UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH

College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

ANTH*6000: Public Issues Anthropology (FALL 2025)

Course Description

This course is a fundamental component of the Public Issues Anthropology program. It examines the various aspects of public issues anthropology through a seminar format. Course content is developed through student-led seminars, presentations, and in-class discussions. Students have the chance to create their own public anthropology projects by writing a book review, an outreach document, an essay, and by delivering an oral presentation to the class. Students are encouraged, in all instances, to engage in work that is directly pertinent and will contribute to their thesis or Major Research Paper (MRP). This course is designed to complement the coursework in Anthropological Theory (ANTH*6080) and Qualitative Research Methods (ANTH*6140).

Learning Outcomes

• To critically reflect on culture, social relations and social structures in order to develop a broader and deeper understanding of social problems;
• Situate and critically evaluate one’s social and cultural identity and location, power and privilege, within a personal, social, cultural, political and global context;
• Critically reflect upon the personal and disciplinary limits of knowledge and develop an appreciation for uncertainty and ambiguity within interpretation and analysis;
• Engage in classical and contemporary scholarly inquiry to identify and address anthropological questions and issues;
• Demonstrate personal and academic integrity and ethical reasoning.
• Develop and practice intellectual curiosity, analytic, problem-solving, decision-making and listening skills;
• Demonstrate personal responsibility and initiative for current and on-going learning.

Format

This is an advanced graduate seminar where each session is designed to foster discussion. Typically, the instructor will lecture for the first hour or more on the week’s topic, during which student participation and reactions are anticipated. In the latter part of the class, students will take the lead in the discussion. Class time will also include a round-table event with anthropology faculty and may include visits from guest speakers. Additionally, later in the semester, students will present their research topics.

Required Texts

All the readings are available on Courselink.

Evaluation

Seminar Leadership (2): 2 X 10%

Essay: 40%

Book Review: 10%

Public Document: 10%

Research Presentation: 20%