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Faculties & Departments
Department of Anthropology
"Anthropology and Development”: Postgraduate Certificate and Taught Masters Degree
The postgraduate programme in Anthropology is an integrated taught/research programme, leading potentially to a PhD. However, students may elect (or be required) to stop at earlier stages, thereby earning a Postgraduate Diploma or an MA. All students without previous postgraduate training in Anthropology will complete a first, taught year, comprised of seminars and assessed by essays. As part of this year all students submit a thesis proposal for a minor thesis MA. Depending on their overall performance, their specific interests, the viability of their proposals, and Departmental approval, students will be directed to:
- accept a Postgraduate Diploma (formerly called a Higher Diploma) and discontinue further study;
- begin work on a minor thesis MA (1 year)
- begin work on a major thesis PhD (3 years minimum)
At the successful completion of a minor thesis MA, students may be encouraged to submit a proposal for a PhD. The above time frames, however, are guidelines only, as, very often, extra time will need to be budgeted for access and/or ethical approval issues, as well as competencies in field and reading language(s).
Entry Requirements
Students must have at least a Second Class Honours Grade II (2.2.) in Anthropology or cognate discipline to be considered for any of our postgraduate programmes.
Duration
The minor thesis M.A. should take no more than one calendar year beyond the taught year to complete. Normally a Major Thesis will take a minimum of three years to complete. As stated above, however, extra time will often need to be budgeted for access and/or ethical approval issues, as well as competencies in field and reading language(s). All these issues are worked our between the students and his/her advisor(s).
The Anthropology and Development Postgraduate Certificate and Taught Masters degree programmes are directed primarily at development and humanitarian aid professionals (and those who envisage such a career). This course provides a holistic and critical approach to culture, the inevitable context of all relief and development activity. The field orientation of anthropology focuses on the links between global and local processes, between abstract theory and real behaviour, and among the various dimensions of human life – political, economic, familial, religious, etc. The interconnections and interactions among these is the principal concern of the discipline, and the real context for any development work.
Those students taking the 20 ECTS Postgraduate Certificate complete the following:
- The Development Certificate Strand, assessed in four 5 ECTS module over the course of the year. This includes 3 Saturday Workshops distributed over the course of the year (20 ECTS).
Those students working on the MA will take the Development Certificate Strand as well as the following:
- Theory and Ethnographic Practice (20 ECTS in four 5ECTS module).
- Four optional ATAMs, Joint Undergrad-Graduate Seminars, or Area Studies Courses, no more than 2 of which can be replaced by Reading Courses (AN 621 and AN 622).
- Compulsory Attendance at the Presentation Seminar.
- An acceptable Thesis Proposal as detailed on P.5.
Students holding the Development and Anthropology Certificate need only 40 ECTS
(2-5 above) to complete the year.
Further Course Information
The first part of this course consists of the Core Seminars in Anthropology and Development (CSAD). CSAD is delivered through four highly interactive seminar modules, with weekly two-hour meetings to be held one evening per week for 6 weeks for each module, or a total of 24 meetings for all four. There will also be 3 or 4 workshops to be held on Saturdays throughout the year. Total contact time (including workshops) will be about 100 hours. Each of the modules will be worth 5 ECTS and will be assessed by essay. On satisfactory performance, students taking only this part of the course will earn a Postgraduate Certificate.
Students in the MA Course will also take Anthropological Theory & Ethnographic Practice, composed of four half-semester modules, each worth 5 ECTS in additions to CSAD. They will need to earn a further 10 ECTS/semester through some combination of ATAMs, Joint BA/Grad Seminars, and Area Studies Modules.
ATAMs
Between four and six ATAMs, Joint BA/Graduate Seminars, or Area Studies Courses are required of all MA Programmes:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
Rural Ireland: Ethnography & Literature Creole as a model for culture Linguistic Anthropology Indigenism Moral Geographies Refugees Joint BA/Graduate Seminars Anthropology of Violence Material Culture Famine Visual Anthropology |
Design Anthropology & Creativity Ritual Development and the Gift Northern Ireland Global Health Borders: Case Study US/Mexico Joint BA/Graduate Seminars Social Exclusion Anthropology of Sound Anthropological Issues in Papua New Guinea Culture & Risk Anthropology & Biography Illness Narratives Anthropology of Labour Movements Anthropology & Literature Trauma/Memory/Death/FuneralSocial Exclusion Anthropology of Sound Anthropological Issues in Papua New Guinea Culture & Risk Anthropology & Biography Illness Narratives Anthropology of Labour Movements Anthropology & Literature Trauma/Memory/Death/Funeral |
Area Studies Courses Africa: An Anthropological Perspective |
Area Studies Courses Europe: An Anthropological Perspective |
Assessment: At the Graduate Level, all ATAMs, joint BA/Grad Seminars and
Area Studies Course are assessed by essays between 4,000 and 5,000 words. A
portion of this assessment may be made through an in-class presentation.
Graduate Student Research Presentation Seminar
(all year, 1.5 hrs)
A research topic based seminar run by and for graduate students with faculty
moderators. This seminar is an important venue for both First Year postgraduates,
and more advanced MA and PhD students. The latter will be presenting papers on
their ongoing research in the first semester and First Year students will present
their developing proposals in the second semester. This seminar gives all
postgraduate students an opportunity to try out their ideas in a professional, but
friendly forum. The first year postgraduates will be provided with valuable role
models/examples, especially important for those continuing for more advanced
degrees here or elsewhere. This seminar is also a venue for practical discussion
of research techniques, access issues and ethical problems.
Not assessed, but attendance and participation is compulsory
Year 2
In most cases, students will register for Research Modules (AN 626 and AN 627)
in their second year. A schedule of regular contact with your advisor will need to
be worked out as part of this process.
Career Opportunities
Anthropological insights are becoming increasingly important in an information-based world economy, where an understanding of cultural difference is crucial - from local to international contexts. Advanced training in Anthropology can give one an advantage in preparing for a career in community work, education, the health professions, aid and development projects, business and administration, amongst other careers. A Ph.D. in Anthropology qualifies one as a professional anthropologist, and potential careers in third level teaching, research, or the application of anthropology in a variety of public and private programmes.