The MSc Social Anthropology is an excellent and intensive introduction to the discipline of social anthropology. The programme gives you a thorough grounding in anthropology, both in terms of its ethnographic diversity and its theoretical development.

Teaching is directly informed and enhanced by the strong tradition of fieldwork-based research within the Department. Compulsory components include a course which examines the relationship between theory and ethnography in modern social and cultural anthropology, and a 10,000-word dissertation on an approved topic of your choice.

This programme is suitable for graduates with a degree in any discipline, and prior knowledge of anthropology, while beneficial, is not essential. It is suitable either as an introduction to the subject for those intending to proceed with other careers, or is an ideal preparation for further research work in anthropology and related disciplines.

Teaching methods

LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty, such as lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, associate professors and professors. Many departments now also employ guest teachers and visiting members of staff, LSE teaching fellows and graduate teaching assistants who are usually doctoral research students and in the majority of cases, teach on undergraduate courses only.

Assessment

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It is designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others.

Careers

The programme is an ideal preparation for research work in anthropology and related fields.