Health and Human Sciences, BSc (Hons)

Our BSc in Health and Human Sciences offers a comprehensive foundation in the anthropology of health, integrating social and biological perspectives. It explores health through evolutionary research on human genetics and physiology, alongside ethnographic studies of social, political, ideological, and ecological factors influencing health risks and treatments. The program equips students with interdisciplinary skills for critical analysis across local, regional, and international scales. In the first year, core modules introduce anthropology broadly, covering people and cultures, human evolution, anthropological history, research methods, and health in society.In later years, students specialize in health anthropology while engaging in fieldwork and optional modules. The final year includes a self-designed dissertation and a residential field course. Assessment methods encompass essays, exams, research projects, and outreach activities, developing transferable skills for professional or postgraduate pursuits. The degree can extend to four years with a placement or study abroad option.

Year 1 In the first year, all of our single honours Anthropology students take the same core modules. This provides an introduction to diverse areas of anthropology, allowing for more specialisation in the second and third years. Core modules: People and Cultures provides an introduction to the people and cultures of the world from a social anthropological perspective and prepares you for further critical study of the discipline. Human Evolution and Diversity introduces how humans evolved over the past few million years to become the unique species we are today, rich in biological and cultural diversity. We also cover our relationships with extinct hominins and our closest primate relatives. Being Human: An Introduction to the History and Practice of Anthropology provides an overview of the history of anthropology, including the major theoretical developments and debates, and how these affect the practice of anthropology today. Doing Anthropological Research provides hands-on training in anthropological research methods, both quantitative and qualitative. This module will prepare you for future research projects including fieldwork and your dissertation, and allow you to develop highly transferable research skills. Health, Illness and Society promotes the value of a multidisciplinary perspective to the study of health and illness, and gives insight into how social, cultural, biological and evolutionary factors interact in the study of health and disease. You will learn about the potential for medical anthropology and evolutionary medicine to contribute to health policy and planning in diverse human societies.