Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology

The Bachelor's programme in Cultural Anthropology and Developmental Sociology (CADS) studies the relationship between global developments and local processes.

You get acquainted with  different societies and cultural phenomena and learn to understand the world from various perspectives. You will learn that phenomena such as religion, ethnicity, identity, gender and sexuality are closely interwoven with economics, politics, and other power relations. What happens when people with different cultural backgrounds live together? Why do people in certain societies emphasise the difference between men and women, and in other places between ethnic or religious groups? Such questions lead to new knowledge about the way people live together in a rapidly changing world. They also make us reflect on ourselves: is that what we consider normal really normal?

The first year of the programme offers an introduction into the most important themes in anthropology and into the methods of anthropological research. In the second year you will deepen your anthropological knowledge. You will also become acquainted with other disciplines in the social sciences, and thus learn to distinguish the anthropological perspective from other social science perspectives more clearly. Your third year will be devoted to your own interests. There is plenty of room for taking electives or a minor in the Netherlands or elsewhere, or for doing an internship. In addition, you will do research, work on your bachelor thesis and prepare yourself for further education and your career after your studies.