Anthropology and Philosophy BA (Hons)

Queen's University of Belfast

BA Joint Honours in Anthropology and Philosophy

The programme is designed to provide students with an intellectual training in the disciplines of Philosophy and Anthropology which, while discrete subjects, are complementary and mutually enriching. The combination of Philosophy and Anthropology allows for the development of an in-depth appreciation of the ideas that help to explain the foundations of the current world, human behaviour, and thinking across and beyond cultural difference.

During your degree, you will learn about cutting-edge debates in core areas of philosophy such as ethics, metaphysics, theory of knowledge and political philosophy, as well as studying some of the key thinkers in the history of philosophy, such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Mill and Marx. You will also develop your skills in reasoning and argumentation by studying formal logic and critical thinking.

Anthropology is the study of human diversity around the world. In studying anthropology, you will learn how different societies live together and think about such topics as family, sex, religion, art, and economics and gain skills increasingly in demand in a globalized and automated world.

Studying anthropology at Queen’s will allow you to examine some of the deepest and most pressing questions about human beings. Issues addressed in our modules include:

Does globalisation mean the end of cultural difference?

Can a post-conflict society heal?

How do ritual traditions, musical performances, and art shape cultural identities?

How do some people become willing to die for a group?

Through classroom modules, optional placements, and your own anthropological fieldwork, you will also gain valuable skills in critical thinking, cross-cultural understanding, researching, interviewing, writing, and presenting.