58勛圖

SA4063 Anthropology of Catastrophe

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

It will be restricted to Social Anthropology Honours students; exceptions will need the instructor's permission.

Planned timetable

To be confirmed.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr R D G Irvine

Dr R D G Irvine
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Richard Irvine

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module provides an introduction to anthropology's contribution to studies of existential risk and catastrophe. It explores scientific, religious and political frameworks of understanding catastrophic events, and the way these impact social life. Merging political, medical and ethical anthropological perspectives, the module brings together a wide range of theoretical and empirical material that will allow students to approach existential risk and catastrophe as socio-cultural processes of key importance in the contemporary world.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS SA2001 AND PASS SA2002

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

3000-word essay

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture (x10 weeks), 1 tutorial (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

20

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

275

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.