Understanding Ethnography Course | IIT Bombay Online Learning
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 77 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Design Engineering |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 29 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Art of Ethnographic Research with IIT Bombay
Are you a designer, engineer, researcher, or creative professional looking to deepen your understanding of human behavior and culture? Understanding Ethnography, an 8-week online course instructed by the renowned Prof. Nina Sabnani of IIT Bombay, offers a unique and practical gateway into the world of ethnographic practice. This course is meticulously designed to bridge theory and application, making it invaluable for both students and practitioners.
About the Instructor: Prof. Nina Sabnani
Learning ethnography from Prof. Sabnani is a rare opportunity. An accomplished artist, filmmaker, and scholar, she brings a profoundly interdisciplinary perspective to the subject.
- Artist & Storyteller: She utilizes film, illustration, and writing to narrate compelling stories.
- Academic Excellence: A Fulbright Fellow with a Master's in film from Syracuse University, NY, and a Ph.D. from IIT Bombay focused on the Kaavad storytelling tradition of Rajasthan.
- Award-Winning Work: Her films and illustrated books, which blend animation and ethnography, have won national awards, including the prestigious National Award from the President of India for Hum Chitra Banate Hain.
- Passion for Participation: Her expertise in participatory design ensures the course content is grounded in real-world, collaborative practice.
Course Overview: What You Will Learn
This undergraduate/postgraduate level course, categorized under Design Engineering, is open to all. It demystifies ethnography, moving beyond academic definitions to equip you with usable skills.
Primary Objectives:
- Introduce fundamental concepts, processes, and the practice of ethnography.
- Explore various ethnographic tools and methods.
- Provide a theoretical foundation covering key concepts and debates.
- Emphasize practice-based learning through exercises, making it highly relevant for practitioners.
Whether you aim to hone existing skills or embark on a completely new learning journey, this course provides the structured support and expansive understanding needed to apply ethnographic approaches effectively in your field.
Detailed 8-Week Course Layout
The course is structured to gradually build your competency, from foundational concepts to practical application.
| Week | Module Title | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to Ethnography | Origins, core principles, and significance in research. |
| Week 2 | Unpacking Ethnography | Theoretical frameworks and key debates in the field. |
| Week 3 | Designing an Ethnographic Research | Formulating research questions, planning, and ethics. |
| Week 4 | Access and Immersion | Strategies for entering a field site and building rapport. |
| Week 5 | Observation and Participation | Core methods of fieldwork: watching, engaging, and documenting. |
| Week 6 | Ethnographic Interviews | Techniques for effective listening and conversational inquiry. |
| Week 7 | Visual Ethnography | Using photography, film, and drawing as research tools—a specialty of Prof. Sabnani. |
| Week 8 | Using an Ethnographic Approach: Case Studies | Applying learnings to analyze real-world examples from design, engineering, and social research. |
Who Should Enroll?
This course is intentionally designed for a broad audience. The Intended Audience is Open to All.
- Students in Design, Engineering, Anthropology, Sociology, Business, and Humanities.
- Practitioners in UX/UI Design, Product Development, Marketing, Social Work, and Public Policy.
- Researchers seeking to strengthen their qualitative methodology skills.
- Artists and Writers interested in community-based and narrative practices.
- Any curious learner eager to understand human-centered research methods.
Why Choose This Course?
Understanding Ethnography stands out because it is taught by an instructor who lives and breathes the integration of creative practice with rigorous research. You won't just learn about ethnography; you'll learn how to do it. The focus on visual ethnography and participatory design is particularly unique, offering skills highly sought after in today's innovation-driven industries.
By the end of this 8-week journey, you will have a robust toolkit to observe, engage with, and interpret the social world around you, enabling you to create more empathetic, effective, and culturally resonant solutions in your work.
Enroll today and begin transforming your approach to research and design through the powerful lens of ethnography.
Enroll Now →