Department of Anthropology & Archaeolgy
An interdisciplinary Social Science department in the Division of Humanities, we study human society from prehistory to the present.
On this page you will find the requirements for gaining a degree in Anthropology. Further information can be found in the Programme Handbook. You can combine various papers from this and other departments and programmes to gain your degree, but you must fullfil the basic requirements outlined below. If you have any questions regarding how to combine papers, please contact the Programme Coordinator of Archaeology or Social Anthropology or another member of staff.
Anthropology can be taken as a major subject for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), with any combination of archaeology, social anthropology or biological anthropology papers that meet the following requirements:
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Two 100-level ANTH papers from ANTH103, ANTH104, ANTH105, ANTH106 | 36 |
| Above 100 | Seven ANTH papers, including at least two 200-level papers, and at least four above 200-level. BIOA201 or any 200-level GEND or SOCI paper may be substituted for one 200-level ANTH paper. BIOA301, or any 300-level GEND or SOCI paper may be substituted for one 300-level ANTH paper. Inclusion of one 400-level paper may be approved in exceptional circumstances. |
126 |
| Plus |
198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside the Arts schedule. |
198 |
| Total | 360 |
Anthropology can be taken as a minor subject for the BA, BCom, BTour, BTheol or BSc degree, with any combination of archaeology or social anthropology papers that meets the following requirements:
| Papers | Points | 90 points of ANTH papers, at least 54 of which must be above 100-level, including at least 18 points above 200-level |
90 |
|---|---|---|
Anthropology may be taken as a subject for the Bachelor of Arts with Honours [BA(Hons)]. Students may apply for entry to the BA(Hons) after their first, second or third year. The entry requirements at each level are set out in the University Calendar and Guide to Enrolment. Any combination of archaeology, social anthropology or biological anthropology papers that meet the following requirements can be undertaken:
| Stage | Requirements | Second | At least 120 points, including 72 200-level ANTH points. BIOA201, or any 200-level GEND or SOCI paper may be substituted for one 200-level ANTH paper. |
|---|---|---|
| Third | At least 120 points, including 90 300-level ANTH points. BIOA301, or any 300-level GEND or SOCI paper may be substituted for one 300-level ANTH paper. |
|
| Fourth | At least 120 400-level ANTH points, including ANTH490 or ARCH490. BIOA401 may be substituted for one 400-level ANTH paper. ANAT490 may be substituted for ANTH490 or ARCH490, MUSI403 may be substituted for one 400-level ANTH paper with HOD approval | |
Information for 4th Year Honours & Postgraduate Diploma
Anthropology may be taken as a subject for the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (PGDipArts). Requirements for entry to the PGDipArts are set out in the University Calendar and Guide to Enrolment. Candidates will have completed a BA, normally majoring in Anthropology, and must have achieved a B+ average in the 300-level papers in their major subject. The course of study is the same as for the Fourth Stage of the BA(Hons). This may be taken full-time for one year or part-time over a longer period.
The Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad) is a flexible programme that enables graduates in one discipline to gain a qualification endorsement in another subject without doing the full requirements of a major. This is often used by students wanting to advance to postgraduate study in a subject other than their original major, or as a way of adding disciplinary breadth to their initial degree. Requirements for entry to the DipGrad are set out in the University Calendar and Guide to Enrolment.
Individual courses of study for the Dip Grad are arranged for each candidate through negotiation with the Department concerned and the Director of the DipGrad Programme.For more information go to:
http://www.otago.ac.nz/courses/qualifications/dipgrad.html
Generic requirements are: at least 120 points including 72 points at or above 300-level. To gain an endorsement in Anthropology candidates may take any combination of archaeology, social anthropology or biological anthropology papers that meet the generic requirements and include at least 54 points from those required for the Anthropology major at 300-level or at a higher level.
Application forms for admission are available from the Department of Anthropology, Gender and Sociology office or the Student Information Centre. Applications close on 10 December. Late applications will be considered. Please address your application to:
Humanities Divisional Office
University of Otago
PO Box 56, Dunedin
or deliver to the 5th floor, Arts (Burns) Building
Students intending to apply for admission to either the BA(Hons) at fourth year or Post Graduate Diploma are normally expected to have achieved a final grade of B+ or better in their 300 level Anthropology papers.
The programme offers the MA and the PhD in Anthropology. Students may be supervised solely by Anthropology staff or jointly by Anthropology staff and staff in another department. Inquiries should be directed to the programme coordinator for Archaeology or Social Anthropology.
This course can be taken either after completion of a BA, or, more usually, after completion of the BA(Hons) or PGDipArts. It normally involves from one to three years study.
"A thesis submitted for a Master's degree should contain the results of a piece of independent research which might reasonably be expected of a diligent and competent student after not less than twelve months of full time study. The thesis should demonstrate that the candidate has the ability to carry out research and/or the ability to carry out constructive criticism, and to report the results of such work clearly, accurately and succinctly. It is not required that the results represent a substantial contribution to knowledge in the field, or that the examiners agree with the findings."
During their course of study each MA candidate must present at least one Departmental seminar.
Admission to the course is subject to approval by the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) and requires the recommendation of the Anthropology Department. For students entering with only a BA qualification, admission to the MA thesis is conditional upon satisfactory completion of the papers requirement. Except with permission of the Head of Department, the minimum requirements for Departmental approval for admission to MA thesis are:
Before applying for admission students should discuss potential thesis topics with their potential supervisor. Applications for admission should normally reach the Divisional Administrator (Humanities) by 10 December. Late applications will be considered.
This course is usually undertaken after completion of an MA, or in exceptional circumstances, after completion of a BA(Hons). It involves independent research over a period of at least two and a half years of full time study, and normally no more than six years.
The degree is awarded on the basis of submission of a thesis of no more than 100,000 words, the requirements of which are set out as follows:
"The thesis should give clear evidence of the candidate's ability to carry out research, that the candidate has shown originality, and that the candidate has made a significant contribution to knowledge in the particular field. It is expected that some of the work in the thesis would be worthy of publication. The research should be of a kind which might reasonably be expected after three years full-time study."
During their course of study each candidate must present at least one Departmental seminar each year and provide a written progress report to their supervisor(s) at least once each year. This will form part of an annual progress report submitted to the Academic Registrar.
Registration as a PhD candidate is subject to approval of Senate, and requires the recommendation of the Department. In order to gain the recommendation of the Department a candidate must have:
Proposals will be considered by a meeting of all teaching staff, which will advise the Head of Department on the candidate's suitability for Departmental approval. Before applying for admission applicants should discuss potential thesis topics with their potential advisors. Applicants for admission must complete an Application for Postgraduate Study in Anthropology form as well as the University application forms. These are available from the Anthropology Department Office. Applications for admission may be made at any time of the year.
Second Floor, Richardson Building