BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ANTHROPOLOGY

1. 1. Background

Anthropology is the study of humankind from a holistic perspective. It provides a broad conception of human nature and human experience. The scope of the discipline’s interests effectively bridges the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences. Because of its broad concerns with all of the activities and varieties of humanity, anthropology offers courses useful to a wide range of undergraduate students.

This syllabus takes a broad view of anthropology, maintaining both a balance and integration among the four sub-fields (Biological, Cultural, Linguistic and Archaeological), which have traditionally characterized the discipline. Anthropology prepares students for dealing with the challenges of an increasingly international economy, trans-nationally connected communities, and multi-cultural citizenries. In addition, it helps students to hone and refine their analytical skills and critical thinking.

The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology is designed to provide undergraduates of Anthropology with basic skills in critical analysis, writing, and cross-cultural understandings. The revised BA programme is in response to the increasing demand for anthropological training and skills to address current problems and challenges in Kenya, regionally and globally. With the recent trends in which ethnicity and human divisions have taken centre stage, anthropologists are called upon to provide a sober reflection and create awareness on the culture of peace in a diverse environment.

1. 2. Programme Philosophy

The programme is anchored on the philosophy of participatory and active learning. Engaging students and assisting them to discover the world and enhance their potential in all spheres of human endeavours is the hallmark of the Faculty.

Pedagogically, instructors are encouraged to use many different techniques to achieve the above philosophy. The techniques include hands-on activities, direct students’ participation, problem-based learning, material retrieval techniques, field experiences, tutorials, lectures, class presentations among others. The different approaches are premised on the fact that every course is a unique combination of students, who come to the classroom with different backgrounds, motivations and intellectual capacities, all of which present different challenges for the instructor. Over the years, the Department has discovered that the classroom provides the tutor with an opportunity to use the themes of Anthropology—Holism, Relativism and Social Justice – as a means of transforming the students’ lives, facilitating their own growth as scholars and, most importantly, as people.

In summary, the Department’s emphasis on the transformational nature of learning recognizes that students come into the classroom with different and diverse values and expectations and that much of what they take away from the classroom depends on their own experience. Anthropology itself, with its emphasis on understanding the WHY and HOW of the diversity of experience, instils in an instructor a strong sense that part of their mission is to promote these kinds of understanding in their students.

1. 3. Rationale of the Programme

The study of Anthropology and related Social Sciences disciplines has taken centre stage in most countries of the world in recent years. This has come about as a result of the many social ills that bedevil humanity ranging from the problems of institutionalized injustice, negative ethnicity, terrorism, extremism as well as all other forms of intolerance across cultures. The curriculum as reviewed takes on board a holistic approach to the study of human differences and helps the students in enhancing unity in diversity.

The curriculum has taken on board new and innovative courses that respond to the problems of contemporary nature while still maintaining the traditional anthropological study of culture. The new approaches emphasize the human rights-based understanding and the need for forging common fronts in dealing with the socio-cultural problems of the world. The stakeholders were involved in the review and their views were considered.

1. 4. Objectives 

The goal of this programme is to training graduates of Anthropology who will be able to work in diverse environments providing the necessary cultural as well as holistic approaches to the understanding of human beings so that they can fit in the multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environments and provide the necessary input to the creation of a peaceful world that values the different cultures.

1. 5. Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of the programme, the learner should be able to:

1. Apply the anthropological knowledge and skills gained to respond to challenges bedevilling humanity.
2. Analyse exchange of current thinking in anthropological literature and cultural diversity.
3. Apply multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural approaches to academic and policy issues.
4. Conduct original research in the field of anthropology