Master of Science by Coursework in Social Anthropology

Differences from 2015/16 to 2022/23

    1. 1. The Social Sciences Divisional Boardcourse shall electbe forunder the supervision of the course a Standing Committee, namely the Teaching Committee of the School of Anthropology, which shall have power to arrange lectures and otherMuseum instruction.Ethnography

    2. TheCandidates course director shallwill be responsiblerequired to that committee.

    3. 2. Candidates must follow a course of instruction in Social and Cultural Anthropology for at least three terms.

    4. Candidates will complete the following two core courses:
      1. Theories, Approaches and willThemes in Social Anthropology (Paper 1) assessed by an essay of no more than 5,000 words, when entering for the examinations,to be requiredsubmitted by noon on Thursday of week 1 of Hilary term; 
      2. Comparing Cultures (Paper 4) assessed by two essays of no more than 2,500 words each, to producebe asubmitted certificateby fromnoon theiron supervisorMonday toof thisweek effect6 of Trinity term.

         
    1. 3. Candidates will betake requiredtwo option papers (Paper 2 and 3) from a list of those approved by the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography to presentbe themselvespublished forby writtenthe and (if requested) oral examinations and to submit three copiesend of aweek dissertation2 inof prescribedMichaelmas form on an approved topic as defined belowterm.

    2. 4. The writtenoption examinationpapers will consistbe assessed by one or more submissions, full details of fourwhich papersare onset the syllabus describedout in the ScheduleCourse Handbook.

    3. 5. Each candidateCandidates will be required to submitcomplete a dissertation of no more than 10,000 words, on a subject selected in consultation with the supervisor and approvedan by the Chairabstract of Examinersup to 250 words. The proposed title of the dissertation, together with a paragraph describing its scope and the supervisor's written endorsement,abstract must be submitted to the Chair of Examiners by Tuesday of the second week of Trinity Term.

    4. 6. Three typewritten copies of the dissertation must be delivered not later than noon on the last Wednesday in August.

    5. All assessments must be submitted using the University approved online submission system. Technical information on the requirements for online submissions is provided in the yearCourse inHandbook. which 
    1. theCandidates examinationmay isbe taken,requested to the Chair of the Examiners, M.Sc. in Social Anthropology, c/o Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford. The dissertation shall be provided withattend an abstract of up to 250 words, to be placed immediately after the title page. The word count shall be stated on the outside front cover of the thesis.

    2. 7. The oral examination (if requested) may be on the candidate's written papers, or dissertation, or both.

    3. 8. The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole examination.

    4. 9. In order to pass the degree, a student must pass all its assessed components. Where one or more components are failed, the student will be given the opportunity to re-sit or re-submit them once, as the case may be. Any subsequent award of the degree on successful completion of all the assessed components may be delayed by up to three terms, i.e. until the Examination Board next meets.

    5. 10. The four papers will be taken to constitute Part I of the degree and the dissertation to constitute Part II. At the close of the written examinations, the examiners will publish a list of those who have satisfied them in Part I.

Schedule

Students must satisfy the examiners in four papers, two of a general nature and two options; one option paper must be selected from List A (below). 

  • I. Culture and Identity

  • II.  Kinship, Power and Change

  • III. Option Paper I: The Social Anthropology of a Selected Region

  • This option paper must be selected from List A (below).

  • IV. Option Paper II: Open Choice

    This option paper must be selected from any of the listsexamination below:

    • Listpapers Aand/or dissertation. Anthropology of a Selected Region

    • List B. Topics in Material Anthropology

    • List C. Anthropology and Topical Issues

Options offered in any of the three lists may vary from year to year. Lists for the current academic year will be issued by the Director of Graduate Studies or his or her delegate by the end of the third week of Michaelmas term.