Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology
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Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ANT2117: Dogs and Cats: Anthropological Subjects

This module descriptor refers to the 2023/4 academic year.

Module Aims

The module aims to:

1. introduce you to topical debates in 'anthrozoology' through engagement with a wide range of ethnographic case studies related to cats and dogs;

2. provide you with further tools and information needed to analyse, in a theoretically rigorous manner, the many and varied ways in which humans think about, and interact with, cats and dogs.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. debate on a range of human interactions with cats and dogs;
2. discuss current anthropological implications of the different ways in which humans think about and interact with cats and dogs;
3. apply appropriate theoretical models to facilitate an analysis of topical human-cat and human-dog interactions;
4. situate specific human-cat/dog interactions within socio-historical context
Discipline-Specific Skills5. show some appreciation of the synergies and conflicts between the different branches of anthropology (posthuman/critical/medical), in relation to theorising human-cat/dog interactions;
6. recognise the contested nature of anthropological knowledge and demonstrate an ability to consider human-cat/dog relationships in a reflexive and critically analytical manner;
7. consider the ethical dimensions of human-cat/dog interactions, especially in relation to the practical application of anthropological knowledge beyond the human;
Personal and Key Skills8. plan, undertake and present written work of a scholarly standard that demonstrates an understanding of anthropological aims, methods and theoretical considerations and engages with the (published) work of others;