UWA Handbook 2024

Major Overview

Description

Note: this major is only available to re-enrolling students.

Anthropology and Sociology is the fascinating study of the nature of humanity itself along with the complexities of human social relationships. This major incorporates the study of the cultures, institutions, social behaviours, economies and systems of meaning of all human societies. It includes the topics of religions, politics, kinship, gender, education, health, migration, landscapes and the media. Students investigate various cultural theories and a range of studies on behaviours and beliefs that are used to explore the great diversity of past and present societies. Your study furthers your understanding of your place in the world and results in useful skills for living and working in a changing, multicultural society. Anthropology and Sociology studied together in this major offers a way of understanding the whole context of human experiences.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in anthropology and sociology including cultural diversity, social inequality, the nature of social relationships and institutions, systems of symbolic meaning, and processes that underpin social and cultural change
2. demonstrate knowledge of anthropology and sociology as academic disciplines in historical context including principal concepts and theories
3. demonstrate an ability to critically review, analyse, summarize and synthesize anthropological and sociological research and theory
4. demonstrate an ability to formulate, investigate and discuss anthropologically and sociologically informed research questions and develop arguments based on a critical evaluation of evidence
5. demonstrate an ability to communicate anthropological and sociological ideas, principles and knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences using a range of formats (written, oral, visual etc.).

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Courses

Anthropology and Sociology can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

• BP001 Bachelor of Arts
• BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Units