Anthropology & Tibet Study Programs
Overview
Professor Nicolas Sihlé is a Tibetanist within the Anthropology Department who teaches Tibetan-focused classes twice a year. Undergraduates and graduates thus have excellent and consistent course offerings in anthropological approaches to the study of Tibet.
Anthropology Major
Undergraduates can get a major in Anthropology through taking ten courses (31 credits). Requirements include: taking one course in each of the following areas within Anthropology—Principles of Sociocultural Analysis, Ethnography, Archaeology, Linguistic Anthropology; taking ANTH 301 History of Anthropological Theory (a 4-credit course); taking ANTH 401; and other requirements. In addition to taking courses with Nicolas Sihlé (see list below), anthropology majors focusing on Tibet may want to complement their study with courses by John Shepherd, an expert on China, or Ravindra Khare and H. L. Seneviratne, specialists on South Asia. Courses in Tibetan language or relevant offerings in Religious Studies are also recommended. Tibet-related courses by Nicolas Sihlé include:
- ANTH 230 Buddhism in Asian Societies
- ANTH 367 Tibet and the Himalayas
- ANTH 529 Tibetan religion
See also: http://www.virginia.edu/anthropology/majoreq.html
Anthropology minor
Undergraduates can get a minor in Anthropology through taking six 3-credit courses. Among these six must be at least one course in three of the following four areas: Principles of Sociocultural Analysis, Ethnography, Archaeology, and Linguistic Anthropology. In addition, the student must take at least one course in Anthropology which fulfills the non-western perspectives requirement.
See also: http://www.virginia.edu/anthropology/minoreq.html
Graduate program in Anthropology
Although the Anthropology Department does maintain a small M.A. program, the primary aim of the graduate program in Anthropology is to produce students with a Ph.D. in one of the sub-disciplines: Socio-cultural Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Archaeology. Through two and a half to three years of coursework, graduate students are not only encouraged to immerse themselves in the historical, theoretical, and ethnographic literature of their chosen sub-discipline, but to also develop a broad familiarity with these three sub-disciplines. Beyond core theory and methodology courses, as well as a variety of thematic courses, students must demonstrate competency in one foreign language; complete a qualifying assignment, consisting of a presentation before the faculty and other graduate students; perform fieldwork; and complete a dissertation. As with undergraduates, those interested in focusing on Tibet are encouraged to study both with Nicolas Sihlé and other department Asia specialists, John Shepherd (China), Ravindra Khare (South Asia), and H. L. Seneviratne (South Asia). Courses in Tibetan language and related Religious Studies course offerings are also highly recommended.