Antropological Sciences
The doctorate programme in Anthropological Sciences is mainly focused on socio-cultural anthropology and ethnology, but provides opportunities to pursue advanced studies and engage in research also in the field of paleoanthropology.
A stated aim of the programme in Anthropological Sciences is to ensure that especially in the first year adequate teaching is offered to doctoral students in order to acquaint them with some basic issues in both branches of anthropology. From the second year onwards, however, teaching and research will be diversified so as to guarantee the required degree of specialization.
Two specific curricula have therefore been devised:
- paleoanthropological
- ethnoanthropological
The paleoanthropological curriculum will concentrate on the analysis of paleobiological diversity, on paleodemography and on the study of palethnology and taphonomy, with special reference to the archaeology of human remains and funerary rituals.
The ethnoanthropological curriculum will cover a range of topics including culture contacts and intercultural communication, forms of social, political, legal and economic relations, and the symbolism of cognitive systems both from an ethnographic point of view and in comparative perspective.
In addition, teaching will be offered on subjects such as anthropological museography, the history of anthropology, current theoretical debates and research methods (especially those to be used in fieldwork).
The course consists of three years.
In the first year, the goal is to make sure that doctoral students acquire a sound understanding of fundamental issues in both branches of anthropology.
In the second year, the students’ activities will be mainly aimed at acquiring theoretical perspectives and mastering methodological tools relevant to the research areas they have selected. It is also in the second year that they are generally expected to conduct their fieldwork (in Italy or abroad).
The third year will be mostly devoted to the writing up of the final dissertation.