Curricular Unit:			Code:
Theories and Methods in Anthropological Studies			292TMEA
Year:	Level:	Course:	Credits:
1	Master	Cultural Studies (Anthropology Studies)	8 ects
Learning Period:		Language of Instruction:	Total Hours:
		Portuguese/English	104
Learning Outcomes of the Curricular Unit:
To exercise the student in both the practice of applied Anthropology and related scientific production. To promote the understanding and correct manipulation of the theoretical concepts and framework for the interpretation of data. To develop the student’s analysis ability to evaluate the dimension and social utility in the face of new problems arisen with modern life and particularly with globalization.
Syllabus:
The historical path of Anthropology throughout the XIX and XXth centuries, and the theories and trends that moulded its evolution to present. The importance and intricacies of theoretical framework for programming a research. Research practices and means of observation, recording and interpretation. The academic discourse and complexity of writing. The application of Anthropology to theories and practices of social usefulness.
Demonstration of the Syllabus Coherence with the Curricular Unit's Objectives:
Subjects covered by the syllabus provide the student elementary knowledge on the structural framework of human communities, correlating those aspects internally to each culture, and externally to the other cultures. Syllabus outlines the importance of cultures as unifying elements of social groups, and as creators of social realities. Syllabus shows the student cultural diversity between urban and rural societies as the result of an interactive historical process, as resulting from both internal and external dynamics of social groups. Syllabus allows the student to grow an attitude of reflection and tolerance towards different perceptions of both religious phenomena and beliefs in the supernatural, that are embraced by different individuals and different cultures with whom he/she may contact in the course of life.
Teaching Methodologies (Including Evaluation):
Teaching methodology will focus on lecturing, research of specific subjects, reading and discussion of selected bibliography, as well as group debates over selected subjects. Occasionally, viewing of quality documentaries on selected subjects will support and illustrate the presentation and the discussion of both concepts and realities. Assessment will be continuous and based on a written test, an essay and a group research essay with oral presentation and work discussion. Students will also be asked to participate in theoretical and practical tasks in the classroom, and on the participation of external activities such as seminaries and conferences decurring in the University.
Demonstration of the Coherence between the Teaching Methodologies and the Learning Outcomes:
Module 1: The historical path of Anthropology and its interaction with other disciplines. Differences while promotors of curiosity towards the other, and the approaches developped by the colonial worlds. Evolucionism and its contribution to the reconfiguration of the perception of differences and thus prepared globalization. In this module students will view documentaries as support and illustration to some of the subjects, as complementary to lectures, to support group discussion. Students will also read selected bibliography that, altogether with the documentaries, will suport group discussion and writing of one essay. Module 2: The major currents of Anthropology, their paradigms, and the ways they configure our view of the anthropological realities. In this module students will view documentaries as support and illustration to some of the subjects, as complementary to lectures, to support group discussion. Students will also read selected bibliography that, altogether with the documentaries, will suport group discussion and writing of one essay. Module 3: Fieldwork as an enquiring look over the anthropological reality. The work instruments of the anthropologist. Fieldwork as an interface with anthropological reality. In this module students will view documentaries as support and illustration to some of the subjects, as complementary to lectures, to support group discussion. Students will also read selected bibliography that, altogether with the documentaries, will suport group discussion and writing of one essay. Module 4: The grounds of Applied Anthropology and their potential for social benefit. In this module students will view documentaries as support and illustration to some of the subjects, as complementary to lectures, to support group discussion. Students will also read selected bibliography that, altogether with the documentaries, will suport group discussion and writing of one essay.
Reading:
Ember, Carol R.; Melvin Ember (2000)- Cross-Cultural Research Methods. Oxford, AltaMira Press. Eriksen, Thomas H.; Nielsen, Finn S. (2001)- A History of Anthropology. London, Pluto Press Foster, G.; Scudder, T.; Colson, E; Kemper, R. (eds.) (1979)- Long-term Field Research in Social Anthropology. New York, Academic Press. Geertz C. (1966)- Religion as a cultural system. in Banton, Michel (ed.), Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religion. London, Tavistock, 1-46. Kuklick, H. (2007)- A New History of Anthropology. Oxford, Blackwell Publishers. Pink, Sarah (Edt.) (2005) Applications of Anthropology. Oxford, Berghahn Books. Shah, Tahir (Edit.) (1993) Cultural Research: Papers on Regional Cultures and Culture-Mixing. London, Octagon Press.