300620 Introduction to Social Anthropology (30-M25 Transnationalisierung und Migration) (S) (WiSe 2026/2027)

Learning objectives
By the end of the course you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a grasp of the historical and geopolitical conditions in which anthropology emerged as a scholarly discipline
2. Identify some of the major theoretical schools from the 19th-21st centuries and how anthropology has changed as a discipline
3. Demonstrate an understanding of key terms, themes and ideas (eg. kinship, classification, gender, power)
4. Engage critically with anthropological literature and develop arguments around key themes

Key skills to develop:
• Discussion skills: able to present ideas clearly, formulate a coherent argument, respond to other ideas constructively, and develop confidence in one’s ability to engage with other people in a discussion.
• Reading skills: able to prepare for the weekly seminars and the essay, identify key arguments and evidence used in a piece of writing and then critically appraising them.
• Writing skills: able to prepare an essay, including the abilities to identify a relevant topic and synthesize academic sources, and construct an original and well-presented argument.
• Research skills: locate information that is relevant to the themes of the module.
• Self-reliance: able to manage time efficiently and be sufficiently reliable for group work, and to independently locate, evaluate, and use anthropological literature.
• Group work: able to prepare presentations, organize meetings of group members, constructively collaborate, and fully and equally participate.

Requirements for participation, required level

Welcome to Social Anthropology!

Bibliography

Engelke, M (2018) How to think like an anthropologist London: Penguin Books