MA in Applied Anthropology & Community Development

What you'll study The MA consists of an academic programme of lectures, seminars and tutorial assignments, and practical experience. Modules are taken over one academic year if you are studying full-time, and two years if you are studying part-time (part-time study only available to home/EU students). Full-time students attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays and spend the rest of the week on fieldwork placements and library studies. Part-time students attend on Thursdays in one year and Tuesdays in the other. Anthropology components The Department of Anthropology teaches two of the core components of your degree: Contemporary Social Issues and Anthropological Research Methods. Anthropology modules Module title Credits. Contemporary Social Issues Contemporary Social Issues 30 credits 30 credits. Anthropological Research Methods Anthropological Research Methods 30 credits Anthropological Research Methods is taught in the Spring Term. Here, you will become familiar with ethnographic research and writing. Through literature and practical research exercises (five days of fieldwork is attached to this module), you will learn about different methods of data collection including surveys, in-depth interviews, participant observation and participatory research. It combines weekly lectures and seminar-based work with the completion of a small individual project in the second term. Assessment is by essay, combining project material with theoretical literature. 30 credits. In addition, we strongly encourage all students, particularly those without a background in anthropology, to sit in on other MA option courses offered by the anthropology department, such as Anthropological Theory, Anthropology of Development, Anthropology of Violence, Anthropology of Art and Anthropology and the Environment. Fieldwork and placements The Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies runs the fieldwork modules, which involve placements that, are supported by seminars, lectures, workshops and tutorials. This MA pathway entails 20 hours of observations and 280 hours of placements, normally focused on national occupational standards in community development, consisting of three placements with at least two different organisations. The fieldwork and accompanying teaching are divided into three modules: Fieldwork modules Module title Credits. Fieldwork Report 1: Perspectives and Approaches Fieldwork Report 1: Perspectives and Approaches 15 credits (80 hours practice) In this module you explore key themes, principles, values and competing perspectives underlying youth work and community development. The value of experiential learning approaches and critical pedagogy in informal learning and community development are explored alongside group work principles, processes and theories. You consider your own values and reflect on your practice perspective. 15 credits (80 hours practice). Fieldwork Report 2: Critical Practice Fieldwork Report 2: Critical Practice 15 credits (150 hours of practice) In this module you critically analyse the changing context of community development and youth work practice, develop as critically reflective practitioners and learn how to recognise and challenge discrimination and oppression. Key themes include ethical dilemmas faced in practice, youth participation and methods of engaging communities with a view to facilitating ‘empowerment’. 15 credits (150 hours of practice). Fieldwork Report 3: Management, Enterprise and Development Fieldwork Report 3: Management, Enterprise and Development 30 credits (150 hours practice plus 20 hours observations) This module advances critical understanding of the management of projects, staff and resources, the legal context of community and youth work, how to produce funding bids, prepare budgets and grapple with the issues and processes involved in developing a social enterprise as well as monitoring and evaluation. 30 credits (150 hours practice plus 20 hours observations). All three modules are currently assessed by an essay, documents completed by the student in relation to the placement and community development national occupational standards learning, a report by the placement supervisor and a fieldwork contract form. The final placement also involves an assessment of the observations. Download the programme specification for the 2018-19 intake. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office. Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.