StudyQA — Master: Practical Anthropology

Description Contents Requirements Funding

The specialisation focuses on Anthropology in the Public Sphere and courses are structured around careful analyses of interventions in that sphere. Graduates will be proficient in analysing current theory, policy and practice relating to social interventions using critical theory and a range of social science and social-cultural research methods. Graduates will have been trained in a detailed and stringent anthropological critique of current public sphere interventions as they pertain to particular regional concerns. Specific focuses will change from year to year, and may include development issues, medical anthropology, media and film, conflict resolution, among others.

Compulsory (core) courses:

AXL5401W Minor Dissertation
AXL5402F Anthropology of Development
AXL5407S Anthropology and Contemporary Theory
AXL5409F/S Ethnographic Problematiques
AXL5411W Research Design

Candidates who have not previously completed an approved course in Ethnographic Research Methods (or equivalent) will be required to fill the elective slot with AXL4401F Ethnographic Research Methods and Methodology.

Candidates who have not previously completed an approved course in the History of Anthropological Thought (or equivalent) will be required to fill the elective slot with AXL4402S Anthropology of Societies in Transition and therefore to extend the specialisation into a second year. Candidates who have not previously completed either of the two above-mentioned types of courses will be required to complete an additional course for the specialisation, and will have no elective slots available

Candidates are required to participate in the Section’s weekly research seminar.

Elective courses:

AXL4403F Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality
AXL4405S Visual Anthropology
AXL5403F/S Further Special Topics in Social-Cultural Anthropology
XL5405F Culture, Health and Illness
AXL5406S Anthropology of Youth in Research and Development
AXL5412F Medicine & the Arts
AXL5416F Science, Nature, Democracy

As far as is possible, the specialisation and the compulsory courses will be tailored to the needs and interests of individual students. Special-topic courses may be created if there is demand and if personnel availability allows. Special-topic courses will normally include more advanced work on an issue dealt with at the undergraduate level or emanating from current departmental research. Subject to approval by the Head of Section, an elective offered by a cognate section or department may replace one or more of the listed electives. Please consult the list at the end of each departmental entry in this handbook for descriptions of elective courses.

Satisfactory completion of the Honours specialising in Anthropology with an overall average result of not less than 65%.
Candidates who have an Honours degree in Anthropology from another university or in a cognate discipline will be considered.
Candidates must satisfy the Section Head that they are sufficiently proficient in any language that they may require for fieldwork.
Candidates for the specialisation in Practical Anthropology with non-academic experience in social interventions and/or in the public sphere will be given special consideration.
Certified copies of official academic transcripts in ENGLISH (full transcripts for each tertiary institution attended)
Certified copies of degree certificates in ENGLISH (for each tertiary institution attended where applicable)
Applicants from universities situated in non-English speaking countries: TOEFL/IELTS certificate OR letter from previous tertiary institution stating “English as medium of instruction” for the programme
Curriculum vitae (include work experience)
A recent score (obtained within 3 - 5 years before application for admission) of at least 570 (paper-based test) or 230 (computer-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
A recent overall band score of 7.0 (with no individual element of the test scoring below 6.0) on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
OR, noting that this may only be written at certain designated venues within South Africa, a score of at least 65% on the university's Placement Test in English for Educational Purposes (PTEEP).