Scheme of Studies (M.Phil Program 2 Years)

Introduction of M.Phil Anthropology Program

The Department of Anthropology offers program of Master of Philosophy in Anthropology designed to provide a broad background in the field with a prime emphasis on sociocultural anthropology. It provides training both for students interested in academic career in Anthropology and for those who want to work as action researchers and professionals. The program in sociocultural anthropology offers opportunities to pursue a wide range of ethnographic and theoretical interests. Major foci of research include religion, politics, ethnicity, gender, problems of social change and development and media & educational landscapes. The program of study includes training in anthropological theory and methods, issues and problems in cultural anthropology as well topics that focus on the student’s area of particular interest. This widened and intensive study of diversified fields of anthropology is expected to cater to the needs of not only aspiring anthropologists but also scholars from other fields wishing to expand their expertise through ethnographic lenses. Designed to inculcate the anthropological sensibility in attending students, the program includes a thorough study of the subject’s classical and contemporary texts as well as practicums and discussions on key questions of methodological relevance. Through these options, students apply the social anthropological theories and methods learnt on the core modules to particular substantive themes and topics.

This program of advanced and intensive study enables students to creatively grapple with questions ranging from the nature of human society and the role of culture in shaping dispositions and behavior of citizens and subjects in contemporary world. The program aims to work with students to address issues critical to contemporary Pakistan including governance & development issues, public discourse, livelihoods, terrorism & intolerance, institutional development & accountability, Identity crisis and globalization to meet the demands and concerns of our country in order to make it a better place to live. All M.Phil students are required to undertake extensive fieldwork in order to write a dissertation that integrates anthropological perspectives in an original way.

Program Objectives
The program aspires to

  • Develop a deeper understanding of classical and contemporary debates in Anthropology around questions of culture and its relevance to the world of human affairs.
  • Train students in philosophy and advanced methods of ethnographic research and the issues involved therein.
  • Enhance the students’ comprehension and their ability to analyze socio-cultural issues as well as enabling them to conceptualize the pathways to suggest solutions to these problems.
  • Offer training to students in ethnographic writing and analytical skills to document the diversity of human cultural life and socio-cultural problems of today’s world.

Program Outcomes
After attending the two years’ in-depth learning experience in M. Phil anthropology program the students should be able to

  • Exercise anthropological thinking – observing the relationship between individuals and historical, cultural and social forces.
  • Carry-out fieldwork in diverse cultural settings and able to tease-out valuable ethnographic details relevant to advanced theoretical issues in Anthropology and wider social sciences.
  • Skillfully apply anthropological understandings to public debates, social problems, and community programs. 
  • Utilize anthropological writing skills of self-presentation across a variety of media, including social, visual, written and oral.

Scope of the Program
Anthropology provides an excellent knowledge and skills base for students seeking employment with an M.Phil Degree in a wide variety of employment settings. Besides academics, cultural & natural resource management firms, technology companies (Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Google etc.), public health, public administration, marketing, media organizations, museums and zoos, social services and vibrant opportunities in International & National NGOs & research organizations are some of the many areas that have drawn on the training and experience of anthropology majors. Notably, the subject of Anthropology has been included in the Central Superior Service Pakistan (CSS competitive examination). Due to the expanding market demand for Anthropologists, Anthropology these days has become a rising discipline, and is being taught at undergraduate and post-graduate levels at several universities across Pakistan.

Semester-wise Breakup of Credit Hours

Semester I

 

Courses

Status

Credit Hours

Course Code

1

Classics in Anthropology: A Reading of some Key Texts

Core

3

Anth-601

2

Ethnographic Debates on Pakistan

Core

3

Anth-602

3

Advanced Anthropological Research Methods: Issues and Debates

Core

3

Anth-603

4

Elective Course

Elective

3

-

 

Total Credit Hours

 

12

 

Semester II

 

Courses

Status

Credit Hours

Course Code

1

Current Anthropological Theories

Core

3

Anth-604

2

Ethnographic Writing Skills

Core

3

Anth-605

3

Elective Course

Elective

3

-

4

Elective Course

Elective

3

-

 

Total Credit Hours

 

12

 

Semester III & IV

S.No.

Title

Status

Credit Hours

1

Research Thesis

Core

6

 

Total Credit Hours

 

6

 

Following additional core and elective courses are proposed for the future.

Additional Core Courses

S. No.

Courses

Credit Hours

Course Code

1

Anthropology of Science and Technology

3

Anth-606

2

Anthropological Studies of Everyday life

3

Anth-607

3

Anthropology of Politics

3

Anth-608

4

Anthropology of Religion and Cosmological Imagination

3

Anth-609

5

Anthropology of Corruption: Theories and Praxis

3

Anth-610

6

Educational Anthropology

3

Anth-611

7

Business Anthropology

3

Anth-612

8

Philosophical Anthropology

3

Anth-613

9

Anthropological Criminology

3

Anth-614

Additional Elective Courses

S. No.

Courses

Credit Hours

Course Code

1

Economic Anthropology

3

Anth-623

2

Anthropology of Power and Governance

3

Anth-624

3

Anthropology of Intelligence

3

Anth-625

4

Anthropology of Kinship and Relatedness

3

Anth-626

5

Anthropology of Nature and Environment

3

Anth-627

6

Anthropology of Myths and Folklores

3

Anth-628

7

Ancient Civilizations of the World

3

Anth-629

8

Language, Culture and Identity

3

Anth-630

9

Structuralism and Afterwards

3

Anth-631

10

Tribal and Peasant Communities

3

Anth-632

11

South Asian Diasporas

3

Anth-633

12

Gender and Discourse

3

Anth-634

13

Human Geography and Cultural Ecology

3

Anth-635

14

Legal Anthropology

3

Anth-636

15

Anthropology of Art

3

Anth-637

16

Anthropology of Globalization

3

Anth-638

17

Anthropology of Knowledge Production

3

Anth-639

18

Anthropology of Contemporary Social Issues

3

Anth-640

19

Anthropology of Entrepreneurship

3

Anth-641

20

Anthropology of Cities and Space

3

Anth-642

21

Ethnomusicology

3

Anth-643

22

Ethnographic Filmmaking

3

Anth-644

23

Anthropology of Cinema

3

Anth-645

24

Anthropology of Sports & Leisure

3

Anth-646

25

Anthropology of Food and Identity

3

Anth-647

26

Anthropology of Modernity and Psycho-cultural Change

3

Anth-648