BA Anthropology

Anthropology is the comparative study of humankind in the cultures of the world, both past and present. This exciting field brings many academic disciplines together to examine what defines us as humans and how we came to be the way we are. It is a unique way of looking at the world that offers a greater understanding of the human experience, and a strong sense of global citizenship to meet the challenges of the future.

The BA in Anthropology in UCC is an interdisciplinary programme that provides a strong foundation in the sub-fields of Archaeology and Sociology, as well as an introduction to disciplines such as Celtic Civilization, Ethnography and Folklore, Ethnomusicology, History, Philosophy, and Religion and Global Diversity. Anthropology students acquire skills relevant to careers that involve working with individuals of diverse national or ethnic backgrounds, where an ability to gather and interpret data about human societies is important for employment in government and non-government agencies, academia, industry and community bodies.

The BA in Anthropology is a three-year, full-time, honours degree (NFQ Level 8). The programme brings together two different and equally important traditions of anthropological teaching and research. The first is a European tradition of social anthropology, where anthropology is closely aligned with sociology. The second is a North American approach where socio-cultural anthropology is aligned with physical anthropology, linguistics and archaeology. With this interdisciplinary perspective, Anthropology offers a unique way of looking at human culture in the past and today.

First Year provides a strong foundation in disciplines that span the broader field of Anthropology. The course will commence with a module that provides an overview of the aims, approaches and transdisciplinary nature of Anthropology. Students then take four subjects at introductory level, with no prior knowledge required. Archaeology (to include physical Anthropology) and Sociology (to include cultural anthropology) are offered as core disciplines. A third subject, History, is important to the study of Anthropology, because in human affairs the present is always closely linked to the past. The fourth subject in first year is a choice between Religions and Global Diversity or Folklore. 

Second Year focuses on the two core disciplines of Archaeology and Sociology, with teaching that provides fundamental knowledge, theoretical perspectives, methods and practices in those areas. Students can select options from other relevant subjects, including Celtic Civilization, Ethnomusicology, Folklore/Ethnology, History, Philosophy, and Study of Religions. This will build a greater breadth of understanding across the field of Anthropology, allowing students to pursue particular interests in those disciplines. There is a research seminar where students engage with theoretical perspectives and contemporary issues in Anthropology, supported by invited speakers from leading universities in Europe and North America. A residential field school at Easter allows students to participate in archaeological and ethnographic fieldwork in a case-study landscape.

Third Year delivers integrated and disciplinary perspectives on Anthropology to a higher level. There is a continued focus on the core disciplines of Archaeology and Sociology, supported by option modules taken across the disciplines of Celtic Civilization, Ethnomusicology, Folklore/Ethnology, History, Philosophy, and Study of Religions. Students will participate in an Anthropology seminar that will include research training and supervised dissertation work in a chosen specialism of Anthropology.

This option will allow students to study Anthropology for one year abroad in addition to three years of study in UCC. Students will be placed in universities in Europe and North America with courses in Anthropology.

Applications for the BA in Anthropology are made through the CAO system for Leaving Certificate, FETAC, Mature and other EU applicants.
Applications from outside the EU are made directly to the International Education Office in UCC.
The CAO code for this degree is CK123.

Further details available can be found at:
https://www.ucc.ie/en/ck123/

You can visit the Programme's website at:
https://www.ucc.ie/en/anthropology/