Any questions?
Admissions

UCAS Course Code: BCL0

Brief Course Outline

Duration of course: 3 years
Degree awarded: BA

Course statistics for 2012 entry

Intake: 28
Applications shortlisted for interview: 85.9%
Successful applications: 24.4%

Open days

26 and 27 June, and 20 September 2013

Contact details

Sarah-Jane White,
Academic Administrator, Institute of Human Sciences, The Pauling Centre,
58a Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6QS
+44 (0) 1865 274702
Please email us at admissions@ihs.ox.ac.uk
View website

 

UG student profile iconUG pod oxford icon

Human Sciences - Course outline

Courses tab icon About the course Course outline Entrance requirements How to apply

Work placements/international opportunities

There are no formal arrangements for work placements but students are encouraged to take part in small-scale research projects or expeditions during the summer holidays.

A typical weekly timetable

During years 1 and 2 your work is divided between lectures (about ten a week) and tutorials (one or two a week). In addition, some practical experience in genetics, physiology, demography and statistics is offered in certain terms. Computers are used for the option in quantitative methods and sometimes in small group teaching in demography. In the third year the tutorial and class requirement is reduced to allow more time for option papers and students’ research for their dissertations.

1st year

Courses

Five courses are taken:

  • The biology of organisms including humans
  • Genetics and evolution
  • Society, culture and environment
  • Sociology and demography
  • Quantitative methods for the human sciences

Assessment

First University examinations:
Five written papers; satisfactory practical record
2nd year

Courses

Five compulsory courses are taken, plus a start on the dissertation and two optional courses.

  • Behaviour and its evolution, animal and human
  • Human genetics and evolution
  • Human ecology
  • Demography and population
  • Either Anthropological analysis and interpretation; or Sociological theory
 
3rd year

Courses

    • Dissertation to be completed by the beginning of the final term
    • Option courses (two chosen) from a list which may vary slightly depending on teaching availability: Anthropology of a selected region (for example Europe, Japan, Lowland South America, South Asia, or West Africa); Anthropology of medicine; Cognition and culture; Cognitive and evolutionary anthropology; Gender theories and realities: cross-cultural perspectives; Health and disease; Language; Physical and forensic anthropology: an introduction to human skeletal remains; Quantitative methods; Sociology of post-industrial societies; South and southern Africa; plus a range of psychology options.

    Assessment

    Final University examinations:
    Seven written papers; a dissertation

    Next