Universität Wien

240510 SE MM3 Anthropology as a discipline: Looking through Migration scholarship (2025W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Participation at first session is obligatory!

The lecturer can invite students to a grade-relevant discussion about partial achievements. Partial achievements that are obtained by fraud or plagiarized result in the non-evaluation of the course (entry 'X' in certificate). The plagiarism software 'Turnitin' will be used.
The use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) for the attainment of partial achievements is only allowed if explicitly requested by the course instructor.
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

UPDATE 16.10.2025: The course will start December 11th. There will be an additonal date in January. More information will follow in time.

UPDATE 11.12.2025: The additional date in January will take place January 22rd and there will be a session on January 27th instead of January 29th.

  • Thursday 11.12. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 16.12. 08:00 - 11:15 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Thursday 08.01. 13:15 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 15.01. 11:30 - 14:45 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Thursday 22.01. 11:30 - 14:45 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 27.01. 11:30 - 14:45 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course examines the development of migration studies in relation to key shifts within anthropology. It explores how developments in anthropological theory, methods, and ethics have shaped migration scholarship—its focus, core questions, and analytical frameworks. The course situates these changes within broader global contexts, including the rise and crisis of welfare states, economic recessions, capital restructuring, neoliberal transformations, and their influence on migration policies and public perceptions.
Students will engage with central anthropological concepts—such as ethnicity, community, locality, racialization, and multiple identities—on the basis of texts covering different regions and examine how these ideas have informed and been reshaped by migration research. The course also considers how structural and political changes, particularly in urban contexts, are reconfiguring migration dynamics, governance systems, and migrant-led social movements. Recent developments in the study of migration and refugee management industries, as well as the narratives on global diversity in how migration studies have evolved, will be key points of discussion.

Structure:
The course will start with a short lecture by the mentor. The students will present the readings of the week followed by a systematic discussion of them lead by the mentor

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Understand the intertwined development of migration studies and anthropology.
• Critically analyze how key concepts in migration have evolved alongside shifts in anthropological theory and practice.
• Apply these concepts to examine contemporary issues in migration, governance, and mobility across different global contexts.

Assessment and permitted materials

Assessment and minimum requirements:
Each student will be assessed through a combination of seminar contributions, oral presentation, and written exam work.

- Oral presentation (40%): Students are expected to introduce one of the units of the class. The written introduction (max. 4 pages – double space) is due two days before the class. This assignment should ideally include a succinct summary of the main thesis of the text as well as critical comments and at least two questions about the readings.

- Exam (40%): Students will do an in class exam. They are asked to answer two out of four questions in essay format.
- Class participation and critical questions (20%): The students are expected to participate in the class actively.

For the completion of the written tasks all means can be used except AI tools such as ChatGPT.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Grading
To pass the course, a minimum of 61 points is required.
91-100 = 1, excellent
81-90 = 2, good
71-80 = 3, satisfactory
61 - 70 = 4, sufficient

Examination topics

Familiarity with the readings and the class discussions; application of crititical thinking on these materials.

Reading list

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 11.12.2025 16:46