Keeping in tune with the development in the educational strategies around the globe, Amity University is pioneering courses in disciplines that are application oriented and also endeavor to shape the episteme of modern times. The establishment of the Amity Institute of Anthropology (AIA) has been an outcome of this visionary approach of our esteemed Founder President Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan. Amity Institute of Anthropology envisions a highly academic yet practical approach while training the students in becoming social entrepreneurs.
The programmes offered under the aegis of Amity Institute of Anthropology (AIA) are B.Sc. (H) Anthropology (Three-years course consisting of six semesters), M.Sc. Anthropology (Two-year professional course consisting of four semesters), M.Phil Anthropology (One and half year course consisting of three semesters out of which first and second semester would cover the coursework and dissertation in the 3rd semester), Ph.D Anthropology (Three years Full–Time & Four and half years Part-time).
The courses at AIA are structured with the intent to provide a comprehensive learning experience and have been designed in line with the industry requirements. The pedagogic process at the institute encourages an interactive approach that utilizes classroom lectures, multimedia lectures, group discussions, case presentations, weekly student seminars, guest lecture series and active engagement in the field through non-teaching credit course projects as part of the graduate and postgraduate curriculum. The curriculum has undergone rigorous review and several new courses have been introduced in alignment with the education 4.0 requirements from Higher educational institutions.
Over the years, the institute has pioneered interdisciplinary exchange and knowledge building by providing choice based curriculum and professional skills to the graduate and postgraduate students. All the students at Amity University gain first hand training in behavioural sciences, foreign languages and communication skills which ensures a holistic development of their personality. Furthermore, being exposed to a humanistic discipline like Anthropology encourages a comprehensive understanding of almost every facet of human life.
As an academic and research institution, Amity Institute of Anthropology has always been in pursuit of newer vistas of knowledge and research opportunities. The course curriculum is routinely reviewed and updated to suit the needs of the students. The students are constantly encouraged to share their ideas and knowledge in student seminars organized by the Institution every week and also interacts with the pioneers in the field of Anthropology during the various workshops and seminars organized by the institute. Some of the of the prominent initiatives undertaken by the institution in this regard have been: workshop on Methodology in Biosocial Research organized between 29th and 30th March 2016, the workshop was funded by Indian Council of Social Science Research; a national Seminar on Applied Anthropology: Paradigm Shift and Challenges between 3rd and 4th March,2014 with funding from Indian Council of Social Science Research; a two day multidisciplinary workshop on ‘The Art of Appreciative Inquiry- Data beyond FGDs using the 6C Framework’ between 3rd and 4th April, 2013 in collaboration with Leadwynn Inc. Amity Institute of Anthropology was also an academic partner at the Indo African International Training Program on quality management of tissue culture plants, organized by Sir Richard Roberts Centre for Genetically Modified Organism, Amity University, Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL) and Ministry of External Affairs at Amity University, Noida, UP.
Moreover, the interaction between the students and scholars does not remain restricted or limited to the interdisciplinary seminars organized by the institute but several academicians, scholars, and researchers are regularly invited to the classrooms to give guest lectures and to share their experiences in the field of Anthropology. Late Prof. Surinder Nath and Late Prof. D. K. Bhattacharya have been significant contributors at the institute. Prof. Nath (retired Head of the Department and Faculty at Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi) had been involved since the inception of the institute. Prof. D.K. Bhattacharya (retired Head of the Department and Faculty at Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi), a renowned Archaeologist and Anthropologist had been engaged with students during regular classroom lectures as well as during the annual museum visits till December, 2017. Among other experts who have contribute to the welfare and progress of the institute are Prof. Alok Kalla (UGC- Emeritus), Prof. Subhadra Channa, Prof. Vinay Kumar Srivastava, Prof. A. K. Kapoor, Prof. P. C. Joshi, of Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Prof. S. M. Patnaik (Vice Chancellor, Uttkal University, Odissha).
Noted personalities and illustrious academicians have been invited for talks and guest lectures like Dr. Yogesh Atal (Ex-Principal Director social sciences, UNESCO), Dr. K. K. Ganguly (Scientist, ICMR), Dr. K. N. Saraswathy (Assistant Professor, University of Delhi), Dr. Renu Saxena (Senior Consultant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital), Dr. D. P. Sharma (Retired director at Bharat Kala Bhawan, BHU), Prof. V. R. Rao (University of Delhi), Dr. Shantanu Sengupta (Scientist, IGIB), Dr. Rashmi Sinha (Professor, IGNOU), Dr. Gayatri Vishwakarma (Biostatistician, Clinical Development Services Agency, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India), Dr. Diwakar Yadav (Faculty, NIHFW), Dr. Arjun Roy (Assistant Director at Sun Pharmaceuticals), Dr. Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi (Scientist F, National Institute of Medical Statistics), Dr. Huzaifa Khorakiwala of Wockhardt Foundation, Dr. Sunita Gupta of Race to Rein in Cancer, Dr. Mala Bhandari of Sadrag and several more.
The programmes and initiatives undertaken by Amity Institute of Anthropology are not guided by a narrow approach of studying humanity in classrooms only but the actions and prowess of the institute extend to the application of the knowledge gained through academic pursuits. In order to effectively do so, students are taken for annual museum visits and/or field based data collection activities in nearby areas.
Along with a robust curriculum to engage the students, the institute has a strong mentoring framework that allows students to interact with their faculty members on a one-to-one basis to seek academic as well as personal guidance. The institute’s effective guidance and mentoring has led a number of students towards getting an opportunity to pursue higher education at prestigious and premiere national and international institutions like London School of Economics, SOAS University of London, Durham University, University of Sussex, National Museum Institute, Delhi University, Punjab University, Allahabad University, and many more. Several M.Sc (Anthropology) students have cleared National Eligibility Tests (UGC-NET), Civil Service Examinations
The placement cell at Amity Institute of Anthropology has also ensured successful career paths for many of the students, it has been actively engaged in providing students with lucrative employment opportunities. Many of our students who have completed their courses are now undertaking internship at reputed Governmental organizations like Anthropological Survey of India (ASI), Archaeological Survey of India, National Institute of Public Corporation and Child Development (NIPCCD) and also at prestigious NGOs like Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), SADRAG, Salaam Balak Trust, Jagori, Khoj and UNICEF India. Many of these students have been offered permanent placements within the organizations they have been interning with.
The faculty members at Amity Institute of Anthropology are not only involved in the teaching- learning process but their strong academic credentials have enabled them to receive research project grants from several government funding agencies like the Indian Council of Medical research (ICMR), Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Department of Science and Technology (DST), and Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
The student strength as well as the workforce at AIA has increased manifold and this has allowed for a well-rounded development of the institute with the introduction of several innovative teaching learning strategies.
Details of Programmes offered at Amity Institute of Anthropology –
Anthropology is the holistic study of human beings, pertaining to the social, cultural and biological aspects. The courses offered in various programmes at Amity Institute of Anthropology are designed with an aim to provide intense and innovative learning experience and to encourage an invigorating environment.
BSc (H) in Anthropology (3 years program) and MSc in Anthropology (2 years program)
is accomplished by rigorous curriculum that includes both basic and advanced or specialized courses in Biological, Archaeological and Social Anthropology. The diverse course curriculum at AIA focuses on disciplines of Human Growth and Development, Physiological Anthropology, Human Population Genetics, Public Health, Epidemiology, Nutritional Anthropology, Cytogenetics, Forensic Anthropology, Molecular Biology, Evolutionary Anthropology, Biochemistry, Serology, Socio-Cultural Anthropology, Tribal Cultures of India and World, Medical Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology, Human Ecology, Ethnography and Fieldwork Methods, Gender and Societies, Urban Anthropology, Business and Corporate Anthropology, Development Anthropology, Society and Institutions, Anthropology and Development, Tribal Transformation, Museology, Visual Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, Medical Anthropology and so on. Besides the core course curriculum, one course each of foreign language (Vedic, German, French, Spanish, Japanese etc.), Communication Skills and Behavioural Sciences is also included within the curriculum.
M.Phil in Anthropology (Full-time One and Half Year program)
will be accomplished by a more focused curriculum that would include diverse yet specialized courses over the span of two semesters and dissertation writing for the final semester. The courses offered within this curriculum are Advances in Biological Anthropology, Demography, Human Growth and Development, Human Population Genetics, Physiological Anthropology, Growth Development and Ageing, Forensic Anthropology, Public Health and Epidemiology, Forensic Anthropology, Preparation of Research Proposal and Report Writing, Indian Society and Issues of Development, Anthropology of Childhood and Children, Research Methodology in Anthropology, Fieldwork Tradition in Anthropology, Visual Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology, Soft Skills and Capacity Building, Tribes of India and so on.
Ph.D. in Anthropology (Full-Time:Three years & Part-time: Four and half years)
will be accomplished by providing sound research training and meticulous guidance of the mentor in any of the domains of Anthropology, for instance Public health, Maternal and Child health, Human and Population Genetics, Archaeology, Socio-Cultural Anthropology, Developmental Anthropology, Demography, Forensic Anthropology, Physiological Anthropology etc. Understanding of the various statistical applications and optimization techniques used for analysis of data/information will be common for all the areas of study. Prospective scholars may gather an idea of the pedagogy of few the courses as below -
The course concerning Development Studies with special focus on tribal communities in India is designed with the aimed to integrate the knowledge about the issues and problems faced by the tribal and rural communities within the country, by carrying out critical analysis of existing developmental policy framework. The course intends to create well trained professionals who can work as researchers, consultants, policy analysts, administrators and activists in the areas of development and tribal or rural welfare. It would develop the students’ skills to work towards the economic betterment of communities, address health concerns of the underprivileged sections of the society, and substantiate the social growth of the tribal and rural sector of country.
Population Genetics and Epidemiological studies deal with environmental determinants of health and disease, and the genetic variations within populations. This knowledge will enable health promotion messages and disease prevention programmes to be specifically directed at susceptible individuals or at subgroups of the population, based on their genetic profile. There will also follow a greater understanding of disease mechanisms, and in tandem with epidemiological studies, of how genetic variants interact with environmental and lifestyle factors to influence disease risk, onset and progression. This knowledge will in time permit more efficient and effective means of categorizing, diagnosing and treating diseases and new approaches to prevention.
The integration of genomics into public health research, policy and practice is one of the most important future challenges that our health care systems will face. This knowledge and technologies will help to implement in a responsible manner to improve the population health. The interaction between the development of new genome-based sciences and technologies and society is complex, with many important ethical, legal and social implications. The application of the methodologies and understanding of the population sciences and of the humanities and social sciences will need to be considered as well as the emerging biological knowledge. This course objective is to use this integrated knowledge to develop programmes and policies aimed at protecting and improving the health of the population.
The essence of Anthropology at Amity University is that these programmes focus on the study of human beings and their variations from the socio-cultural perspective to the level of the molecular constitution of the population. This includes learning the biosocial aspects behind the origin of present day humans as well as extinction of our pre-historic ancestors, insights from past events and the dynamics of human behavior and relationships among groups, study the origin, development of language, archaeological remains, and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. Research in the field of Anthropology entails holistic knowledge of every aspect of human society.
Anthropology provides insights into the different ways individuals, groups, and institutions make decisions, exercise power, and respond to change. Anthropologists analyze and understand data in great detail. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of any social phenomenon they study the data they have collected, or reanalyze existing data in the form of historical records and documents. Through in-depth studies and analyses, social scientists offer insights into the physical, social, and cultural development of humans, as well as the links between human activity and environment.
After completing the graduate curriculum, students can choose postgraduate courses for higher studies and following the completion of postgraduate studies, they will have additional option of proceeding for research based curriculum through Mphil in Anthropology or to take up doctoral research (Ph.D) in disciplines like Human Growth and Development, Physiological Anthropology, Nutritional Anthropology, Human Genetics, Population Genetics, Human Biochemical Genetics, Epidemiology, Forensic Anthropology, Development and Socio-Cultural Anthropology.
These programmes would provide students the scope to study and analyse the past and current societies all over India as well as globally. India being rich in the diverse gene pool and genetic diversity due to variation in races and ethnic groups, the utilization of new biological techniques and socio-cultural dimension in studying human population has been one of the many initiatives of Amity Institute of Anthropology at Amity University.