Study Programmes 2015-2016
ANTH0001-1  
Social and cultural anthropology 1
Duration :
30h Th
Number of credits :
Bachelor in human and social sciences6
Bachelor in sociology and anthropology6
Master in anthropology (120 ECTS)6
Master in population and development studies (120 ECTS)6
Master in sociology and anthropology (60 ECTS)6
Master in public health (120 ECTS)5
Bachelor in ancient languages and literatures : classics5
Bachelor in ancient languages and literatures : classics5
Bachelor in information and communication5
Bachelor in information and communication4
Bachelor in information and communication5
Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English5
Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English5
Bachelor in history of art and archaeology : general5
Bachelor in history of art and archaeology : general5
Bachelor in history5
Bachelor in history5
Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : general5
Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : general5
Bachelor in history of art and archaeology : musicology5
Bachelor in history of art and archaeology : musicology5
Bachelor in ancient languages and literatures : Oriental studies5
Bachelor in ancient languages and literatures : Oriental studies5
Bachelor in philosophy5
Bachelor in philosophy5
Bachelor in French and Romance languages and literatures : general5
Bachelor in French and Romance languages and literatures : general5
Master in multilingual communication (120 ECTS)5
Master in performing arts (120 ECTS)5
Bachelor in psychology and education : general3
Lecturer :
Benjamin Rubbers
Substitute(s) :
Guy Massart, Bénédicte de Villers Grand Champs, Fanny Theunissen
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
This introduction to anthropology will cover the discipline's formative years. After having discussed what distinguishes anthropology from other social sciences, we will study the work of cultural evolutionists, who introduced anthropology into the academy at the end of the 19th century. Against this approach new anthropological theories developed between 1900 and 1960. During the course, we will discuss each of these theories by travelling between the United Kingdom, United States and France. This journey into early anthropological thought will give us the opportunity to address fundamental questions: 'are human societies following any direction?'; 'what allows human beings to live together?'; 'to what extent is personality influenced by culture?'; or 'what are the consequences of colonization?'. We will present ethnographic studies that these traditions of thought have produced to answer to these questions, and show how far they can still be considered as topical today. In the last session, we will briefly speak of the rupture caused by anthropological theories in the second half of the 20th century. These theories will be covered in the course Social and Cultural Anthropology II.
Learning outcomes of the course :
By introducing students to the fundamentals of the discipline, this course aims at showing the relevance of the anthropological detour to question the 'natural' character of our practices and representations, and accordingly, to think about the way men and women make history.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Minimal knowledge of French, a taste for reading, and above all curiosity about the world around us.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
The course consists in face-to-face lessons.
Recommended or required readings :
A copy of PowerPoint presentations used in class will be posted on MyULg. Students will also receive readings.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Details about the type of examination will be given during the first lesson. Evaluation will focus on knowledge of the course and readings.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Contacts :
The professor is available to meet students by appointment (email).