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Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology: Global Ethnography

This specialisation of the master's programme Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology provides students with the opportunity to do their own three-months field research, create their own research networks and build on the experience of our specialised researchers, gaining excellent social scientific skills.

Successful completion involves the following components:

  • finishing three courses

  • writing a Research Proposal

  • performing Ethnographic Fieldwork on location

  • writing a Master Thesis (for the “Visual Ethnography” track, the thesis consists of visual or multimedia components)

September 2017 Intake

Use the link under Bestanden to access the schematic time-table for the September-intake of the programme Global Ethnography. Room numbers and other details can be found in course descriptions below.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Large Issues, Small Places: Theorizing Ethnographic Research 10
Research Design for Global Ethnography 5
Research Proposal 5
Ethnographic Fieldwork 20
Thesis Seminar 5
Master Thesis Project 15

Visual Ethnography as a Method

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

The Institute for Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology offers ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’ as a part of Global Ethnography specialisation of the MSc programme. ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’ is a methodological option, embedded within the MSc 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.

‘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 Bachelor's 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. In case more than 12 qualified students apply, a selection will be made based on the quality of the previous work and possibly the admission interviews.

Use the link under Bestanden to access the schematic time-table for ‘Visual Ethnography as a Method’. Room numbers and other details can be found in course descriptions below.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Large Issues, Small Places: Theorizing Ethnographic Research 10
Research Design for Visual Ethnography 5
Research Proposal 5
Visual Ethnographic Fieldwork 20
Thesis Seminar 5
Master Thesis Project 15

February Intake 2017: 2nd part of the programme

This is the programme of the second half of the MSc Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology which started in February 2017.

Use the link under Bestanden to access the schematic time-table for the programme of February intake. Room numbers and other details can be found in course descriptions below.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Thesis Seminar February Intake 5
Large Issues, Small Places: Theorizing Ethnographic Research 10
Master Thesis Project 15

February Intake 2018: 1st part of the programme

The specialisation Global Ethnography of the master's programme Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology takes one year (two semesters) to finish and consists of 60 EC (European credits), divided to 30 EC per semester.

Students starting with the programme in February 2018, will take the components listed below in the first part of their programme. Please click on the course title in order to read the detailed description an to access the time table.

The months of July and August are lecture-free and can be used for wrapping up the research and sorting out the data.

In the second part of the programme (September 2018 - January 2019) students will take the courses "Thesis Seminar" (5 EC, Sept-Oct) and "Large Issues, Small Places" (10 EC, Sept-Nov) and will write their MasterThesis (15 EC, Sept-Jan). The descriptions of these three programme components will be available in the e-Prospectus for 2018-19 but will be comparable to that in 2017-2018

Please use the link under Bestanden to access the schematic time-table for the programme of February intake. Room numbers and other details can be found in course descriptions below.

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

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Research Design for Global Ethnography 5
Research Proposal 5
Fieldwork / Research Internship (February intake) 20