Module ANTH47515: Advanced Studies in Anthropological Skills for Climate Change Survival

Department: Anthropology

ANTH47515: Advanced Studies in Anthropological Skills for Climate Change Survival

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop an understanding of anthropological approaches to climate change.
• To enable students to interrogate categories of thought and action linked to the challenges of climate change
• To explore ethnographic studies of climate change in social worlds

Content

• Developing anthropological perspectives
• Culture and Climate in historical frames
• The concept of Global Warming
• The nexus of Energy-Food-Water in anthropological analyses
• Environmental Governance and climate resilience in comparative perspective
• Ethnographic Encounters
• Anthropocene and Post-development
• The Ends of the World in Pluriversal Times

Learning Outcomes

• At the end of the module, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate advanced levels of current knowledge and intensive understanding in anthropological approaches to climate change research.
• Deploy analytical skills specific to analysing and interpreting climate science, policy and ethics from a comparative cultural perspective.
• Be competent in accessing and assimilating specialised climate research literature of an interdisciplinary character.

• In-depth knowledge of climate change research within social anthropology, with emphasis on interpretation and comprehensive understanding of ethnographic data.

• Preparation and effective communication of research methods, data, interpretation and arguments in written form.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lecture elements will provide students with an outline of key knowledge and debates in the topic area, discuss the literature that students should explore, and provide relevant examples and cases studies.
• Tutorial elements will develop topics introduced in lectures and required reading to analyse aspects or case studies in greater depth and to prepare students for their summative assignment.
• Student preparation and reading time will allow engagement with specific references in advance of tutorials and general and particular reading related to the assessment, which will be a written assignment (a case study essay).
• Advanced discussion classes will allow students to develop their skills of critical thinking and evaluation, as well as how to synthesise and interrogate material at a level commensurate with postgraduate attainment.
• The Advanced Critical Case Study enables students space in word length to demonstrate learning that combines empirical evidence of a climate change context or theme with a critical bibliographic review that considers the added value of applying holistic anthropological methods to understanding the climate crisis. This is the format most suited to show evidence of a higher level of engagement expected at postgraduate level.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

1000 word 'select text' book review which will receive feedback designed to facilitate case study preparation.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University