Year 1 - 15% scheduled learning, 85% independent learning
- Year 2 - 13% scheduled learning, 87% independent learning
- Year 3 - 11% scheduled learning, 89% independent learning
How you’ll be assessed
You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These include coursework, examinations, group work and projects.
The following information gives an indication of how you can typically expect to be assessed on each year of this programme*:
- Year 1 - 25% coursework, 50% written exam, 25% practical
- Year 2 - 69% coursework, 13% written exam, 19% practical
- Year 3 - 85% coursework, 15% practical
*Please note that these averages are based on enrolments for 2022/23. Each student’s time in teaching, learning and assessment activities will differ based on individual module choices. Find out more about how this information is calculated.
Credits and levels of learning
An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6. If you are a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 modules in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 modules in your final year. A standard module is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half modules or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation or a Major Project.
Download the programme specification.
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
