Prospectus

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Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology: Anthropology of a Sustainable World

In this specialisation we are interested in the impact of globalisation on environment, culture and economy. Students can study different aspects of globalisation by choosing one of the two tracks within this specialisation:

  • Environment and Development

  • Global Economy and Culture
    Both can be combined with the focus on Heritage Protection.

Environment and Development
This track covers the complex relations between people and nature. It does so in terms of present modes of resource use as well as in terms of future projections; ideas on how to bring about a better, sustainable world. The aim of Environment and Development is to equip you with knowledge and skills that will enable you to analyse the interactions between societies and both urban and rural environments and to engage in activities aimed at the formulation of various types of solutions for existing environment-and-development problems. Often these activities are implemented under the banner of development.

Global Economy and Culture
This track emphasises the multi-scalar connections between the economic and the political and between institutional and non-institutional policy-making. It also addresses the responses to such policies by social movements, or ordinary citizens, and the creation of alternative markets in which factors other than sole profitability are important.

September Intake

Use the link under “Files” to access the schematic time-table for the September-intake of the programme Anthropology of a Sustainable World. Time of the classes highlighted in yellow is still prone to change. Room numbers and other details can be found in course descriptions below.

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Large Issues, Small Places: Theorizing Ethnographic Research 5
Doing Ethnography 5
Research Proposal CA-DS 5

Choose one of the tracks:

Environment and Development 1 5
Global Economy and Culture 1 5

Choose one for further specialisation:

Environment and Development 2 5
Global Economy and Culture 2 5
Heritage protection in a global context 5
Fieldwork 15
Writing Seminar: telling your story 5
Master Thesis (CA-DS) 15

Visual Ethnography as Method

Students who start in February cannot make use of ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’.

The Institute for Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology now offers ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’ as a part of both specialisations of the MA programme. ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’ is a methodological option, embedded within the MA CA/DS. This option qualifies students for the use of audiovisual methods as a part of anthropological research. Skills are acquired through coursework as well as the conduct of an independent academic research project. This methodological option within the MA combines anthropological theory and hands-on audiovisual practice.

Admission to ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’

‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’ is only accessible to a limited number of qualified students. Students taking ‘Visual Ethnography as a method’ can only start by September 1st (not by February 1st). The MA admissions committee assesses and prioritizes applications. Students who would like to be placed for ‘Visual Ethnography as a method’ need to write an application that includes reference to the criteria mentioned below:

  • The completion, with good results, of the BA course Visual Methods or (in very exceptional cases) equivalent. Visual Methods is accessible within the regular BA programme of CA/DS. If required, students from abroad can incorporate Visual Methods in a pre-Masters programme. Please enclose copies of the relevant course certificates with your application.

  • The viability of the proposed MA research project. Viability depends on the topic chosen, but also significantly on the location at which fieldwork is to be conducted. For ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method,’ students are only allowed to do fieldwork at a site where they have a good command over the language. Dutch students are therefore normally not allowed to conduct fieldwork outside the Netherlands. Please enclose an outline of the MA research project envisaged (450 words max.) with your application.

  • If, considering the earlier study trajectory, a student can be expected to complete the MA option ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’ on time, that is, within one year. Please add a copy of your BA grade sheet with your application.

Deadline for applications June 1st; the decisions of the MA admissions committee will be communicated by July 1st. Presently, no more than twelve (12) students can be admitted annually.

Study trajectory ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’

Students taking ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’ with some adjustments follow the regular CA/DS MA programme. (1) In November, students do not enrol in the second part of their chosen elective course, but take the course ‘Visual Ethnography: Fieldwork Preparations.’ (2) The MA fieldwork is limited to two months: January and February. (3) In March, students take the course: ‘Visual Ethnography: Analysis and Editing.’ The MA trajectory ‘Visual Ethnography as a method’ is concluded with the completion of a short film in combination with a paper.

Use the link under “Files” to access the schematic time-table for ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’. Time of the classes highlighted in yellow is still prone to change. Room numbers and other details can be found in course descriptions below.

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Large Issues, Small Places: Theorizing Ethnographic Research 5
Doing Ethnography 5
Research Proposal CA-DS 5

Choose one of the two:

Environment and Development 1 5
Global Economy and Culture 1 5
Visual Ethnography: Fieldwork Preparations 5
Fieldwork for ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’ 10
Visual Ethnography: Analysis and Editing 5
MA Thesis (audiovisual and textual) 15
Writing Seminar: telling your story 5

February Intake

Students who start in February can not make use of ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’.

Use the link under “Files” to access the schematic time-table for the programme of February intake. Time of the classes highlighted in yellow is still prone to change. Room numbers and other details can be found in course descriptions below.

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

SECOND HALF OF THE PROGRAMME (for students who started in Febr. 2014)

Large Issues, Small Places: Theorizing Ethnographic Research 5
Writing Seminar: telling your story (for February intake) 5

Choose one of

Environment and Development 1 5
Global Economy and Culture 1 5

Choose one of

Environment and Development 2 5
Global Economy and Culture 2 5
Heritage protection in a global context 5
Master Thesis CA-DS (February intake) 15

FIRST HALF OF THE PROGRAMME (for students who start in Febr. 2015)

Doing Ethnography (February intake) 5
Research Proposal CA-DS (February intake) 5
Fieldwork (February intake) 15