Graduate Calendar 2009-2010

Anthropology

Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Loeb Building B742
Telephone: 613-520-2582
Fax: 613-520-4062
carleton.ca/socanth

The Department

Chair of the Department: P. Gose
Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Anthropology: J. Pylypa

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology offers programs of advanced study and research leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Anthropology, and the M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology. This section provides information on the Anthropology programs. For Sociology graduate programs, see the Sociology section of this Calendar.

The Anthropology programs promote exploration of cultural practices and social conditions in diverse contexts throughout the world. The faculty specialize in sociocultural anthropology, with a current M.A. level emphasis on three program fields of study: the anthropology of signs and symbols, the anthropology of indigenous peoples, and the anthropology of development and underdevelopment. The doctoral program is structured around the field of engaged anthropology, which emphasizes practical involvement with the social world through ethnographic and theoretical analyses of cultural frameworks and social fields shaping interactions amongst humans and between humans and the environment.

See the department website for detailed descriptions of the research strengths and teaching areas of individual faculty members.

Qualifying-Year Program

Applicants with general (three-year) bachelor's degrees may be admitted into a qualifying-year program designed to raise their standing to honours status. Students earning at least high honours standing in their qualifying-year courses will be considered for admission into the master's program.

Refer to the General Regulations section of this Calendar for details of the regulations governing the qualifying year.

Master of Arts in Anthropology

Admission Requirements

The deadlines for submitting applications and supporting documents for graduate study in anthropology are:

September admission

• February 1 for students requesting financial assistance
• August 31 for students not requesting financial assistance

January admission

• November 1 for students requesting financial assistance
• December 31 for students not requesting financial assistance
  

Program Requirements

The Master of Arts program in Anthropology is a total of 5.0 credits, and each candidate is required to select, in consultation with the graduate adviser, one of the three program options.

Thesis Program

• ANTH 5401: Theories and Methods I (normally to be taken in the first fall term after admission to the program) [0.5 credit]
• ANTH 5402 Theories and Methods II [0.5 credit]
• 2.0 credits in electives
• ANTH 5909: Master's Thesis and an oral examination on the thesis [2.0 credits]
  

Research Essay Program

• ANTH 5401: Theories and Methods I (normally to be taken in the first fall term after admission to the program) [0.5 credit]
• ANTH 5402: Theories and Methods II [0.5 credit]
• 3.0 credits in electives
• ANTH 5908: Research Essay and an oral examination on the essay [1.0 credit]
  

Course Work Program

• ANTH 5401: Theories and Methods I (normally to be taken in the first fall term after admission to the program) [0.5 credit]
• ANTH 5402: Theories and Methods II [0.5 credit]
• 4.0 credits in electives

Electives may be chosen, in consultation with the student's adviser, from the following courses: anthropology graduate course offerings; sociology graduate courses (especially in theory and methods, or in areas which relate to the student's thesis research interests); from 4000-level courses offered in the sociology and anthropology undergraduate program; or a combination of the above. Normally no more than 1.0 credit may be chosen from course offerings in other departments.

Transfer from One M.A. Option to Another M.A. Option

Students who choose to change from one program option to another (i.e., from/to the thesis, research essay, or course work option), are required to do so before registering for a third term after initial, full-time registration, or before registering for a fifth term after initial part-time registration.

Academic Standing

A grade of B- or better is required in each credit counted toward the master's degree. With the recommendation of the department, and permission of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, a candidate may be allowed a grade of C+ in 1.0 credit or each of two 0.5 credits.

Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology

Note: the Ph.D. in Anthropology is pending final approval for the 2009-2010 session from the Senate of Carleton University.

The Ph.D. Anthropology normally will be undertaken on a full-time basis, however the department will consider admission on a part-time basis. Full-time students are expected to complete the program in four years, and part-time students are expected to complete the program in eight years.

Admission Requirements

The normal requirement for admission to the Ph.D. program is a master's degree (or equivalent) in anthropology, normally with a minimum average of A-, and with no grade below B. A student already enrolled in the Carleton M.A. program in Anthropology who shows outstanding academic performance and research promise may be permitted to transfer to the Ph.D. program upon completion of the M.A. course work and upon the recommendation of the Anthropology graduate committee.

Applicants whose academic preparation has deficiencies in certain areas may be admitted to the Ph.D. program, but will normally be required to complete additional course work. Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate a fluent knowledge of English. Please see sections 3.6 in the General Regulations section of this calendar.

The deadlines for submitting applications and supporting documents for admission into the Ph.D. program in anthropology are:

September admission

• February 1 for students requesting financial assistance
• July 1 for students not requesting financial assistance

January admission

• November 1 for all students

Program requirements

Program requirements for the Ph.D. Anthropology are outlined in the General Regulations section of this Calendar. Specific program requirements of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology normally are:

10.0 credits including:

• ANTH 6000 (1.0 credit)
• ANTH 6002 (0.5 credit)
• Two terms satisfactory participation in ANTH 6100 Thesis Writing Seminar (0.0 credit)
• Remaining 1.5 credits chosen from SOCI or ANTH courses at the 5000- or 6000-level or, with the permission of the graduate supervisor, up to 1.0 credit of graduate level courses from another unit at Carleton
• A satisfactory research preparation portfolio
• A satisfactory thesis proposal and (when required) Research Ethics Board clearance to undertake thesis research
• Satisfactory thesis research
• Completion and successful oral defence of thesis ANTH 6909 (7.0 credits).
• Residence requirements

Ph.D. candidates must normally be registered full-time in a minimum of six terms to satisfy the residence requirement. If a candidate is registered part-time the minimum residence requirement is eight terms.

Academic Standing

Candidates must obtain a grade of B- or higher in each course and Satisfactory on the Ph.D. thesis and its oral defence.

Collaborative Ph.D. with a Specialization in Political Economy

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Institute of Political Economy offer a Collaborative Program in Political Economy at the Ph.D. level. For further details, see the Institute of Political Economy's Collaborative Ph.D. with a Specialization in Political Economy section of this Calendar.

Graduate Courses

Not all of the following courses are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca

In addition to anthropology graduate course, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology offers sociology graduate courses that may also be taken as credit toward the graduate degrees in anthropology. Consult the Sociology section of this Calendar.

ANTH 5004 [0.5 credit]

Ecological Anthropology

Anthropological approaches to the study of human environment relationships and to current problems of ecological degradation affecting native societies around the world.

ANTH 5106 [0.5 credit]

North American Indigenous Peoples

Selected issues in North American Indian, Inuit, and Métis ethnographic studies. Debates over social change, cultural autonomy, native rights, and government policy.

ANTH 5107 [0.5 credit]

Issues in North American Ethnohistory

Methodological and substantive problems in the history of North American indigenous peoples. Controversies concerning the impact of European penetration and colonial policies on inter-tribal relations, cultural identity, and other aspects of native life.

ANTH 5109 [0.5 credit]

Development, Dependency and Gender

Varieties of development and dependency theories, and feminist critiques of both, in analyzing gender relations in the Third and Fourth Worlds.

ANTH 5202 [0.5 credit]

The Anthropology of Underdevelopment

Analysis of theoretical and historically concrete issues in the study of variable economic systems ranging from domestic subsistence and peasant production to slavery and capital-dominated markets.

ANTH 5208 [0.5 credit]

Anthropology of Indigeneity

An international exploration of what it means to claim indigenousness within a variety of contexts. The cultural politics of indigenous status in relation to such issues as primitivism, memory and revivalism in modern nation-states and diasporic communities.

ANTH 5210 [0.5 credit]

Special Topics in Indigenous Studies

Topic varies from year to year, and will be announced in advance of the registration period.

ANTH 5305 [0.5 credit]

Special Topics in Ethnography

Topic varies from year to year, and will be announced in advance of the registration period.

ANTH 5401 [0.5 credit]

Theories and Methods I

Theoretical and methodological debates in contemporary anthropology.

ANTH 5402 [0.5 credit]

Theories and Methods II

Theoretical and methodological debates in contemporary anthropology.

Prerequisite: ANTH 5401 or permission of the Department.

ANTH 5403 [0.5 credit]

Interpreting Symbols

Theoretical and methodological approaches to the anthropology of signs and symbols, including the internal workings of symbolic systems, and their relationship to other aspects of social life. (Also listed as RELI 5403.)

ANTH 5701 [0.5 credit]

Anthropology of Religion

Anthropological literature and theories on religion in light of current debates in anthropology.

ANTH 5704 [0.5 credit]

Anthropology of the Body, Health, Illness and Healing

Issues and applications in medical anthropology. Topics may include the sociocultural meanings inscribed on the body; cultural perceptions of the prevention, causes and treatment of illness; social dimensions of the illness experience; and the political economy of health.

ANTH 5706 [0.5 credit]

Contemporary Material Cultures

The study of material culture and its potential for addressing contemporary social and cultural conditions in a variety of local and transcultural contexts.

ANTH 5708 [0.5 credit]

Special Topics in Anthropology

Topic varies from year to year, and will be announced in advance of the registration period.

ANTH 5807 [0.5 credit]

Special Topics in Symbolism and Culture

Topic varies from year to year, and will be announced in advance of the registration period.

ANTH 5808 [0.5 credit]

Selected Topics in North American Native Studies

Topic varies from year to year. Students should check with the Department regarding the topic offered.

ANTH 5809 [0.5 credit]

Selected Topics in the Anthropology of Development and Underdevelopment

Topic varies from year to year. Students should check with the Department regarding the topic offered.

ANTH 5812 [0.5 credit]

Research Design

Design and methods of anthropological enquiry.

ANTH 5900 [0.5 credit]

Tutorial

ANTH 5906 [0.5 credit]

Fieldwork

Directed field research.

Prerequisite: permission of the Department.

ANTH 5907 [0.5 credit]

Placement in Anthropology

This course offers an opportunity to earn academic credit by engaging in research activities under the supervision of professional researchers in museums, government departments, non-governmental organizations, or other professional research settings. Placement research must be related to the preparation of the master's thesis.

Prerequisite: permission of the Department.

ANTH 5908 [1.0 credit]

M.A. Research Essay

Students will normally enrol in this course for a maximum of three consecutive terms of study, including one summer term. Students must normally enrol in this course not later than the beginning of the second full year of study.

ANTH 5909 [2.0 credits]

M.A. Thesis

ANTH 6000 [1.0 credit]

Doctoral Seminar: Theory and Method in Contemporary Anthropology

An in-depth exploration of theory and method in contemporary socio-cultural anthropology with special emphasis on engaged anthropology. This course is required of all first year doctoral students in anthropology.

ANTH 6001 [0.5 credit]

Selected Topics in Anthropology

Topic varies from year to year. Students should check with the Department regarding the topic offered.

ANTH 6002 [0.5 credit]

Research Design

Issues in the design and methods of anthropological inquiry, including proposal-writing, research ethics, and research funding. Required of all first-year Ph.D Anthropology students.

ANTH 6100 [0 credit]

Thesis Writing Seminar

This seminar will meet on a regular basis for students who are writing their doctoral theses to present draft chapters for constructive critical discussion. Normally required for all Ph.D. Anthropology students who have completed their doctoral research, until the completion of their theses.

ANTH 6900 [0.5 credit]

Tutorial

A tutorial is designed to permit students to pursue individual research on a relevant topic. Topics will be chosen in consultation with at least one faculty member, the student's supervisor, and the Anthropology graduate coordinator.

ANTH 6907 [0.5 credit]

Placement in Anthropology

This course offers an opportunity to earn academic credit by engaging in research activities under the supervision of professional researchers in museums, government departments, nongovernmental organizations, or other professional research settings. Placement research must be related to the preparation of the doctoral research.

ANTH 6909 [7.0 credits]

Ph.D. Thesis