4th Year (Honours) Anthropology Units
Objectives
The BA (Hons) course equips students with research skills not acquired in studies for the pass degree. An honours degree is a prerequisite for entry to postgraduate research degrees. It is also highly valued in the employment market as evidence of an applicant's ability to undertake independent work and produce clearly written reports.
The BA (Hons) course provides you with the opportunity to carry out independent research on a anthropological/comparative cultures issue. You will work closely with your supervisor, similar to being an apprentice but also an academic colleague. At the end you will have learnt how to formulate a topic of research; how to collect and critically assess relevant information on the research topic; and how to write a report on the results of your research. In doing the honours thesis, you will be producing your first book, an experience most people never forget. Later in life you may not remember the essays you wrote as a Monash student but you will always remember the topic of your honours thesis, and remember it as an intellectual challenge and achievement.
Honours Coordinator
John Bradley - Email: john.bradley@arts.monash.edu.au
Room 1028, Phone: 9905 2969
Honours in Anthropology
An honours degree in Anthropology may be taken by any candidate who has completed a pass degree in anthropology with grades of the standard required by the Faculty for entrance to an Honours degree.
Honours is usually taken on a full-time basis but students may apply to enrol part-time. Combined honours may be taken in Anthropology with another discipline, provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and unit to approval of the Honours Coordinators of both schools.
In 2006 the Anthropology honours program will comprise the following:
- Compulsory Honours Seminar - ANY4300 Into the Field: The Theory and Practice of Ethnography (Semester 1), worth 12 points.
- One additional seminar (Semester 1 or 2) from units offered at fourth year level (see below), worth 12 points.
- Thesis - ANY 4380 Thesis in Anthropology (Full Year), worth 24 points.
Full-time Honours enrolment comprises the above components completed in one year. Students will normally take ANY4300 Into the Field: The Theory and Practice of Ethnography and an additional unit at fourth-year level. The thesis is researched and written throughout the year.
Part-time Honours enrolment comprises two years of study. Part-time candidates take ANY4300 Into the Field: The Theory and Practice of Ethnography and an addition unit at fourth-year level from among those offered in the first year, and ANY4380 Thesis in Anthropology in the second year.
Combined Honours: It is possible for students to combine with another discipline at fourth year level and so take a combined honours degree. Where this happens, the fourth year workload of forty-eight points is normally divided equally between the two disciplines involved. This usually requires some discussion and negotiation between the two disciplines. Students who are interested should therefore discuss their plan with the heads of schools or Honours coordinators, preferably at an early stage. To be eligible for a combined honours degree, a student must have completed a major sequence in each discipline and have satisfied the particular requirements laid down by the schools involved for third year work.
Honours in Comparative Cultures
An honours degree in Comparative Cultures may be taken by any candidate who has completed a pass degree in anthropology, politics, sociology or, with the permission of the head of school, a cognate discipline, with grades of the standard required by the Faculty for entrance to an Honours degree.)
In 2006 the Comparative Cultures honours program will comprise the following:
- Two Honours seminars (Semester 1 or 2) from units offered at fourth year level (see below), worth 12 points each.
- Thesis - COS4010 Thesis in Comparative Cultures (Full Year), worth 24 points.
Full-time Honours enrolment comprises the above components completed in one year. Students will normally take two units at fourth-year level in either first or second semester. The thesis is researched and written throughout the year.
Part-time Honours enrolment comprises two years of study. Part-time candidates take two units at fourth-year level from among those offered in the first year, and COS4010 Thesis in Comparative Cultures in the second year.
Combined Honours: It is possible for students to combine with another discipline at fourth year level and so take a combined honours degree. Where this happens, the fourth year workload of forty-eight points is normally divided equally between the two disciplines involved. This usually requires some discussion and negotiation between the two disciplines. Students who are interested should therefore discuss their plan with the heads of schools or Honours coordinators, preferably at an early stage. To be eligible for a combined honours degree, a student must have completed a major sequence in each discipline and have satisfied the particular requirements laid down by the schools involved for third year work.
NB: The deadline for the submission of final coursework is the last teaching day of the final semester of the Honours program (normally 2nd semester). The deadline for the submission of the thesis is the same. Requests for extensions must be made in advance of the deadline; for theses, they also must be approved by the student's supervisor and the Honours Coordinator. Any request for extension of time for a thesis beyond the end of the official examination period must be submitted to the Faculty Honours Committee for approval.
Anthropology and Comparative Cultures Unit Information
4th Year (Honours) Unit Descriptions