Program Overview

A graduate degree in anthropology prepares students to understand the complex, diverse, and globally connected world we live in. Studying anthropology provides a unique perspective on the human experience.  Students who obtain an MA in Anthropology acquire specialized research skills that aid them in addressing specific questions and social problems in the world around them. The program is designed to prepare students to enter a Ph.D. program or pursue a career in one of the fields mentioned above. The program also offers training opportunities in areas such as ethnographic research, visual anthropology, social justice work, linguistic anthropology and communication, applied research and grant writing, and other specialized areas. 

Our students receive rigorous training in anthropological methods and gain skills in applying anthropological theory to a range of social issues. The MA degrees prepares you for many of the fields listed below. Our graduates have also entered doctoral programs in anthropology and related fields. 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students should develop:

• An understanding and appreciation of human biological, linguistic, and cultural diversity, especially those features that separates humans from other species.
• An appreciation and awareness of the origin of both cultural and human
• biological diversity through time.
• A positive appreciation of the diversity in contemporary and past societies and cultures.
• An understanding of the three main anthropological approaches to the
• study of humanity: cross-cultural comparison, holism, and evolutionary theory, and the uses of each.
• Familiarity with anthropological literature and data sources, and a knowledge of how to critically access such information.
• Knowledge of the methodologies used to collect and assess critically anthropological data.
• The ability to present and communicate appropriately in at least one of the
• subdisciplines of anthropology.
• Knowledge of the history of anthropology (theoretical approaches) and the major current issues in the subdisciplines.
• An understanding and appreciation for the role of anthropology in the workplace and the real world.