Program Overview

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University Programs

The university offers a wide range of programs, including short and online courses, undergraduate, postgraduate, professional, and research degrees.

Subject Areas

• Archaeology and anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Anthropology
• Architectural history
• Business and management
• Data science, computing, maths
• Diplomatic studies and law
• Economics and politics
• Education and study skills
• Environment and sustainability
• History of art
• History, including local and social
• Languages and cultural studies
• Literature, creative writing and film studies
• Medical and health sciences
• Music
• Natural sciences
• Philosophy
• Psychology and counselling
• Religion and theology
• Technology and AI

Course Formats

• Day and weekend events
• In-person learning
• Lecture series
• Online learning
• Professional
• Summer schools
• Weekly learning

Undergraduate Programs

Certificates

• Archaeology
• Certificate of Higher Education
• English Literature
• History
• History of Art
• Theological Studies

Diplomas

• Archaeology
• Creative Writing
• English Social and Local History
• History of Art

Advanced Diplomas

• British Archaeology
• IT Systems Analysis and Design (Online)
• Local History (Online)

Pre-Master's

• Advanced Pre-sessional Course for Graduate Students (nine weeks, full-time)
• Foundations of Diplomacy Pre-Master's Course (six months, full-time)

Postgraduate Programs

Certificates

• Architectural History
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Ecological Survey Techniques
• Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Health Research
• Historical Studies
• Nanotechnology
• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
• Psychodynamic Counselling
• Qualitative Health Research Methods
• Teaching Evidence-Based Health Care

Diplomas

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Severe Mental Health Problems
• Health Research
• International Wildlife Conservation Practice
• Psychodynamic Practice

Master of Studies (MSt)

• Creative Writing
• Diplomatic Studies
• Historical Studies
• History of Design
• Literature and Arts
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
• Practical Ethics
• Psychodynamic Practice

Research Degrees (DPhil)

• Archaeology
• Architectural History
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• English Local History
• Evidence-Based Health Care
• Literature and Arts
• Sustainable Urban Development

Master of Science (MSc)

• Applied Landscape Archaeology
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• English Local History
• Evidence-Based Health Care
• Evidence-Based Health Care Medical Statistics
• Evidence-Based Health Care Systematic Reviews
• Evidence-Based Health Care Teaching and Education
• Experimental and Translational Therapeutics
• Nanotechnology for Medicine and Health Care
• Surgical Science and Practice
• Sustainable Urban Development
• Translational Health Sciences

Professional Programs

Continuing Professional Development

• Business and management
• Cultural heritage
• Data science, computing, maths
• Diplomatic studies
• Education
• Environment and sustainability
• Medical and health sciences
• Nanotechnology and nanomedicine
• Philosophy and ethics
• Psychology and counselling
• Research methods and skills
• Technology and AI
• Urban studies

Research

Research Community

Research at Oxford Lifelong Learning extends across the disciplines and is supported by a research culture that encourages interdisciplinary initiatives.

Research Areas

• Academic staff profiles
• Part-time DPhil programmes
• Research areas
• Research students

Research Forums

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Steering Group
• Lifelong Learning Pedagogies forum
• Research Ethics Colloquium
• The Vice-Chancellors Colloquium

Course Details

What Makes Life Meaningful? Perspectives from Anthropology

Overview

This course explores the multiple meanings that people inherit, construct, and seek across the varied circumstances of humankind.

Programme Details

• Seminars
  • Seminar 1: An introduction to the anthropology of socio-cultural and personal meaning
  • Seminar 2: The life course
  • Seminar 3: Childhood, education, and freedom
  • Seminar 4: Meanings in work
  • Seminar 5: Leisure and escape
  • Seminar 6: Friendships, partnerships and romance
  • Seminar 7: Meanings of home
  • Seminar 8: Materiality, cultural meaning and personal meaning: field trip to the Pitt Rivers museum
  • Seminar 9: Family, children, responsibility and care
  • Seminar 10: Meanings in older age
  • Seminar 11: Religion, politics, art and euphoria
  • Seminar 12: Symposium

Programme Timetable

• Saturday: Registration, orientation meeting, classroom orientation, drinks reception, welcome dinner
• Sunday Friday: Seminars, tea/coffee breaks, lunch, afternoons for tutorials, individual study, course-related field trips, or exploring Oxford

Recommended Reading

• Gordon Mathews (1996), What makes life worth living? How Japanese and Americans make sense of their worlds.
• Viktor Frankl (1992/1946), Mans search for meaning.
• Gananath Obeyesekere, (1981), Medusas Hair: an essay on personal symbols and religious experience.
• Caitrin Lynch and Jason Danely (Editors), (2011) Transitions and Transformations: cultural perspectives on aging and the life course

Certification

• Certificate of Attendance
• Digital badge
• Academic credit: 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4

Fees

• Fee Option 1 (Single en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals): ｣2205.00
• Fee Option 2 (Double en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) 1 person: ｣2310.00
• Fee Option 3 (Twin en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) per person: ｣1850.00
• Fee Option 4 (No Accommodation - inc. Tuition, Lunch & Dinner): ｣1375.00

Funding

Concessionary rates are available on a non-residential basis for those who qualify.

Payment

• All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.
• Payment terms: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking or within 30 days of invoice date.

Cancellations and Refunds

Please see the terms and conditions for open-access courses.

Tutor

Dr John Loewenthal

Dr John Loewenthal has been teaching lifelong learning courses in anthropology at the University of Oxford since 2017.

Course Aims

• Introduce students to anthropology and/or develop their anthropological thinking.
• Combine academic literature, ethnographic examples, and students' experiences as part of our inquiry.
• Equip students with the curiosity and capacity to interpret what different activities and spaces may mean to people across societies and across life.
• Illustrate how meanings are constructed and experienced through social, cultural, historical, and subjective influence.
• Help students to make sense of and make the most of their lives.

Teaching Methods

• Short lectures/presentations
• Physical handouts
• Seminars/group discussions

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be expected to understand:

• Conceptual and methodological approaches in anthropology and some differences and debates within the discipline.
• Theoretical perspectives on the social construction of reality.
• How the life course forms a medium for thinking about lifes meanings, and how meanings may change with age.
• The multiplicity and subjectivity of how meanings in life are experienced.
• Some ethnographic examples from around the world and the value of considering oneself as part of the anthropological project.

Assessment Methods

• Pre-course assignment of 1,500 words.
• On-course assignment: 1,000 word written assignment or a presentation supported by individual documentation.
• Attendance at all classes and completion of the on-course assignment to successfully gain credit (10 CATS points).

Application

Most courses fill quickly, so early registration is strongly recommended.