SEMESTER 1
AN670 Key Concepts in Anthropology I // AN673 Key Concepts in Anthropology II // AN674 Key Concepts in Anthropology III
These modules introduce major concepts in anthropology, demonstrating a range of theoretical and ethnographic approaches through which anthropologists study human cultures and societies. The goal is to help students understand, interpret and engage with real-world issues by equipping them conceptual and substantive knowledge and capacity to locate these varied approaches within anthropological traditions. The key concepts explored, will include: Module 1) culture, cultural critique, gender, class, race and ethnicity, nation, states and citizenship; Module 2) religion, ritual, performance and embodiment, language, meaning and music; Module 3) power and history, poverty, migrations, world markets, conflict and violence, and environment.
AN675 Theory in Anthropology
This module provides an advanced foundation to key social theories, especially from the European Enlightenment tradition but also up to the work of recent post-structural and postcolonial figures. Students will be challenged to grapple with different theories, comparing and contrasting theories before developing their own analysis.
AN676 Ethnographic Practice
Ethnography most commonly describes a core methodological tool in anthropology, but it is also an epistemological tool that anthropologists employ in positioning ourselves and others in the ‘field’ of research. In this module, we will explore changing attitudes to research methods in anthropology and use key examples to foreshadow preparations for student research proposals. We will read some classic ethnographic texts while considering a range of methodological problems: entry to the ‘field’, data collection, inter-subjective dimensions of fieldwork experience. Moreover, students will be encouraged to think more broadly about new territories of ethnographic endeavour such as ethnography in corporate encounters, sensory ethnography and current approaches to gathering, writing and disseminating knowledge. Student participation and peer discussion will be expected in all sessions.
AN677 Graduate Seminar in Anthropology I // AN678 Graduate Seminar in Anthropology II
These seminars are designed as space for postgraduate students (MA and Ph.D. students) to develop their research projects in discussion with visiting scholars and Anthropology Department academic staff. Weekly meetings will consist of: 1) seminars in which visiting scholars present their research; 2) discussions with visiting scholars about the relevance of their work to the students’ own research and to the current state of the field; 3) presentations and discussions of students’ work in progress under the guidance of Anthropology Department academic staff.
AN692 Anthropology and Development
This module provides the foundations for the study of Anthropology and Development by situating the long process of the making of the contemporary Global South at the intersection of world historical and political economic flows. We will begin with a close reading of key texts in the field of historical anthropology in order to trace the emergence of mass poverty, inequality and conflict in our world today. The latter part of the module introduces current anthropological perspectives on, and engagements with, issues of sustainable international development.
AN691 Linguistic Anthropology
This module offers an advanced introduction to Linguistic Anthropology, focusing on classic theory and its recent extensions. The module features: a concise introduction to linguistic form and structure; a survey of historical theories and methodologies for the study of language in use (interactional sociolinguistics, Conversation Analysis, the ethnography of speaking); the development of conceptual tools for the semiotic analysis of language and related cultural forms; analysis of language style, processes of social, gender and ethnic identification, and communities of practice; introduction to the anthropology of poetic speech, performance, and literary texts; methodologies for the study of social life of language from face-to-face interaction to the formation of large-scale publics; exploration of new cultural and linguistic forms emerging in electronically-mediated communication.
AN862 Ethnography Winter School
This module is a comprehensive introduction to ethnography. ‘Ethnography’ is more than a ‘method’: it comprises a whole style of thought encompassing forms of observation, analysis, and writing. The module therefore emphasizes analysis and theory in addition to the research practices (interviewing, participant observation, note-taking) conventionally associated with qualitative research methodology. Themes covered include: culture and difference, contexts and cases (working in NGOs, clinics, corporations), styles of representation and the politics of knowledge, research ethics and ethnographic engagement. The module is also structured as a workshop, so that ethnographers at various stages of their careers -- from students planning proposals, to dissertation writers analysing previously collected material, to research professionals who may not be based in academia -- will be able to produce work within the module that relates to their respective career stages, locations, and goals. This work, such as a proposal draft or a stretch of ethnographic writing, forms the basis for module assessment.
AN647 Foundations of Medical Anthropology
These modules offer an advanced introduction to the broad field of Medical Anthropology, focusing on the classical anthropological contributions to this important subfield with a focus on global health, health care systems, care more generally, and suffering. Students will explore ethnographic work on patient-physician relationships, the social and community contexts of care provision, and the impact of bio-medicine on Western and non-Western populations.
AN667 Topics in Medical Anthropology
To ground Anthropology students ongoing research on Medical Anthropology with directed readings and small group discussion. Except in certain cases, students must have completed AN647 to take this course.
AN693 Anthropology of Digital Media
According to the International Telecommunication Union, over half the world’s population were online by the end of the 2019. Of this number the majority of internet users are from developing counties, and users in Asia and Africa account for the majority. More and more we are all leading digital lives but because the internet is a global phenomenon it can too easily carry a series of assumptions regarding how it is used or who it is for. In this seminar we will consider digital media in diverse socio-political and cultural contexts in order to explore how individual, group and institutional interactions are increasingly mediated by these technologies. Are ideas and norms regarding human interaction changing? In part one we will focus on themes such as the presentation of self in online fora, ideas surrounding the internet and privacy, the encroachment of commercial interests in branding and advertising on digital media. In part two we will consider these topics through a close reading of ethnographic examples including Filipina migrants in the UK, hashtag activists in the United States, digital migration in urban China, display and disguise in mobile phone use amongst young Mozambicans and smartphone use among older adults in Ireland. Student participation and peer discussion will be expected in all sessions.
PD602 People, Society and Design
(module offered in collaboration with the Department of Design Innovation)
How do people use designs and technology at different times and in different cultures? How can social and design research contribute to tackling societal challenges? How do user researchers and designers work with stakeholders to co-create new experiences, services or manage change in complex organisations? Drawing on case studies and invited lectures from professionals working in Design and Design related fields, students will develop an understanding of the lives of design researchers working in the public, private and not for profit sectors. Over the course of the module, students will ‘go to the field’ to carry out qualitative interviews with stakeholders and learn to prepare a ‘hot report’ or case study. They will build upon this data to ideate, develop and present a concept for a new or improved experience, service or product in Ireland.
AN694 Immigration and Diversity in Higher Education
(2020/21 Fulbright Visiting Professor – Peter Guarnaccia, Rutgers University)
What drives immigrant students to succeed in higher education? One factor appears to be the skills immigrant students learn while balancing keeping their family cultures alive and learning the culture of their host country. Another is the “immigrant bargain” that forms between parents who sacrifice for educational opportunities for their children and the drive of immigrant students to succeed as a result. We will look at a range of research and popular literature on this topic. We will examine similarities and differences with the experiences of immigrant students in Ireland.
KD601 Political Economy of Development (module offered in collaboration with the Department of International Development)
The core aim of this module is to develop learners’ understanding of the basic drivers around growth, inequality and sustainability within development on both a global level and also in the context of their own society. Module participants will explore the interconnections between economics, politics and the environment in the context of development policy and practice; reflect on notions of inequality; examine the roles and influence of the multilateral international financial institutions and the world trade organisations in shaping the global development agenda; review aid typologies, donor trends, and current debates on aid effectiveness; analyse the positive and negatives associated with the use of natural resources in development and understand the shifting economic and political shape of development.
Students can also avail of selected modules in the Departments of Geography, Media Studies and in the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
AN801 Theory and Practice for Anthropologists (Team-taught)
This course is built on the close reading of recent ethnographies, stressing theoretical, ethical and methodological issues, with practical focus on the craft of research in the discipline. The objective is to refine students' understanding of cutting edge anthropological theory and to assist students to operationalise their thesis proposal into ethnographic practice.
Prerequisites: AN601-604 or AN641-644 or equivalent
Assessment: participation + 5000-word equivalent continuous assessment
AN821 Professional Development in the Classroom and Beyond
This course is composed of 6 3-hour reflexive practice seminars over the year, or equivalent thereof, with an eye to developing the presentation and teaching skills of the student as an anthropologist. It may be taken concurrently with the Teaching and Learning Course and, if so, the student will gain a further 5 ECTS credit for their Generic/Transferable Requirement. The Deliverable is an undergraduate syllabus for a course in the students speciality.
Permission from Department must be sought before taking this module.
AN831 Directed Readings in Anthropology (Self-directed with mentor)
This module involves independent study facilitated by a staff mentor; the mentor may be the student's supervisor or it may be another member of the Anthropology staff. The role of the mentor is to provide specialist guidance in an area of disciplinary literature that the student wishes to explore. The module's objective is to provide a structured context in which an advanced postgraduate student can critically engage with areas of literature needed for the PhD thesis. It will enhance the student's preparedness for carrying out thesis research and/or writing the thesis. Students can only register for this module by prior arrangement with the mentor.
Prerequisites: Departmental permission only, arrangement with mentor
Assessment: A literature review essay of 5000 words
AN832-835 Research Tools in Anthropology (Self-directed with mentor)
Occasionally students pursue an anthropological research project that demands very specialised skills, from learning an exotic language to mastering advanced statistical methods. Students with such needs should discuss this with the Director of Postgraduate Studies to see if a specialised module can be designed for the student.
Prerequisites: Departmental permission only, arrangement with mentor
Assessment: 5000-word equivalent continuous assessment
AN841 Anthropology Writing-Up Seminar (Team-taught and cohort-led)
This module provides a rigorous but supportive environment for students to write up their thesis in a timely fashion. It is primarily self-directed, with staff supervision, by the cohort of students in the department who are currently in the process of writing. Seminar discussions will focus on the craft of ethnographic writing, especially focused on descriptively integrating primary data into an academic argument. Possible topics include learning writing through reading; ethnographic genres; audiences; ethnographic authority and issues of representation. Students will exchange draft chapters and read/critique one another's writing.
Prerequisites: Post-fieldwork and departmental permission
Assessment: 5000-word excerpt from the thesis-in-progress, marked by student's supervisor; engaged participation in critiquing the writing of others
AN842 Conference Participation (Self-directed with mentor)
This module involves independent study facilitated by a staff mentor; the mentor may be the student's supervisor or it may be another member of the Anthropology staff. The role of the mentor is to provide support as the student independently goes through the process of preparing to participate in a professional academic conference. The student's participation may range from presenting a paper to organizing a conference panel. The module's objective is to provide advanced postgraduate students with the experience of participating in a professional conference; it will advance their professional development by providing a structured context to facilitate the stages of the process.
Prerequisites: Departmental permission only, arrangement with mentor
Assessment: Text of conference paper and evidence of conference participation, or the panel abstract and preparatory notes for moderating the panel, along with a short essay reflecting on what the student learned from the experience
AN843 Writing for Peer-Reviewed Publication (Self-directed with mentor)
This module involves independent study facilitated by a staff mentor; the mentor may be the student's supervisor or it may be another member of the Anthropology staff. The role of the mentor is to facilitate the student's understanding of how academic publishing works, and to provide support as the student independently goes through the process of preparing a manuscript of an article for submission to a peer-reviewed academic journal. The module's objective is to provide advanced postgraduate students a structured understanding of academic publishing as well as the experience of preparing an article and submitting it to an academic journal for peer review. It will advance their professional development by providing a structured context to facilitate the stages of the process, from selecting a journal to drafting and submitting an article, through to receiving the reviewer feedback.
Prerequisites: Departmental permission only, arrangement with mentor
Assessment: Text of the article; evidence of submission to a peer-reviewed journal; short essay reflecting on what the student learned from the experience
AN845 Writing Cultures
Ethnography most commonly describes a core methodological tool in anthropology, but it is also an epistemological tool that anthropologists employ in positioning ourselves and others in the field of research. In this module, we will explore changing attitudes to research methods in anthropology and use key examples to foreshadow preparations for student research proposals. We will read some classic ethnographic texts while considering a range of methodological problems: entry to the field, data collection, inter-subjective dimensions of fieldwork experience. Moreover, students will be encouraged to think more broadly about new territories of ethnographic endeavour such as ethnography in corporate encounters, sensory ethnography and current approaches to gathering, writing and disseminating knowledge.
AN862 Ethnography Winter School (Dr. Thomas Strong)
Offered January 2020
This module is a comprehensive introduction to ethnography. The course is delivered in a burst-format over several days, and features the collaborative teaching of practicing ethnographers, including both academics and professional researchers, on the island of Ireland. ‘Ethnography’ is more than a ‘method’: it comprises a whole style of thought encompassing forms of observation, analysis, and writing.
Prerequisites: BA 2.1 or permission based on other consideration (e.g. experience in the field)
Assessment: Negotiated portfolio of student's own work relevant to career stage
AN864 Fieldwork in Anthropology
This module is designed for students undertaking anthropological fieldwork abroad. Long-term fieldwork is central to the discipline of anthropology; it is expected that anthropology students at the PhD level will spend one year or more doing independent, original research at fieldsites remote from the student’s home institution. Fieldwork abroad requires extensive planning and preparation that can include learning a foreign language, cultivating fieldsite contacts, obtaining local research permissions, etc. Anthropological fieldwork is like an artisan craft in that it is learned through the process of engaging in it over the long term, and the pedagogical issues will be different for each student and for each fieldsite. Therefore, the content of this module is built around the student’s particular field project. In consultation with a designated departmental mentor, the student will: (i) Draw up a logistical plan for field research; (ii) Complete pre-field preparations, including making contacts at the fieldsite, securing permissions, etc.; (iii) Send written updates on progress to the mentor at least quarterly during the fieldwork; (iv) Present a preliminary summary of the data obtained upon return from the field.
