AQA AS Level Anthropology (Level 3)

Suitable For

Those who wish to gain further knowledge in this subject, as well as being relevant to a range of careers and further study. Because students can ultimately gain an A-Level in Anthropology and an AS Extended Project from their project in A2, this course is ideally suited for students looking to progress onto Higher Education. The subject may be particularly enjoyed by students pursuing other social science courses (such as Sociology or Psychology) or compliment studies for those with an interest in areas such as archaeology, history or human biology.

Course Content

Anthropology is the in - depth study of humans; their evolution, ways they interact, how they live, and how they come to be who they are. It is concerned with all aspects of people's lives. One minute you could be studying African tribes, the next archaeological remains, then modern Goths in London. By examining people's lives, anthropologists explore what makes us uniquely human and what makes different cultures distinctive to gain increased understanding of ourselves and each other. Anthropological work centres on fieldwork and you will be engaging in your own fieldwork during the course of your A-Level. Below is an idea of some of the questions you will consider during your studies. AS Unit 1 Being Human: How has the human body evolved? How are humans and apes similar and different? In what ways do people remake their bodies? How are people divided in society? What is kinship? How do we communicate? What are the meanings behind communication technology like mobile phones? AS Unit 2 Becoming a Person: What do we mean by a 'person'? How are differences between male and female expressed? What are 'cyborgs'? How do different cultures symbolise the stages of life? A2 Unit 3 Global and Local: How does settlement impact on indigenous people? What is globalisation, westernisation and even McDonaldisation? What were the migration patterns of our ancestors? A2 Unit 4 Methods and Investigation: How do anthropologists carry out research and fieldwork? What are the implications of living amongst a tribe? What is 'going native'? How do you fully become a member of the group which you are studying?

Assessment Method

Unit 1 Exam in January 1.5 hours Unit 2 Exam in May/June 1.5 hours Unit 3 Exam in January 1.75 hours Unit 4 Exam in May/June 1.5 hours In Unit 4 students will carry out a fieldwork project which they will answer questions on in their exam. Because this piece of work is not externally assessed as coursework it means students can submit their projects as an AQA 'Extended Project' which counts as an additional AS on top of their A-Level in Anthropology.

Progression

A-Level Anthropology is recognised as a pre - requisite for university study and a large number of degree courses are relevant to Anthropology including Archaeology, Art, Criminology, Economics, Education, English Literature and Language, Geography, History, International Development and Relations, Law, Media, Policy and Politics, Psychology, Science, Sociology and more! Aside from further study, A-Level Anthropology is relevant to a number of career areas.

Entry Requirements

No previous knowledge of the subject is required, however, GCSE English Grade C or above is essential.