Aims of the course
- To provide participants with an introduction to key concepts in social anthropology
- To stimulate an appreciation of variability in human social organisation
- To inspire understanding of how different cultural groups respond to global issues
Course content overview
This is a course for anyone interested in exploring the complex and fascinating ways in which different human societies organise themselves and relate and respond to one another and the world around them. We begin by discovering how social anthropology contributes to some of the big questions: What does it mean to be human? What unites us? What divides us? The second portion of the course works through a series of examples to understand how different human societies understand and express concepts of family and kinship, governance and political organisation, resource management and connection to place. The course will show how an understanding of different cultures can inspire and guide responses to global crises that stand to impact all of humanity.
Schedule (this course is completed entirely online)
Orientation Week: 8-14 April 2024
Teaching Weeks: 15 April-19 May 2024
Feedback Week: 20-26 May 2024
Teaching Week 1 - Let's eat! The social anthropology of being human
Social anthropology is the comparative study of human social organisation and cultural practice. In this first teaching week we will explore what it means to be human by exploring something all humans have in common – eating! We will explore how different societies around the world conceive of food, cooking, and eating as a gateway to understanding what social anthropologists do, but more importantly as a way to better understand what it means to be human.
Learning outcomes:
- A basic understanding of the key concepts underlying social anthropology as a discipline
- An introduction to how food culture contributes to an understanding of the variety of human cultures
Teaching Week 2 - The ties that bind: exploring kinship and family
In this second teaching week we will investigate the complex web of social relationships that define “kinship”. We will travel the world (virtually!) to explore the amazing ways in which human societies define, perpetuate, and transform what it means to be “related”. How do different societies determine who is and is not related? What social means do different cultures use to construct a family? What is the role of family in different cultures?
Learning outcomes:
- An appreciation of the varied ways in which different societies define kinship and family
- An understanding of the complex social relationships that define both kinship and family
- The ability to reflect on how definitions of family and kinship impact broader society
Teaching Week 3 - Who's the boss?: governance, law, and tradition
Human societies govern in an astonishing variety of ways. The means through which governance is put into practice (e.g. through political structure, legal systems, cultural traditions etc.) is equally varied. This teaching week we will explore some of the complex systems of governance that exist in contemporary societies from culturally distinct parts of the world. We will look specifically at how culturally-grounded legal and governance systems challenge fundamental assumptions about who should be granted legal personhood.
Learning outcomes:
- An appreciation of variation in systems of governance
- An introduction to distinct systems of governance that challenge assumptions about what constitutes “good governance”
Teaching Week 4 - Knowing nature: exploring traditional ecological knowledge
Interest in how human societies relate to the world around them, and in particular manage the resources upon which they depend, is a major focus of current social anthropology. In this teaching week we will explore the idea of “traditional ecological knowledge” or TEK. Using the lens of TEK we will investigate how different societies conceive of the natural world, and how those conceptions inform the use and management of natural resources.
Learning outcomes:
- An introductory understanding of what constitutes TEK, how it is formulated and sustained over time
- A critical understanding of the implications of using TEK in service of contemporary national and global resource management agendas
Teaching Week 5 - We bend but we don't break: resilience in the Anthropocene
This final teaching week will explore what it means to be human in the “Anthropocene” or the “age of the human”. We will investigate how social anthropologists work to understand how different societies respond to unanticipated change, what we can learn from those responses, and how those lessons might inform future actions to address global social and environmental change. We will explore these ideas through the lenses of climate change and “resilience”.
Learning outcomes:
- An introductory understanding of the Anthropocene
- A basic understanding of what it means to be “resilient”
Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours reading material, etc., although this will vary from person to person.
While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material).
Virtual Learning Environment
Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (discussion boards etc).
Certificate of participation
A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to participants who contribute constructively to weekly discussions and exercises/assignments for the duration of the course.
What our students have said:
"Even though I was familiar with many topics, concepts and ideas we reviewed in the class, I learned new ways to understand and look at the world. I think the course did more than meet my expectations. Tanja did such a great job exceeding my expectations."
"Tanja was extremely clear and informative. She was instrumental in the successful development of the course. Her feedback, guidance and, instruction were crucial for my understanding of the different concepts and ideas we reviewed in this course. I really enjoyed her videos and how clear she was at explaining and describing the relevance of the topics and themes we reviewed in class. Her expertise and professionalism kept me and I believe that others students as well engaged and motivated to learn and participate."
