Why Anthropology at Sussex?
What they say about us
Graded excellent for Anthropology teaching, and with five out of five for research, Sussex is the obvious choice. According to performance tables, we are one of the top 5 anthropology departments in the UK (The Times, The Guardian). As a whole, the University of Sussex is rated within the top 10 universities in the UK, the top 20 in Europe and the top 60 worldwide (Times Higher World University Rankings).
All you can do here
While you are here you will gain a thorough grounding in the subject. Courses cover a wide range of themes in diverse cultural contexts, linking in-depth topics from the local to the global. You might look at how social change affects reproduction in India, consider the politics of post-colonial West Africa, or study the representation of culture in different media. You will query your own assumptions and those of the discipline, considering how and why anthropologists' interests, methods and motivations have altered through the years.
With a more interdisciplinary approach than many other universities, you can combine your anthropology programme with development studies, cultural studies, media, history and many other options, or study a language to broaden your career choice still further. Whether you take the joint degree route or focus on anthropology, the latest government ratings for Sussex predict that our anthropology graduates will be confident, independent thinkers, with the flexibility needed for their future careers.
Teaching styles
At Sussex you will experience both small group teaching and lectures, and a mixture of independent study and group work. You might find yourself reviewing films, looking at museum collections, writing essays, and presenting your research to fellow students. Your lecturers are active researchers and experts in their field with a commitment to delivering high quality teaching. And since assessment is ongoing, you won't find yourself under too much pressure at exam time!
Beyond the classroom
Anthropologists spend a great deal of time researching 'in the field', participating in the everyday lives of those they are studying. You too will have an opportunity to put anthropological methods into practice, pursuing group research projects in multicultural Brighton.
In addition to the excellent anthropology resources in the University's library, including its huge collection of books, journals, videos, and electronic resources, the Anthropology Department works closely with nearby Brighton Museum, which has a superb collection of art and material culture from throughout the world.
Located so close to London, you will also have easy access to the many anthropology-related resources of the capital, including the Centre for Anthropology at the British Museum and the Horniman Museum.
Careers
Sussex anthropology graduates acquire skills in research, analysis, critical thinking, communication, organisation, computing and writing. These are complemented by an understanding of diversity, an international outlook, and an ability to work with a wide range of people. Recent graduates have pursued careers in aid and development work, the media, journalism, academia, the civil service, the cultural sector and more. You might decide to manage your own projects as a social science researcher, mount exhibitions as a museum curator, create policy in government or set up aid projects in developing countries - anthropology opens up vast opportunities.
Anthropology Degree Programmes
The Department of Anthropology offers two types of degree programmes: 'single honours' and 'joint honours'.
Single honours degrees
During year 1 you will spend 50 per cent of your time taking anthropology courses, with the remaining time spent taking courses in other subjects. In year 2 this increases to 75 per cent and in year 3 you will spend all your time studying anthropology. Your final degree classification depends on the results of assessment exercises in years 2 and 3. The structure of the Single Honours degree in anthropology looks like this:
Year/Level |
Term |
Major (anthropology) courses |
Non-major (other subject) courses | ||
|
One |
1 |
The Anthropological Imagination |
Ethnographic Film (elective) |
You will choose among complementary course options at Levels 1 and 2 from related subjects, such as Art History, Cultural Studies, Development Studies, Gender Studies, and History | |
|
2 |
Ethnographic Methods |
Anthropology in Theory | |||
|
3 |
Reading Ethnography | ||||
|
Two |
4 |
Reproduction, Self and Society |
Material Cultures | ||
|
5 |
Politics, Power and Legitimacy |
Issues in Contemporary Anthropology | |||
|
6 |
Culture and Representation | ||||
|
Three |
7 |
Religion and Ritual |
Anthropology of Economic Processes | ||
|
8 |
Two options from Advanced Topics in Anthropology | ||||
|
9 | |||||
Joint honours degrees
Joint honours degrees involve you spending 50 per cent of your time taking Anthropology courses and 50 per cent taking courses from another subject throughout your studies. You will graduate with a degree in 'Anthropology and ... ' (for instance, 'Anthropology and Development Studies' or 'Anthropology and Cultural Studies'). As with the single honours degree your final degree classification depends upon your work in years 2 and 3. The exception is the joint degree in Anthropology and a Modern Language which is a four-year degree (year 3 is spent abroad) and your degree classification depends on your performance over the final three years. The structure of the joint honours degree programmes looks like this:
|
Year/ |
Term |
Anthropology courses |
Joint-subject courses | |
|
One |
1 |
The Anthropological Imagination |
You take courses in Levels 1 and 2 and 3 of either Art History, or Geography, or History, or International Relations, or Media Studies, or Politics, or Languages (French, German, Italian or Spanish), or Development Studies, or Gender Studies, or Cultural Studies or Contemporary European Studies | |
|
2 |
Ethnographic Methods |
Anthropology in Theory
| ||
|
3 |
Reading Ethnography | |||
|
Two |
4 |
Reproduction, Self and Society | ||
|
5 |
Politics, Power and Legitimacy | |||
|
6 |
Culture and Representation | |||
|
Three |
7 |
Either Religion and Ritual or Anthropology of Economic Processes
| ||
|
8 |
Option in Advanced Topics in Anthropology | |||
|
9 | ||||
The following resources are available for more information on the undergraduate degree programmes: