This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2025-2026 (archived)

Module ANTH30B1: Anthropology Field Course

Department: Anthropology

ANTH30B1: Anthropology Field Course

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	3	20	Available in 2025/2026	None.	Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

ANTH2231 Anthropological Research Methods in Action

Corequisites

None

Excluded Combinations

None

Aims

To give students practical experience of conducting anthropological fieldwork, including the collection, management and interpretation of qualitative and/or quantitative data.
To enable students to gain a deep understanding of a particular field context, and use that to apply anthropological methods and theories learned throughout their degree programme.

Content

Learning about the field context (history, current situation/issues, previous anthropological research).
Identifying a suitable area of research and developing a programme of anthropological fieldwork to be undertaken as part of a group.
Residential fieldwork, drawing on methods and theories in one or more sub-field of anthropology (social, evolutionary, health).
Management and analysis of field data.
Reflection on ethical issues in anthropological fieldwork.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

An appreciation of the appropriateness of different fieldwork research methods to specific lines of anthropological enquiry.
A deep understanding of a particular field context.
Understanding of the relationships between anthropological method and theory.
Appreciation of ethical issues inherent in anthropological enquiry.

Subject-specific Skills

A comprehensive overview and thorough grounding in the use a range of of anthropological field methods.
A thorough understanding of the ways in which anthropologists collect and interpret field data.

Key Skills

Understanding the process of fieldwork and how to draw on an appropriate range of methods.
Working with others in collaborative activities.
Maintaining and presenting a detailed record of research through verbal presentations and writing.
Apply ethical guidelines in research.

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

The primary method of teaching is through practical experience of fieldwork.
Fieldwork will be preceded by two workshops interspersed with directed reading, to enable students to build up a good level of background knowledge about the field site and plan their research activities.
Fieldwork will be supplemented by on-site presentations and discussions to explore key lessons and concepts related to the intended learning outcomes.
The assessment is designed to assess the extent of students' understanding and execution of fieldwork skills, and their ability to apply appropriate theory and methods to address a relevant anthropological question in a fieldwork setting.
Formative assessment is through a 1500 word draft of the summative report.
Summative assessment entails written coursework based on fieldwork conducted.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Fieldwork	1		75 hours	75	Yes
Post-field trip workshop	1	1 in week 6 of Michaelmas Term	2 hours	2	Yes
Preparation and reading				123
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Coursework	100%	Fieldwork Report	4000 words	100%

Formative Assessment

A 1500 word draft of the Fieldwork Report

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.