Anthropology is the study of human beings and human behavior at all times and places. It is interconnected with other fields that study parts of human behavior, such as archeology, history, linguistics, and sociology. In contrast, anthropology takes a more holistic and inclusive perspective. It studies and compares all types of cultures and uses all means available to come closer to the lived experience of the people who compose those cultures. Its aim is to interpret and understand the parallels and contrasts between societies of all kinds, and to find out how the members of these societies see themselves and their roles.
The major subfields of anthropology are cultural anthropology, archeology, anthropological linguistics, and biological anthropology. Cultural anthropology studies the development and functions of cultures. Archeology studies the objects and artifacts left behind by past societies. Anthropological linguistics studies the role of language in society and culture. Biological anthropology studies human behavior from an evolutionary perspective. All involve both field work and theory.
The core topics introduce the field of anthropology and give students the skills and understanding to choose and pursue their interests in the specialized topics. On completing the core, students will be able to independently read the historical and academic literature. The core topics are:
Specializations should be discussed with the Director of Studies. On completing specializations, students will be able to independently read advanced literature and conduct a final project in that topic. Some suggested specializations are:
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