MA in Sociocultural Anthropology

Program Requirements

The program consists of 30 points of graduate coursework (10 courses) and an independent thesis. There is flexibility in terms of coursework.  Anthropology courses must be taken for 18 of the 30 points (6 courses) while 12 points (4 courses) may be taken in other departments. Although not required, many students choose to undertake fieldwork as part of the research for their thesis research. MA students must complete a total of two residence units (equivalent to two semesters of full-time enrollment).   

Program Basics

Program planning, including program timeframe and course selection, is made in consultation with the MA Program Director. The Program director is the advisor to all MA students. In addition, all incoming students are assigned a senior faculty mentor from the department during their first semester in the program.  The MA program  also includes a MAO Post-Doc who teaches in the program and is also a resource for students in terms of writing, research and advising. 

Students work with the MA director to set up timetables for thesis completion and approval. The topic is typically chosen after consultation with the student’s advisor, mentor, and/or other faculty member with whom the student has discussed the project. While not required, most students take an independent research course with one of their thesis readers as they work on the thesis.  Two faculty member read each thesis. Students may have a faculty reader from outside the department with MA Director approval. Though the thesis does not receive a letter grade, it must be approved by both readers. The MA Director will help students find suitable readers, and is also available to read the thesis.

There are three required courses for MA students:  a 2-sequence theory course (offered in Fall and Spring) and a thesis development course (offered each Spring).  There is also a recommended Ethnography/Fieldwork course designed specifically for anthropology MA students.  Students coming in with a strong background in anthropology (undergraduate degree, for example) may request a waiver from the 2-sequence theory course with approval from MA director. 

For the rest of the anthropology courses, MA students attend regular department classes made up of a combination of MA and PhD students. 

Program planning, including program timeframe and course selection, is made in consultation with the MA Program Director, who is the advisor to all MA students. In addition, all incoming students are assigned a senior faculty mentor from the department. 

Two-semester anthropological theory sequence:

  • ANTH GR5201 Principles and Applications of Socio-Cultural Anthropology (offered each fall)
  • ANTH GR6033 An Anthropology of the Name (offered each spring)

Thesis development course:

  • ANTH GR6212 Seminar: Principles and Applications of Socio-Cultural Anthropology II (offered each spring)

Thesis

Students work with the MA director to set up timetables for thesis completion and approval. The topic is typically chosen after consultation with the student’s advisor, mentor, and/or other faculty member with whom the student has discussed the project. Two faculty members -- chosen by the student in consultation with their advisor -- read each thesis. The MA Director and the MAO Post-Doc are also available as readers for theses.  Students may have a faculty reader from outside the department with MA Director’s approval. Though the thesis does not receive a letter grade, it must be approved by both readers. 

 

 

 

 

Program Timeframe

Similar to open course selection, students may compete the program under different timetables.  Below is an example of the different possibilities.  It’s very important to discuss this with the MA Director to ensure that each student’s goals for the program are met.  Tuition is divided accordingly in these different models.  Please check the tuition and fees page of GSAS for exact costs.

One Year Timetable (2 semesters of study)

Fall Semester (One Residence Unit enrollment)

  • 5 classes

Spring Semester (One Residence Unit enrollment)

  • 5 classes
  • Summer:  Thesis work/writing
  • Graduation:  October, February and May

 

Two Year Timetable (4 semesters of study)

Year One

Fall Semester (1/2 Residence Unit)

  • 3 courses

Spring Semester (1/2 Residence Unit)

  • 3 courses

Summer (no enrollment but fieldwork research)

Year Two

Fall Semester (1/2 Residence Unit)

  • 3 courses

Spring Semester (1/2 Residence Unit)

  • 3 courses

These are just two examples of enrollment possibilities.  It’s possible to go for 3 semesters or as many as 8 if one enrolls for ¼ residence unit per semester (2 courses).

 

Apply

Admission standards and selection procedures are identical to those followed by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and require a statement of academic purpose, a writing sample (ten to fifteen pages), three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources.  For applicants for whom English is not their first language, TOEFL (or its equivalent) scores are required.  A very limited number of merit-based scholarships are available and awarded by the department during the admissions process.  Applicants do not apply directly for these scholarships.


We admit students for the fall semester only, and all applications must be submitted by the application deadline. Please see the GSAS MA Programs page for more information.