Your education questions answered Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of GuidanceCounsellors. E-mail questions to bmooney@irish-times.ie
I enjoyed your answer to the question "why do psychology degrees?" Could you do the same for an anthropology degree? My daughter (aged 14) has expressed frequent interest in this area.
Your daughter has a number of years yet to clarify her third-level course choices, and the range of courses available may change during those years. At this time there are three colleges on this island that offer students the opportunity to study anthropology.
NUI Maynooth offers a Bachelor of Social Science Degree in which students have the option of selecting anthropology as one of three subjects in first year and as one of two subjects in second and third year. Entry requirement in 2002 was a minimum of 410 points
Dublin Business School, which is a private fee paying college, offers students the opportunity to study anthropology at both certificate and degree level. Those successfully completing the one-year certificate course in cultural studies may then progress on to the three-year BA degree in anthropology. The entry requirement for the certificate course is five passes in the Leaving Certificate, including maths and a language. The minimum points requirement for their degree programme in 2002 was 245 points.
Queen's University Belfast offers a degree programme in social anthropology. Applications are dealt with through the UK admissions system, UCAS. Applicants holding the Irish Leaving Certificate are expected to have achieved three B and two C grades at Honours level.
What is anthropology?
Anthropology is the study, description and comparative analysis of different cultures. Anthropology is not confined to the study of so-called primitive cultures, it is a broad discipline that looks at many human endeavours: family patterns, political systems, magic, folklore, ethno psychology, popular culture and the origins of culture/society, to name but a few.
Why study anthropology?
Today, more than ever, anthropology's relevance is apparent. In both a European and global context, cultural differences impact upon multi-national commerce, development and aid projects, conflict resolution, heritage management, communications and the serious issue of indigenous rights and racism.
What do anthropology graduates do?
Anthropology graduates can be found working in such fields as development and aid projects, both in Ireland and overseas, social research, conflict resolution and community development. Other areas include heritage management and interpretation, as well as the media. Even for those graduates who do not pursue a career in anthropology, the discipline provides skills necessary for the understanding and management of human relationships, both at an interpersonal level and across cultural boundaries.
