Dual language programme
Our dual language programme in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology offers both an English-only and a Dutch/English track. During the first one and a half years, when all students follow the same obligatory courses, all lectures are taught in English, and students can choose between English or Dutch tutorials. Assignments will be written in the language of instruction of the relevant group. Concluding exams (tentamens) will be offered in both languages, so that students can choose to write their answer in either English or Dutch.
After the first one and a half years, students follow a number of obligatory courses, while they also select their own study program out of a series of specialisation courses. These specialisation courses will be taught in English. Students can choose between delivering their written work in English or Dutch.
Students will make a final choice for the English-only or Dutch/English language track after three semesters and will be assisted in this choice by their mentor and study adviser. Their diploma-supplement will show one of either varieties.
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Year 1
The first year of study offers a broad introduction to the field of anthropology. The courses Introduction to Cultural Anthropology and Introduction to Development Sociology deal with important anthropological and sociological themes, such as politics and power, identity, economics, globalisation, religion and rituals, gender, and kinship.
In the module Ethnographies and Academic Writing you will write essays based on classical and modern anthropological studies. During the course Anthropological Research Methods you will learn the basics of the research methodologies used in anthropology.
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Year 2
In the second year you will study various fields of anthropology and development sociology. In Theory and History of Anthropology you will study the origin and development of anthropology as a social science. In Historical and Comparative Sociology you will examine major social processes such as colonialism, state building, nation building and globalisation. The course also examines the ways in which political leaders and governments have tried to bring about social change in different parts of the world.
Next to these courses you will begin to specialise by choosing a module (regional course) that zooms in on a specific region of the world.
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Year 3
In the third year you will choose different theme courses where you will analyse a specific theme at a high theoretical level. These courses are a follow-up of the specialisation courses. This way you can compose your own study route, and specialise in a field and theme you might want to study more in a future Master’s programme.
Study schedule
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Ethnographies and Academic Writing1—212
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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology1—212
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Philosophy of Science???studyprogramme .period??? 36
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Anthropological Research Methods4—512
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Introduction to Development Sociology4—512
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Doing Anthropology???studyprogramme .period??? 66
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Theory and History of Anthropology1—212
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Historical and Comparative Sociology2—312
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Practicing Ethnography5—612
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Restricted-choice electives: Specialisation Course???studyprogramme .period??? 412
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Restricted-choice electives: Regional Course???studyprogramme .period??? 1???studyprogramme .period??? 56
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Future Perspectives???studyprogramme .period??? 36
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Restricted-choice electives: Theme Course1—24—524
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Final Presentation and Exam???studyprogramme .period??? 3???studyprogramme .period??? 66
See more information in the online Course Catalogue.
Fast-track Bachelor's for HBO graduates
Are you following a Dutch HBO (University of Applied Sciences) Bachelor’s programme in a field related to the social sciences, and does anthropology appeal to you? Then you can choose to follow our fast-track Bachelor’s programme (verkort bachelorprogramma voor hbo’ers).
Additional options
Honours programme
If you are ambitious, you can choose to take part in our Honours programme. You’ll take the Honours programme alongside your regular studies. Completion results in you graduating 'with honours': an internationally recognised qualification. If you are up to it, then it's an opportunity not to be missed.
Exchange
International cooperation is crucial for science. In addition, and for anthropologists in particular, studying at a foreign university can be a very valuable experience.
In your third year, you will have the option to go abroad for a semester to study and obtain 30 ECTS credits.
The University of Amsterdam has made exchange agreements with more than fifty universities outside of Europe. The Bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology also has partnerships with eight other European anthropology programmes, including in Germany, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Italy. In turn, international students on an exchange programme in the Netherlands attend lectures at the University of Amsterdam.
Electives
The Bachelor's programme in anthropology offers a wide range of opportunities to shape your programme in line with your own ambitions and interests. In addition to choosing your own anthropological specialisation, you will also take electives with other Bachelor’s programmes, choose a minor such as International Relations, Gender and Sexuality, Philosophy, or Conflict Studies, or do an internship.
Internship
You can use your third year elective programme to do an internship for 6 or 12 ECTS. You’ll have to find an internship yourself and submit a proposal. An internship can be a good way to discover how you, as an anthropologist, can be useful on the labour market. During an internship you will be asked to think in a different way about certain problems and to report on them. You can also do a research internship.
Workload
Every week you will have approximately eight to twelve hours of lectures and tutorials, with the rest of the time spent studying literature, conducting research and writing papers. In the later years, the number of teaching hours decreases to approximately eight hours, while the amount of time you will work independently increases.
- Lectures and tutorials: 12 hours
- Self-study: 28 hours
- Study load per week: 40 hours
Study this programme in Dutch?
Are you a Dutch-speaking student? Then you can also participate in our Dutch Bachelor’s programme in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology. The Dutch taught programme is exactly the same as the English taught programme.