Program Overview

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University Program Information

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

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

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

Research Degrees (DPhil)

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

Professional Programs

• 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

Research

The university has an active interdisciplinary research community, with a strong focus on the humanities and social sciences.

• 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

About the University

• The Department
  • Academic staff profiles
  • Mission, vision and values
  • Our history
  • Student spotlights
  • Vacancies and tutor panel
  • Visiting Fellowships Scheme
• News and events
  • News
  • Open events
  • Whats on
• Our venues
  • Accommodation
  • Conferences
  • Dining and catering
  • Facilities
• Student information
  • Continuing Education Library
  • Oxford qualifications
  • Student resources and support

Course Details

Anthropology Applied

• Code: O25P701AHZ
• Credit: 10 CATS points
• Fees: ｣360.00
• Dates: Wed 17 Sep 2025 - Wed 26 Nov 2025
• Time: 7:00-8:00pm (UK)
• Location: Online (Live)

Course Overview

The course explores the unique and vital contribution of applied anthropology in helping to examine and address some of the major global challenges of our time.

Programme Details

• Week 1: Applied anthropology: methods, ethics and collaborating for change
• Week 2: Organisational cultures: truth, power and leadership
• Week 3: Aid and Agencies: development politics and crisis culture
• Week 4: Sustainable development and environmental justice
• Week 5: Refugees and dilemmas of displacement
• Week 6: Public health and the social dynamics of disease
• Week 7: COVID-19: risk and rebellion in a global pandemic
• Week 8: Disaster! Cultural responses to catastrophe
• Week 9: Hurricane Katrina: truth, tragedy and the wrath of God
• Week 10: International security: peace, conflict and contested worlds

Recommended Reading

• What Is Anthropology? / Eriksen, T. H. (2017)
• Anthropology and Development: Challenges for the Twenty-First Century / Gardner, K and Lewis, D. (2015)
• Doing Human Service Ethnography / Jacobsson, K and Gubrium, J. F. (2021)

Certification

• Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points
• Digital credentials

Fees

• Course Fee: ｣360.00

Funding

Concessionary fees for short courses are available for eligible students.

Tutor

• Dr Mark Anderson

Course Aims

• To explore the role and practice of applied anthropology as an approach to understanding and addressing the social and cultural dynamics that underpin complex global challenges.
• To deepen our understanding of anthropological principles, perspectives and methods, and how they are being applied to address a wide range of contemporary social issues.
• To nurture anthropologically-informed approaches to exploring human values, behaviours, lived experiences, and perceptions of danger and need.
• To encourage ethical, reflexive, evidence-based and culturally-sensitive engagement with current and future wicked problems and global challenges.

Teaching Methods

The course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be better able to:

• Define and explain key principles and practices of applied anthropology, and discuss them in relation to real-world issues and challenges.
• Critically evaluate a range of examples and case studies of anthropology in practice.
• Apply ethnographic methods to explore human values, behaviours, lived experiences and perceptions of danger and need.
• Develop a set of ethnographically-informed recommendations for addressing a contemporary issue or challenge, and justify your rationale.

Assessment Methods

• Two pieces of work: one 500-word assignment due halfway through the course, and one 1,500-word assignment due at the end of the course.
• Assignments are marked pass or fail.

Level and Demands

The course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.

• The course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e., first year undergraduate level).
• Students are expected to engage in independent study in preparation for assignments and for the weekly webinar.
• The course requires a total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.

English Language Requirements

No English language certification is required, but students are expected to have a comparable level of proficiency.

• For more information regarding English language requirements, please refer to the university's website.

IT Requirements

• Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on the virtual learning environment, but Google Chrome is recommended.
• Microsoft Teams is used for live webinars.