AN496      One Unit
Dissertation in Culture, Justice, and Environment

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

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The dissertation will address a topic related to anthropology of the environment. This will normally be a library-based dissertation but may be supplemented by original research elements in consultation with the academic adviser. The topic should make central use of analytical concepts drawn from courses on the programme, especially from the core courses Environmental Anthropology, Anthropology and the Anthropocene, and Anthropology of Law, and should demonstrate a good understanding of those concepts and their implications. The dissertation may draw on empirical topic areas suggested by the taught core and option courses of this programme, but must demonstrate an element of originality in analysis, content or both. Guidance on standards of presentation etc. are provided in the MSc handbook.

1.5 hours of lectures in the Autumn Term.
3 hours of lectures in the Winter Term.
3 hours of workshops in the Spring Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn and Winter Term.

This course includes one lecture in the AT focusing on choosing dissertation topics and doing library research, as well as two lectures in the WT focusing on argumentation, textual organisation, and writing. During a dissertation workshop in the ST, and throughout the year during scheduled meetings with their academic mentors, students will discuss their projects and receive guidance on topic selection, methods of research, and writing. Students are also encouraged to use the office hour system to consult more broadly with academic experts in their research area within the Department or across the LSE.

Dissertation proposal in Winter Term Week 11

In Winter Term students are expected to produce a dissertation proposal including the following sections: 

• a 250 - 300 word abstract
• a one page thesis outline
• a bibliography of key readings

Dissertation (100%, 10000 words) in August

The dissertation must not exceed 10,000 words including in-text citations, footnotes and appendices (but excluding bibliography). It should be submitted to the Department through Moodle in late August.

To ensure the integrity of our dissertation courses, students on Anthropology MSc programmes may be required to take part in an interview about the process of researching and writing their dissertation. The expectation is that approximately 10% of students will be required to attend an interview. The interviews will usually take place online between September and early November. Students who are selected for interview will need to make themselves available before their results can be confirmed.