Economic and Business Anthropology (BOA)
Course content
Economic anthropology and business anthropology are two closely related and overlapping fields of anthropology. Although the former, as one of the classic fields of anthropology, has a longer history than the latter, both fields seem more relevant than ever. With global economic challenges such as the corona crisis, the climate crisis, and the financial crisis, it becomes increasingly important to explore and question the ways in which economic and business activities are understood and practiced, and what implications these activities have for social relations and lived lives in different parts of the world. This is not only relevant for a critical understanding of economic and business issues, but also for an anthropological engagement in or with them. This course provides an opportunity to rediscover classics, to explore contemporary economic and business issues, and to consider and discuss different approaches to anthropological work in economy and business.
The aim of the course is to provide students with both classic and new knowledge within economic and business anthropology, to develop their curiosity, overview, and understanding of the field and related fields, to allow and encourage use of economic and business anthropology in the analysis of own empirical data, planned fieldwork, theoretical debates, or current issues, and to engage and involve the students in the planning and activities of the course and in exploring new themes.
During the course we will cover some already planned themes, concepts, and discussions, such as markets, capitalism, exchange, money, debt, leadership, organization, design, consumption, etc., but the students will also have influence on the content of the course.
The course serves as a part of the specialised track in business and organizational anthropology (BOA).
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad
- Credit students from Danish Universities
Full-degree students enrolled at the Faculty of Social Science, UCPH
- Bachelor and Master Programmes in Economics
- Bachelor and Master Programmes in Sociology
- Master Programme i Global Development
- Master Programme in Social Data Science
Enrolled students register the course through the Selfservice. Please contact the study administration at each programme for questions regarding registration.
Please note that this course is identical to AANB11041U Economic Anthropology. This means that if you have passed AANB11041U Economic Anthropology, you cannot register for Economic and Business Anthropology.
The course aims to give the students the following knowledge, skills, and competences:
Knowledge:
- Demonstrate an understanding of various debates, standpoints, concepts, and theoretical perspectives from the field of economic and business anthropology.
Skills:
- Develop and present an analysis of a relevant theme in economic and business anthropology in a coherent and convincing text.
- Be able to apply anthropological concepts and perspectives in an analysis of current economic or business issues.
Competences:
- Choose, apply, and transfer relevant theoretical concepts and ideas from anthropology to the field of economy and business.
- Be able to independently consider economic and business issues and activities from an anthropological perspective.
The course will consist of 14 three-hour weekly seminars, involving lectures, class discussions, group discussions, student presentations, and small exercises.
MA students must include supplementary literature in the exam, which the student selects.
When registered you will be signed up for exam.
- Full-degree students – sign up at Selfservice on KUnet
- Exchange and guest students from abroad – sign up through Mobility Online and Selfservice
- Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
The dates for the exams are found here Exams – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Please note that it is your own responsibility to check for overlapping exam dates.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Free written home assignment
The assignment can be done in groups of up to 4 people. In group assignments, each student’s contribution must be clearly marked in the assignment. The length of the assignment must be a maximum of 10 pages for BA students and a maximum of 12 pages for MA students. For group submissions, an additional 3 pages per extra BA student and an additional 3 pages per extra MA student are allowed. For groups where BA and MA students write together, the page limit corresponds to that of MA students.
Students must indicate on the first page of the assignment whether they are BA or MA students. In the case of a group assignment, the individual student's contribution must be clearly marked in the assignment.
The number of standard pages is calculated according to the assumption that a standard page is defined as 2,400 keystrokes including spaces. Read further about Formal requirements for written assignments and exams in Curricula’s Common Part for the Faculty of Social Sciences - Aid
- All aids allowed
Policy on the Use of Generative AI Software and Large Language Models in Exams
The Department of Anthropology allows the use of generative AI software and large language models (AI/LLMs), such as ChatGPT, in written exams, provided that the use of AI/LLMs is disclosed and specified (i.e., how it was used and for what purpose) in an appendix that does not count towards the page limit of the exam.
If AI/LLMs are used as source, the same requirements apply for using quotation marks and source referencing as with all other sources. Otherwise, it will be a case of plagiarism.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Re-exam
-
Free written home assignment
1st re-exam: A new written assignment submitted. The new assignment must be submitted by the deadline for the re-exam.
2nd re-exam: A new written assignment submitted. The new assignment must be submitted by the deadline for the re-exam.
Criteria for exam assessment
See learning objectives
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 42
- Preparation
- 100
- Exam
- 64
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- AANA18138U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Bachelor
Bachelor choiceFull Degree MasterFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Studyboard
- Department of Anthropology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Anthropology
- Social Data Science
- Department of Sociology
- Department of Economics
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Nana Katrine Vaaben (11-796c796c39816c6c6d70794b6c797f737d7a397680396f76)
- Kasper Tang Vangkilde (16-7b71838075823e86717e777b797c747550717e8478827f3e7b853e747b)
Are you BA- or KA-student?
Courseinformation of students