Career opportunities
A Social Anthropology degree provides broad- based training that can lead to a wide range of careers. Students acquire a high level of expertise in sought-after skills. These include problem-solving, analysis of information, research and writing skills, emotional and ethical intelligence, independent thinking, project management, and expertise in audio- visual presentations.
Graduates in social anthropology find work in museums, as policy advisors for the government or local bodies, in community development, the police force, and project co-ordination and management for non- governmental organisations such as Volunteer Service Abroad.
Other interesting careers include journalism, film and media industries, foreign affairs, international aid, teaching, tourism, working with refugees, disaster relief, management, historic preservation, social impact assessment, environmental management – the list is almost endless.
There are also opportunities for pursuing careers specifically in Anthropology, such as working in universities, museums, consultancy, applied research, which require further postgraduate training after finishing the BA.
Exploring culture and human life
Discover how Social Anthropology at Otago helps us see the world differently – making the strange familiar and the familiar strange – through ethnographic research, cultural comparison, and real-world applications across society.
Read transcript
Introduction
In Social Anthropology, we study one of the most strange and interesting things that exist—human beings. Specifically, we’re a social science, and we study contemporary cultures and societies.
I’m Dr Susan Wardell, and I’m one of the teaching team in the Social Anthropology programme. I have a question for you: Do fish know that they’re wet, or is water all they’ve ever known—normal, invisible, and impossible to describe?
In Social Anthropology, we acknowledge that we are all swimming in something called culture. We’re all born into particular ways of understanding the world, of organising the world, and of living in the world. We might not even notice them until we take a moment to stick our head up out of the water, look around, and realise that there are so many different ways to live.
The Strange Familiar
We have this little saying in our field about making the strange familiar and the familiar strange.
Making the strange familiar means having a chance to learn about people’s worlds that are different from our own. I’ve always found this fascinating and sometimes confronting. But even more transformative for me has been learning to make the familiar strange—getting outside of my own head and having the tools to notice and describe the water that I’m swimming in.
Ethnographic Research
Social Anthropology is sometimes described as the most humanistic of the sciences and the most scientific of the humanities.
The tools we use to do our research are called ethnographic research. This involves gathering in-depth data about real people and places within the context of their beautiful, messy, complicated lives. This enables us to make comparisons between everyday things—like the way people speak, dress, and move—and the big forces that structure the world, like politics or ideology. It lets us notice difference and use comparison.
Applications
In the Social Anthropology programme, we have a variety of papers that use this kind of thinking applied to different topics, like health and reproduction, money, death, grief and ritual, religion, development, cultural politics, and lots of other things too.
Our degree works really well as a double major. People like to pair it with subjects like Law or Psychology—or any number of other things. Students graduating with an Anthropology degree gain empirical research skills and critical thinking skills, meaning they’re recruited into many areas—not just academia, but also community and non-profit work, business and industry, and government bodies.
Humans can be very strange creatures. But in learning to study people who are not like ourselves—and study ourselves—we build the kind of knowledge that can both change the world and change ourselves as we do it.
You’re very welcome to join us.
Anthropology at Otago
Anthropology has been taught as a major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) since 1966. The major normally takes three years and requires a minimum of nine papers in the subject, out of 20 papers for a BA. We also offer our graduate students a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and
a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts, which are both one-year courses available following the completion of a BA. Those students who do not want to major in Anthropology can pick up some anthropology papers as part of their degree, or do a minor in the subject, which requires a minimum of five papers.
Two first-year papers provide an introduction to Anthropology:
ANTH 103 Introduction to Anthropology
An introduction to the fundamental concepts and history of general anthropology, including archaeology and social anthropology.
ANTH 105 Global and Local Cultures
Being human, and humane, in a world where worlds collide. An introduction to cultural studies of globalisation, multiculturalism, tourism, media.
At the second- and third-year levels of the degree, you will begin to specialise in the areas of social anthropology that interest you the most, drawing on the specialisations and research interests of our internationally recognised lecturing staff.
Topics include Pacific societies, current issues in anthropology, and the ethics, politics and practice of ethnographic representation, a chance for 'hands-on' learning through immersion in the ongoing friendship research project, cultural politics, grieving and ritual, new reproductive technologies, the anthropology of money, the study of religion and the supernatural, and ideologies of health.
These subjects lead to our strong postgraduate programme, which offers papers in the Anthropology of Evil, Transnationalism, Medical Anthropology, Anthropology and the Past, and independently studied research dissertations. Students may then continue to a Master of Arts or a PhD.
Teaching style
Our programme offers a relaxed intellectual exchange with staff dedicated to good learning outcomes for students. All of our staff are active researchers and award-winning teachers who incorporate their research findings into their teaching.
Double major/degree options
It is possible to qualify with an Anthropology degree in which all of the papers are social anthropology, although we recommend taking some archaeology papers.
In addition, some useful double major options include History, Classics, Politics, Film and Media Studies, Māori Studies, Pacific Studies, Languages, Gender, Sociology, Criminology, and Religious Studies. Social Anthropology (because of its diverse subject area) also combines well in double degrees with subjects in Commerce, Law, Science and Health Sciences.
Student exchange
The University of Otago has exchange agreements with more than 70 institutions in over 30 countries. If your marks average B or better, you may qualify to attend one of these institutions for one semester or one year. Exchange programmes are particularly beneficial to Anthropology students for the learning experience of deep immersion into another culture.
Recommended background
There are no specific subjects you need to have studied at school in order to study Anthropology.
Choose a study option
Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Undergraduate qualifications
For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.
Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
A three-year degree offering flexibility to explore a major in Arts along with other subjects
Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Commerce, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Science, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr)
A three-year degree that equips you to change the world as you create new products, services and ideas
Ready to apply?
Take the first step towards your future in this subject.
Further study opportunities
Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.
Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
The Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad), requiring study of at least seven papers (at least four of which are at 300-level o...
Postgraduate Study in Anthropology
Explore postgraduate study in Anthropology at Otago. Gain advanced knowledge, skills, and research opportunities in a su...
Related subject areas
Explore all subject areasHistory, philosophy, people and society
Understand the world by thinking deeply about people, cultures, and society – past, present, and future
Language and global cultures
Explore cultures, languages, and global issues to discover your place in an inclusive, sustainable world
Māori, Pacific and indigenous studies
Explore Māori, Pacific, and indigenous languages, heritage, and values to contribute positively to these communities
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject as a major and minor (where available).
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | Two 100-level ANTH papers | 36 |
| 200-level | One of ANTH 208, ANTH 210 or ANTH 211 | 18 |
| Two further 200-level ANTH papers BIOA 201, GEOG 210, MUSI 268 or any 200-level GEND or SOCI paper may be substituted for one 200-level ANTH paper. | 36 | |
| 300-level | Four 300-level ANTH papers BIOA 301, GEOG 381, MUSI 368, MUSI 386 or any 300-level GEND or SOCI paper may be substituted for one 300-level ANTH paper. | 72 |
| Plus | 198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | 198 |
| Total | 360 |
A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.
Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.
You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
| Papers | Points |
|---|---|
| Five ANTH papers, at least three of which must be above 100-level, including at least one above 200-level | 90 |
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
ANTH papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANTH103 | 2025 | Introduction to Anthropology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ANTH105 | 2025 | Global and Local Cultures | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH106 | 2025 | Human Origins and Civilisations | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH203 | 2025 | Asian Archaeology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH204 | 2025 | Pacific and New Zealand Archaeology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ANTH205 | 2025 | Anthropology and the Contemporary Pacific | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ANTH206 | 2025 | Anthropology of Globalisation | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH208 | 2025 | Archaeological Methods | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ANTH209 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH210 | 2025 | Translating Culture | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH211 | 2025 | Contemporary Ethnographic Research | 18 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| ANTH222 | 2025 | Conceiving Reproduction | 18 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| ANTH223 | 2025 | Anthropology of Health | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ANTH225 | 2025 | Rites of Passage: Death, Grief and Ritual | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH228 | 2025 | Anthropology of Religion and the Supernatural | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH231 | 2025 | The Emergence of Agriculture: An Archaeological Journey | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH310 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH312 | 2025 | Cultural Politics | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ANTH317 | 2025 | Historical Archaeology | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH321 | 2025 | Archaeozoology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH322 | 2025 | Conceiving Reproduction | 18 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| ANTH323 | 2025 | Anthropology of Health | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ANTH324 | 2025 | Archaeological Practice | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH325 | 2025 | Rites of Passage: Death, Grief and Ritual | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH326 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH327 | 2025 | Anthropology of Money | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH328 | 2025 | Anthropology of Religion and the Supernatural | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH329 | 2025 | Landscape Archaeology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ANTH330 | 2025 | New Zealand Archaeology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ANTH405 | 2025 | Archaeological Excavation | 20 points | 1st Non standard period (2 February 2025 - 18 June 2025) |
| ANTH409 | 2025 | Material Culture Studies | 20 points | Full Year |
| ANTH410 | 2025 | Special Topic | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH411 | 2025 | Special Topic | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH413 | 2025 | Oceanic Prehistory | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH423 | 2025 | Bodies, Technologies and Medicines | 30 points | Full Year |
| ANTH424 | 2025 | The Anthropology of Evil | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH425 | 2025 | Anthropology of Transnationalism and Diaspora | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| ANTH427 | 2025 | Archaeological Theory | 20 points | Full Year |
| ANTH430 | 2025 | Advanced New Zealand Archaeology | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| ANTH431 | 2025 | People, Culture and Development | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| ANTH490 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year |
| ANTH495 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year |
| ANTH505 | 2025 | Advanced Archaeological Excavation | 30 points | 1st Non standard period (2 February 2025 - 18 June 2025) |
| ANTH550 | 2025 | Archaeology and Heritage Practice | 30 points | Full Year |
| ANTH590 | 2025 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 21 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2025 - 3 July 2026) |
More information
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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