Anthropology of Current World Issues (ANTH1030)

Course overview

This course introduces students to a core set of social and cultural theories in anthropology, anthropological case studies, and anthropological research processes that address contemporary challenges relating to current world issues including environmental problems, displacement and forced migration, global and local Indigenous struggles, health inequalities, and multiculturalism. We explore what anthropologists study, how they do it and what impact that is having in the world. From online ethnography to anthropologists working with the military, from coal seam gas to refugees, from indigenous knowledge to material culture, we survey the breadth of the anthropological imagination.

Note: In Summer Term 2024-2025 the course will be taught in external mode and all content and interactions will be online via zoom, Blackboard, and World101x.

ANTH1030 introduces students to key anthropological concepts, discussions, and debates concerning contemporary global issues. With a focus on UQ anthropology, we explore the varied applications of anthropological research to current issues and the impact anthropologists have in the world. Drawing on case studies from Australia, Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and the United States, we will learn about how modernity and globalisation have affected diverse peoples and places over time. Specific topics include the operation of nationalism andﾠstruggles over sovereignty; contemporary contests over environmental extraction and the valuation of the other-than-human world; Indigenous struggles over land and belonging in the 21st century; the representation of culture and heritage through material objects; and the politics of border regimes and migration.

This course is a little different to most other 1st year courses, as you will be engaging an online community of learners throughout the term. You will take part in World101x, a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) run on UQx. You will watch part of the lecture content via World101x in your own time, discuss content with other learners and complete online quizzes. This is a unique learning experience, as we take you (visually) to the fieldsites of many of our UQ anthropology lecturers and explain what they do and how they do it. We have also interviewed many eminent anthropologists from around the world. These interviews are included in the content available to you online. The idea is that you will be able to discuss current world issues with a global learning community who will be taking the course alongside you online, as well as to engage the UQ anthropology community, including the UQ anthropology museum.ﾠ

In addition to the World101x component, you will take part in weekly online lectures and workshops, which are delivered via Zoom. Lectures are delivered in real time and recorded, workshops are not recorded.

In workshops each week, we have two main tasks: 1) discussion of major themes, questions, and debates from the weekly learning materials (skills: open and critical thinking; argumentation) and 2) ﾠpeer review of different components of the upcoming assignment (skills: academic writing, academic research, reviewing, collaboration). General attendance and participation in workshops is expected, however students who cannot attend all workshops can discuss alternative forms of participation with the course coordinator.

Course requirements

Assumed background

This is an introductory course; no background in anthropology required. All are welcome.

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

ANTH1101X

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

The course is run in external mode, meaning all materials (lectures, workshops, World101x materials, and readings) will be delivered online.

Live Lectures: Online lectures are delivered live during term. They include space for questions and discussions. However, lectures will also be recorded and posted to the course Blackboard site, along with any slides for review.

Weekly Workshops: We also meet weekly for online workshops. These are live and interactive discussion spaces and will not be recorded. Please log in through my.Timetable for further information regarding your timetable.

World101x: This online module functions as our textbook. Weekly modules are expected to be completed before the lecture, as World101x materials (videos, discussion questions, etc.) complement weekly lectures and workshops. This also ensures you complete all World101x-based assignments in a timely fashion.

Readings and other course materials: All course materials (other than World101x videos, interviews, and quizzes) will be available on the course Blackboard site.

Aims and outcomes

In taking ANTH1030, you will:

• Explore key ideas, concepts and skills usedﾠin anthropology;
• Examine the relationship between local and global issues;
• Analyse the historical, social, and cultural dimensions of different world issues,ﾠincluding thoseﾠrelated to nationalism, social movementsﾠand Indigenous sovereignty, global capitalism,ﾠmigration and forced displacement, and environmental politics;
• Investigate current events through an anthropological lens.

The approach to the course places emphasis on you as an (inter)active learner rather than as a passive recipient of knowledge. Active involvement requires that you complete assigned readings and assessments, reflect critically on course material, participate actively in online study modules and workshopﾠsessions as well as ask questions of your lecturers and tutors.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

World101x quizzes, questions, maps, projects

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Participation/ Student contribution, Project, Quiz, Reflection

Weight

20%

Due date

4/12/2025 - 29/01/2026

5:00PM Thursday of each study week (excluding 25th Dec and 1st Jan).

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

These assessments are to be completed via the UQ Extend platform via a link within Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.

The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.

In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).

Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.

Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.

Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.

Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.

Museum Project

• Online

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Project

Weight

30%

Due date

31/12/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.

Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.

By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.

You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team. If you have further issues with submitting this item, please contact the Course Coordinator who will be available over the holiday period.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.

The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.

In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).

Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.

Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.

Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.

Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.

Media Project: Video Essay

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Creative Production/ Exhibition, Presentation, Project

Weight

50%

Due date

30/01/2026 2:00 pm

Read the instructions carefully, some students may need to confirm their format with the course coordinator by 9th January 2025. 

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.

Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.

By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.

You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.

The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.

In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).

Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.

Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.

Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.

Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

The final grade is determined by adding together the sum of all individual assessment tasks. You can check your progress towards the World101X modules on the UQ Extend platform.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

Academic Integrity: All students must complete the Academic Integrity Modules https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/

UQ Assignment Writing Guide: Steps for writing assignments - my.UQ - University of Queensland

Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The marks and feedback for the final assessment item will only be made available to the student on the Finalisation of Grades date at the end of semester.

Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/querying-result

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Academic Integrity: All students must complete the Academic Integrity Modules https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/

UQ Assignment Writing Guide: Steps for writing assignments - my.UQ - University of Queensland

Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The marks and feedback for the final assessment item will only be made available to the student on the Finalisation of Grades date at the end of semester.

Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/querying-result

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
• AI for Assessment Guide

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.