Public Issues Anthropology
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Guelph offers a program leading to an MA in Public Issues Anthropology. See the department website for more details on the program and admissions requirements.
Administrative Staff
Chair
Vivian Shalla (626 MacKinnon, Ext. 56527)
vshalla@uoguelph.ca
Public Issues Anthropology Graduate Program Coordinator
Thomas McIlwraith (616 MacKinnon, Ext. 53545)
tad.mcilwraith@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Assistant
soangrad@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Faculty
This list may include Regular Graduate Faculty, Associated Graduate Faculty and/or Graduate Faculty from other universities.
Tuğçe Ellialtı-Köse
BA Boğaziçi (Turkey), MA, PhD Pennsylvania - Assistant Professor
Graduate Faculty
Elizabeth Finnis
BA McMaster, MA Western, PhD McMaster - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Karine Gagné
BA Concordia, M.Sc., PhD Montreal - Assistant Professor
Graduate Faculty
Satsuki Kawano
BA Keio, MA Minnesota, PhD Pittsburgh - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Thomas (Tad) McIlwraith
BA Toronto, MA British Columbia, PhD New Mexico - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Travis Steffens
B.Sc., MA Calgary, PhD Toronto - Assistant Professor
Graduate Faculty
Renée Sylvain
BA Wilfrid Laurier, MA, PhD Toronto - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
MA Program
Admission Requirements
Applicants must possess an Honours BA (4 years) degree or its equivalent with at least a 'B+ average in the final two undergraduate years. Students with degrees in other programs including the natural sciences are encouraged to apply if their background aligns with the interests of existing faculty. We recommend these students have five Anthropology courses that include courses in both biological and social/cultural anthropology.
Program Requirements
The MA program allows students to become actively involved in advanced studies and research in Anthropology. Students enrol in one of two study options:
- thesis, or
- course work and major research paper.
Thesis
Students must complete a minimum of 2.0 credits, conduct research, and write a thesis.
Course Work and Major Research Paper (MRP)
Students must complete a minimum of 4.0 credits (including ANTH*6660 Major Paper) and write a major paper.
All students are required to attend ANTH*6000 Public Issues Anthropology in their first semester and ANTH*6700 Pro-seminar in their first two semesters. They must also master basic theory and methodological skills. This is normally fulfilled through the successful completion of ANTH*6080 Anthropological Theory and one of ANTH*6140 Qualitative Research Methods, ENVS*6450 Multivariate Environmental Data Analysis, or SOC*6130 Quantitative Research Methods. Students typically begin their studies in the Fall semester.
Collaborative Specializations
International Development Studies
Public Issues Anthropology participates in the MA collaborative specialization in International Development Studies (IDS). Students in this option register in an MA program in the department and IDS. Those faculty members whose research and teaching expertise includes aspects of international development studies may serve as advisors for MA students. Please consult the International Development Studies listing for a detailed description of the MA collaborative specialization and the special additional requirements for each of the participating departments.
One Health
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology participates in the collaborative specialization in One Health. Master’s and Doctoral students wishing to undertake thesis research or their major research paper/project with an emphasis on one health are eligible to apply to register concurrently in Public Issues Anthropology and the collaborative specialization. Students should consult the One Health listing for more information.
Courses
This course will examine the interface between anthropological and public understandings of public issues, with sensitivity to the presence or absence of anthropological insights. The course will assure that students become well versed in how to synthesize the resources of various branches of the discipline.
An examination of classical and contemporary anthropological theory, including an emphasis on the most recent directions in the discipline.
An examination of the methods of qualitative research, including participant observation and unstructured interviews, as well as the ethical considerations of fieldwork. Other topics, such as comparative and historical methods, may be included.
This course will examine a range of approaches used in the study of intergroup relations, with special emphasis on struggles over influence and power. Students will acquire a deeper understanding of the complex intersection, as well as the overlap among forms of identity and group mobilization based on ethnic, linguistic, regional, class, gender, racial and other forms of social division. The course may also cover native issues and policies related to multiculturalism, equity and local or regional autonomy.
This course reflects sociological and anthropological interests in understanding societal-ecological interactions. The specific focus may include environmental/natural resources/food systems and/or environmental justice/community sustainability. Students are encouraged to draw on established methodologies in the field, including ethnographic, comparative and historical approaches. Attention is given to the ways that structure/power/culture and class/gender/race/ethnicity play out in at least one of the substantive topics comprising this field. This course is offered in conjunction with SOC*6420.
Cross-cultural and historical changes in gender relations and the roles/positions of women brought about by industrialization and the development of the world system. Critical examination of the predominant theories of gender relations, in so far as these inform development research and action in societies with different socio-economic systems. Introduction to the latest theories and research in the area of women and development, as well as with social and political actions undertaken by women themselves. This is one of the two alternative core courses for the International Development Studies collaborative specialization.
This course will consider some of the theoretical frameworks available for examining work, workers and work places in the context of globalization, economic restructuring, and shifts in public policy. Using case studies of particular work worlds, the course may include topics such as changing patterns of work and employment in comparative contexts, labour regimes, industrial and organizational change, organizations and protest, education for work, and the regulation of work. The course will focus on the dialectical relationship between the configurations of gender, class, race and ethnicity and the transformation of work.
This course will be offered with varying content focusing on theory or research.
A program of directed reading, complemented with the writing of papers or participation in research. Reading courses are arranged by students through their advisors or advisory committees and must be approved by the chair of the department. This course may be repeated provided different content is involved.
The major paper is an extensive research paper for those who do not elect to complete a thesis. It may be taken over two semesters.
The pro-seminar concerns matters involved in graduate studies and later work as a professional anthropologist, including how to form a graduate advisory committee, assistantship responsibilities, presentation skills, exploration of careers in anthropology, writing grant proposals, reports and articles, and teaching. Offered in conjunction with SOC*6700.