School of Social & Cultural Studies
Albany Campus, Auckland

Social Anthropology

Social Anthropology is the study of society(s) and culture(s). It recognises the unity of human nature and experience while exploring the diversity of cultural manifestations and social forms - the myriad different ways of being human and different things that humans do, say and think. It uses systematic comparison between different cultures to understand the human condition. Its distinctive method of research is extended fieldwork in which the anthropologist participates and shares deeply in the lives of her/his subjects.

Anthropology provides a valuable foundation for any kind of work involving cultural difference or social research. Graduates in Anthropology find employment in fields as diverse as Government policy analysis, public health agencies, education, publishing, foreign affairs, journalism, overseas aid and human rights organisations, trade unions, media and tourism.

Social Anthropology is taught on both Auckland and Palmerston North campuses and in both Internal and Extramural modes. For more details of the programme at Palmerston North , please click here.

Programme Co-ordinator: Eleanor Rimoldi

Staff: Graeme MacRae, Eleanor Rimoldi, Kathryn Rountree

Programmes available:
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Certificate in Arts (CertArts)

Papers offered in 2010

First Year Papers

• 146.101 Introductory Anthropology, Semester 1
• 146.102 Endangered Cultures, Semester2

Second Year Papers

• 146.206 Visual Ethnography, Semester 2
• 146.210 Ritual and Belief, Semester3
• 146.211 Systems of Healing, Semester2
• 146.213 Anthropological Enquiry, Semester 2

Third Year Papers

• 146.303 Practice of Fieldwork, Semester 1
• 146.312 Advanced Ritual and Belief, Semester 2
• 146.313 Issues in South Pacific Anthropology, Semester 1

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