Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This introductory course on anthropology focuses on the formative period of the discipline. After presenting what distinguishes anthropology within the field of social sciences, we will study cultural evolutionism, which marked the beginnings of the discipline in the 19th century. It was against this approach that new theories and methods were developed between 1900 and 1960. During the course, we will cover these different currents by travelling between the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. This journey into early anthropological thought will give us the opportunity to reflect on the relevance of the questions they raised today, while revisiting the fundamentals of anthropology.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
This course aims at introducing students to classical anthropological approaches. At the end the course, students will be able to highlight their strengths and weaknesses for analyzing the world we live in.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Students are required to actively read the course materials (the corresponding chapter from the reference book, the classic texts associated with it, etc.) before each session. During class, the professor first answers students' questions regarding these readings. He then comes back on the developments brought to the body of scholarship under study, before offering practical exercises based on contemporary materials.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège
Further information:
The reference book for this course is Rubbers, B., 2026, Introduction à l'anthropologie, Louvain-La-Neuve: DeBoeck Supérieur (part 1). The course's powerpoint presentations are posted every week on MyUliège. Sudents also receive classic texts to read in preparation to different course sessions.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Benjamin Rubbers (brubbers@uliege.be)