社会人类学是对人类行为和思想在其社会背景下的比较研究。世界各地的社会在社会，文化，宗教和政治形式上都千差万别，其个人成员也表现出相应的思想和行为多样性。对这些变异的研究以及构成这些变异基础的普通人类，并使它们对有同情心的局外人易于理解，这是社会人类学的核心。这些知识大部分是通过“参与观察”的独特方法获得的，该方法通常涉及人类学家与他们正在研究的人们一起生活，并长期分享他们的经验。尽管主题与社会学，人文地理学和发展研究相重叠，但社会人类学也与历史和哲学紧密相关。在爱丁堡，学生将有机会向其领域的国际领导者学习
Social anthropology is the study of human conduct and thought. Societies around the world vary enormously socially, culturally and politically.<br>The study of these variations, and the common humanity that underlies them, is at the heart of social anthropology.<br>There are close links between social anthropology and sociology, human geography, development studies, history, archaeology, and philosophy.<br>You will take a broad range of courses in years 1 and 2 and will have the opportunity to specialise in years 3 and 4. <br>You will spend up to four months on an individual research project that will form the basis of your dissertation. Fieldwork for your project can be done both within and outside the UK.<br>Year 1- Year 1 provides you with a broad introduction to the subject. You will study Social Anthropology 1A and 1B, Fundamentals: Studying Anthropology and Fundamentals: Anthropological Practice. You will choose two to four option courses. Year 2- You will study Social Anthropology 2: Key Concepts, Ethnography: Theory & Practice, Fundamentals: Ethnographic Theory, and Fundamentals: Reading & Writing Anthropology. You will also choose between two and four additional courses, either related to your programme or from another academic area. Year 3- You will study compulsory courses including: Anthropological Theory, Kinship: Structure & Process, Ritual & Religion, and Consumption, Exchange & Technology. You will also choose two courses from a range, such as Happiness: Cross-cultural Perspectives, Urban Anthropology, the Anthropology of Africa and Latin American Anthropology. You will also have the opportunity to conduct your own research in the summer break between Years 3 and 4. Your dissertation supervisor will help you to plan and develop your research project which can take place in the UK or overseas. Year 4- You will study the compulsory course Culture & Power. You will also use your research findings to complete an honours dissertation, and continue to choose option courses.