Health and Human Sciences, BSc (Hons)

Our Health and Human Sciences course synthesizes biological and evolutionary research into human genetics and physiology with comparative ethnographic approaches to the social, political, ideological and ecological contexts that shape health risks and treatments. This degree will equip you to critically debate discourse surrounding healthcare from an interdisciplinary, anthropological perspective that draws together local, regional and international scales of analysis.As a student on the BSc (Hons) Health and Human Sciences degree, your learning will be supported by formal teaching sessions, such as lectures and smaller-group teaching in seminars and practical classes.Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on inquiry-based learning, with a particular focus on carrying out field-based research. At the start of your second year, you will visit one of our residential field schools to carry out project work, and put your emerging qualitative and quantitative research skills into practice.The Anthropology Department also has anthropometric equipment, a skeletal collection, a fossil cast collection, a material culture collection and other practical resources that are used in relevant modules, and you may also be able to use these independently, to supplement your learning or for project work.As you move through your BSc (Hons) Health and Human Sciences course, you will shift from being a consumer of knowledge in the classroom to a generator of knowledge, ready for professional or postgraduate life. To help develop this independence, you will spend part of your time engaged in self-directed study, which will include reading, project work and preparation for classes. In your third year, you will undertake a dissertation on an anthropological topic of your choice, giving you the chance to engage in a major piece of independent work.Assessment on the BSc (Hons) Health and Human Sciences degree varies by module but may include written examinations, podcasts, museum displays and outreach activities, coursework in the form of essays or research projects, and presentations.You will be given a Year Tutor when you start your degree, and will normally keep the same tutor for the duration of your studies. Year Tutors are there to support your academic work by providing advice about such things as study skills, module choices, dissertation topics, and applications for further study or employment. As well as discussing your academic work with your tutor, you are encouraged to make use of the drop in hours provided by academic staff during term-time. These drop in hours give you the opportunity to discuss your work with module tutors, for example to seek clarification on complex ideas, get suggestions for additional readings, and receive further feedback on assessments.As a student in the Anthropology Department, you will be welcomed into the wider departmental community and can attend an extensive programme of research-focused departmental and research group seminars where academic staff, postgraduate students and visiting scholars present their cutting-edge research, which may provide inspiration for your dissertation topic and even future study or employment.