The MA program in Anthropology, now under the semester system, offers the core disciplinary courses on theory, ethnographic research, and applied/engaged anthropology. Along with the courses on the traditional four-field anthropology (cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, physical anthropology, and archaeological anthropology), the MA level semester courses include specialized seminar classes on kinship studies, economic anthropology, medical anthropology, disaster anthropology, anthropology of development, gender and feminism, historical anthropology, climate change,courses on the Nepal, Himalayan region and South Asia studies and caste, ethnicity and cultural diversity. All of these courses emphasis the integration between the global and local perspectives in a comparative framework. In the spirit of the semester system, the MA classes are interactive and participatory whereby each student is encouraged to develop reading, writing, analytical, and presentation skill.
An Overview of the Course of Study for MA in Anthropology:
Tribhuvan University
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Master of Arts in Anthropology Courses of Study for Semester System
Approved by the Subject Committee on
24 Chaitra, 2073 (6 April, 2017)
CENTRAL DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: +977-1-4334832
Ppdated complete integrated courses of semester system
Effective from the 2nd week of Baisakh, 2074
Master of Arts in Anthropology:
The course for Master of Arts in Anthropology offers altogether 32 papers, of which 15 are required (including ‘thesis writing’ in the fourth semester) and 17 are optional. Students may opt for optional courses in the third and fourth semesters as per their own choices which will be offered as per the departmental decision made on the basis of the availability of human resource. However, the regulation of Dean’s Office states that there must be at least 10 students willing to opt for one optional paper.
Trio of Objectives of the Courses of Study:
The first objective of these courses is to impart up-to-date knowledge of the theories and methods of anthropology discipline among students along with the advanced anthropological training in ethnographic field-work. The second objective is to produce skilled human resource needed for Nepal’s developmental needs. The third objective is to inculcate the spirit of human rights and principles of social justice in the minds of graduate students. Thus, the overall objective is to develop professional skill among students of the anthropology discipline at par with those of the universities of advanced countries.
Admission Criteria:
A student holding a Bachelor Degree in any of the following subjects recognized by the Tribhuvan University is considered eligible to apply for admission:
- Anthropology; Sociology; Social Work; Nepalese History, Culture and Archaeology; Psychology; History; Home Science; Geography; Economics, and Political Science
- Any discipline from Faculty of Education, Science, Management and Law
- Any discipline from Institute of Medicine, Engineering, Forestry, Agriculture and AnimalSciences
- An applicant seeking admission to M.A. in Anthropology must appear in an Entrance Examination of one hour’s duration conducted by the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tribhuvan University. The applicant who fails to appear in the Entrance Examination or to obtain a minimum qualifying score will not be given admission. Admission of the students will be strictly based on the merit list and the enrollment capacity of the Central Department of Anthropology, University Campus, Kirtipur and other anthropology departments of constituent and affiliated colleges of the Tribhuvan University.
Duration of the Courses, Examinations, and Attendance:
The duration of the study of the courses offered is of two years (with four semesters). There is an examination in the duration of six months (at the end of each semester). Eighty percent of the attendance in the class is compulsory.
Distribution of Approved Courses by Semester (24 Chaitra, 2073) Semester I
| Paper | Code No. | Title of Courses | Credit hr | Remarks |
| 1. | AN 561 | Introduction to Anthropology | 3 | Required |
| 2. | AN 562 | Classical Theories in Anthropology | 3 | |
| 3. | AN 563 | Kinship Studies | 3 | |
| 4. | AN 564 | Research Methods in Anthropology | 3 | |
| 5. | AN 565 | Anthropology of Nepal and the Himalaya | 3 |
Semester II
| Paper | Code No. | Title of Course | Credit hrs | Remarks |
| 1. | AN 571 | Contemporary Theories in Anthropology | 3 | Required |
| 2. | AN 572 | Recent Trends in Kinship Studies | 3 | |
| 3. | AN 573 | Caste, Ethnicity & Nationalism | 3 | |
| 4. | AN 574 | Advanced Research Methods in Anthropology | 3 | |
| 5. | AN 575 | Economic Anthropology | 3 |
Semester III
| Paper | Code No. | Title of Courses | Credit hrs | Remarks |
| 1. | AN -581 | Linguistic Anthropology | 3 | Required |
| AN 582 | Physical Anthropology | 3 | Required | |
| 2. | AN -583 | Anthropology of Religion and Ritual | 3 | Optional any three |
| 3. | AN -584 | Anthropology of Natural Resource Management | 3 | |
| 4. | AN-585 | Medical Anthropology | 3 | |
| 5. | AN-586 | Anthropology of Development | 3 | |
| 6. | AN-587 | Anthropology of Disaster and Resilience | 3 | |
| 7. | AN -588 | Society, Culture and Climate Change | 3 | |
| 8. | AN-589 | Political Anthropology | 3 | |
| 9 | AN -590a | Culture and Economics in the Age of Globalization | 3 | |
| 10 | AN-590b | Social Inequality, Inclusion and Affirmative Action | 3 | |
| 11 | AN-590c | Visual Anthropology (To be developed) | 3 |
3
Semester IV
| Paper | Code No. | Title of Courses | Credit hrs | Remarks |
| 1. | AN -601 | Archaeological Anthropology | Required | |
| 2. | AN -602 | Research Design and Writing: A Practicum | 3 | Required |
| 3. | AN -603 | Thesis | 6 | Required |
| 4 | AN -604 | Historical Anthropology | 3 | Optional Any one |
| 5 | AN -605 | Culture and Environment in Nepal | 3 | |
| 6 | AN -606 | Marxist Anthropology | 3 | |
| 7 | AN -607 | Food, Culture and Symbol (To be developed) | 3 | |
| 8 | AN -608 | Anthropology and Globalization | 3 | |
| 9 | AN -609 | Ecological Anthropology | 3 | |
| 10 | AN-610a | Anthropology of Feminism and Gender Studies | 3 | |
| 11 | AN-610b | Indigenous Peoples in Asia | 3 |
An 603 Thesis Writing (6 credits) (Required) Full Marks: 100
Evaluation System:
Evaluation system has two components, that is, internal and external. Forty and 60 percent weightage is accorded to the internal and external evaluation, respectively. The 40 percent internal evaluation will be done by the department/faculty on the basis of the following criteria:
A. Class attendance -10 marks
B. Class participation, discussion and presentation with précis -10 marks C. Termpaperwriting-10marks
D. Class test (writing) -10 marks
The 60 percent external evaluation will be done by the Dean’s Office on the basis of final written examination.