Bachelor of Arts Honours in Anthropology

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to equip learners with the skills needed to engage in higher level research activities as prerequisites for a Master of Arts (MA) (research) Anthropology Degree. Qualifying learners may find employment as entry-level research assistants in a variety of areas specific to social research studies or consultative work within the health sector, business organisations, heritage, conservation, and tourism or community development.

Skills and knowledge developed in the undergraduate social sciences Degrees will be built upon through a consolidation of theoretical knowledge and practical research. Learners will examine research in praxis through participation in the relevant theoretical modules and research project. Exploring the roles of the Anthropologist, qualifying learners will further develop their understanding of the application of Anthropological theory and method. By applying Anthropological techniques in specialised focal areas chosen by the learner for the research project, knowledge of both research methods and ethical practice will be deepened.

Rationale

The Bachelor of Arts Honours in Anthropology will replace the current Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours Anthropology which will be phased out with the last intake set for 2018. The current BA Honours Anthropology does not meet the latest Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework Standard (HEQFS) requirements and does not meet the current research needs of qualifying learners entering an anthropology related career. In this regard, an Anthropology Honours Degree with a strong research focus will help to produce qualifying learners who have the required skills to enter entry level research and teaching positions, assist professional Anthropologists in the application of anthropological skills in research and analysis to support the interests of local peoples and business, management and government sectors.

Qualifying learners will be enabled to contribute their research and analytical skills in a variety of employment environments, including the corporate sector, government, education and health sectors.

This qualification fills two specific requirements: the development of qualifying learners to contribute research and analytical skills in the work environment and the development of qualifying learners to grow the discipline through research contribution by specialising his/her academic focus as a Master of Arts (MA) (research) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Should candidates not meet the formal requirements set out by the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy; the following criteria will be considered:

• Learners who have acquired learning in a non-formal setting will not usually be considered for entrance into the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours in Anthropology as methodological and theoretical knowledge is discipline-specific. If, however, learners can produce written articles of their research which illustrates Anthropological theoretical and methodological competence comparable to an undergraduate level, they will be considered for admittance. Potential learners will be assessed based on a portfolio of evidence illustrating their practical experience working within the field and sub-fields of cultural Anthropology. The portfolio of evidence should include samples of research outputs such as articles and research proposals.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirements for admission into the Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree are

• A related Bachelor of Arts social science Degree (such as Sociology or Development Studies). with a combination of Anthropology electives.
• A Bachelor of Arts (BA) undergraduate Degree and � of the undergraduate Anthropology modules as electives will be considered for acceptance.
• Prospective students should have a 60% average at Level 7.

This qualification comprises compulsory and elective modules at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 100 Credits

• The Study of Different Schools of Thought in Anthropology, 20 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 20 Credits.
• Applied Anthropology, 20 Credits.
• Research Project, 40 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 8, 20 Credits

• African Ethnography in Anthropology, 20 Credits.
• Urban Anthropology, 20 Credits.

1. Describe the vital role that Anthropology plays in the field of Cultural Anthropology, within, for example, business and industry, the health sector, education, environment, community relations and government. Submit short assignments analysing case studies within each of these sub-fields of Cultural Anthropology and verbally present the main arguments of their analyses to peers and lecturers.
2. Critically reflect, engage and participate in debates on a variety of social issues in the field of Cultural Anthropology.
3. Interpret the socio-cultural milieu of a variety of public settings using theoretical approaches appropriate to the specific setting, such as systems theory, and compile reports to inform practitioners, communities and other stakeholders involved in public practice.
4. Critically examine and comment on the socio-cultural and politico-economic issues in African public spaces and in South Africa in particular.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Critically evaluate the Anthropological methods and procedures used in the case study under analysis.
• Reconstruct the research problems within a holistic examination of the linked socio-cultural phenomenon presented in the given case study.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Critically identify the key socio-cultural problems under debate.
• Identify weaknesses in current disciplinary methodological approaches.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Identify current theoretical approaches which are relevant to a given public setting and socio-cultural environment.
• Formulate research questions relevant and meaningful within the South African social context.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Formulation of research questions relevant and meaningful within the South African social context.
• Use quality of research sources relevant to the specific disciplinary area and research question.
• Demonstrate level of reading comprehension by the accurate critique of anthropological arguments.
• Ability to critique, contrast and evaluate applications of theoretical contributions to anthropological knowledge.
• Ability to construct coherent critique and systematic reviews of data/findings of the main anthropological theorists.
• Ability to submit logically constructed academic written outputs which adhere to the principles of general academic writing.

Integrated Assessment

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours in Anthropology will be evaluated through both formative and summative assessment. Two formative assessments will take place. These include a written assignment/report relating to course material and a seminar presentation on a topic related to the course. The summative assessment consists of a formal written exam (per relevant module). The final mark assessment is based on a 40:60 proportional ratio of the class mark to the exam mark.

The 40-Credits Research Project will be evaluated through two formative assessments and a summative assessment. The formative peer and departmental discursive assessments as well as written feedback of the research proposal draft will assess demonstration of the following: knowledge of the technical components and methodological and theoretical disciplinary approach chosen by the student, feasibility of the methods and techniques to be used, identification of 'knowledge-gaps' within current research of the topic chosen and a holistic understanding of the academic and ethical ethos.

Through discursive formative assessments by peers and lecturer of presentations of their Research Project prior to final submission, students will be assessed on demonstration of the following: the holistic evaluation of the macro and micro socio-cultural contexts of the research problem they have chosen, the responsible processing and storage of the data during fieldwork, recognition of the socio-cultural complexities contextualising research processes, a critical analysis of findings and insightful recommendations of feasible solutions or queries for future research within their chosen topic.

Final mark assessment is based on a 60/40 proportional ratio of the class mark (Proposal 20% and first draft 30%) to the final research report mark (50%).