Discipline of Anthropology
Anthropology emerged as an academic discipline within the School of Social Sciences at Indira
Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, commencing in August 2010. The
discipline is overseen by a team of five faculty members, each specializing in distinct domains.
The discipline offers both undergraduate (B.Sc Honours; B.A. General) and postgraduate
(Masters) programmes via ODL (Open Distance Learning), which reaches the learners through
learning material (texts, audio, and video). These materials can also be accessed via an online
repository. The discipline also attends to its learners through radio (Gyanvani)and
teleconferences (Gyandarshan), extending its reach to a broader populace. These courses are
presented in both English and Hindi languages to ensure a wider audience can access them.
The Discipline of Anthropology at IGNOU is dedicated to providing comprehensive instruction
encompassing all facets of the discipline, effectively bridging theoretical concepts with
practical applications and linking policy with real-world implementation. The educational
programs adopt an inclusive approach, amalgamating inputs from physical, social, and
archaeological anthropology. This holistic perspective equips learners with a robust foundation,
fostering an intricate understanding through fundamental theoretical frameworks and hands-on
techniques.
Furthermore, the discipline extends its offerings to a research-oriented PhD programme. This
programme employs innovative methodologies to stimulate innovative perspectives, both
within the boundaries of anthropology and across interdisciplinary boundaries. IGNOU's
Anthropology program stands as a testament to its commitment to democratizing higher
education, ensuring access to diverse segments of society while nurturing a profound
appreciation for anthropological pursuits among its scholars.