Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology: Visual Ethnography

Visual Ethnography is a specialisation of the master's programme Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology and is offered by the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology. It is a one year Master's programme of 60 ECTS.

This specialisation draws upon audiovisual media’s unique ability to share insights about people and places on multiple registers – discursive, sensory, embodied, spatial, etc. Furthermore, with the growing prominence of digital media, Visual Ethnography offers an expanded framework for producing contemporary anthropological research. Multimodal approaches have become increasingly important components in ethnographic research for collaborating with research communities and expanding the range of scholarly outputs. Visual Ethnography highlights the vital role anthropology plays in the greater public.

The range of topics which the institute’s staff members can supervise is almost endless, as long as legal and practical conditions of health and safety are respected. The CADS staff actively encourages and supports students, in addition to their audiovisual research, to make use of the technical means available to conduct both ‘ethnography at a distance’ (making video calls and so on), as well as ‘digital ethnography’ (doing research on and in online environments). The CADS Master’s programme offers also the opportunity to join staff members on their own research topics.

Admission and application

For information on admission to the Master's programme Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, specialisation Visual Ethnography, please check our website.

Note: This Specialisation starts in September only

Schedules

Use the link under Files for access to the time-table for Visual Ethnography. Other details can be found at the website and in the course descriptions (see below).

Career Preparation

Throughout the Master’s programma both academic and transferable skills are developed: critical and analytical reading, thinking and writing; oral, written and audio-visual communication; giving and receiving feedback; teamwork and working independently as well as time-management.
During fieldwork, practical research experience is gained and training is provided in skills such as interviewing, observing, intercultural awareness and communication, networking, rapport-building, problem-solving, self-reflection and budgeting.

Besides the coursework, the institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology and Study Association Itiwana organise ‘get-togethers’ with alumni, and excursions to relevant organisations.
To fully support CADS students in entering the labour market, the FSW Career Service offers career advice, workshops, and CV checks and assessment of covering letters.

Coördinator career preparation programme CADS: Simone de Boer