Degree: Master of Arts (MA)
Field of Study: Anthropology

Program Overview

The graduate program in the Department of Anthropology focuses on Medical Anthropology and Global Health. The objective of the program is to train students (1) to recognize and address, on both theoretical and practical levels, the complex relations between the biological, social, cultural, psychological, economic, and techno-environmental determinants and concomitants of sickness and health in both local and global settings; and (2) to analyze and evaluate how health services are organized and delivered. Students may receive a Certificate in Global Health in conjunction with their anthropology degree.

The Master of Arts degree program prepares students to begin teaching, research, or service careers with a strong background in anthropology, including theory and methods. Undergraduate course work in anthropology, while helpful, is not a prerequisite for admission.

The MA program is designed for two groups of students:

MA to PhD: Students who wish to obtain a PhD but enter the program with only a BA must obtain the MA before being admitted to the PhD program. This is accomplished in three semesters. Upon successful completion of the MA degree, students continue on in the PhD program.

MA only: Those students who wish to obtain an MA only can enroll in the one-year intensive MA program and complete the degree requirements in two semesters. This program is designed for students who plan careers in other fields, including the allied health professions. These students may not enter the PhD program directly, although they may apply for admission.

Graduate Policies

For graduate policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.

Program Requirements

Requirements for the master’s degree include credit hour requirements, core course requirements, and a six-hour comprehensive written examination. A candidate for the master’s degree is required to complete 30 hours of class work, including an approved statistics course (3 hours) in which the student has earned a grade of C or better. No more than 6 credit hours of electives may be taken in 300-level courses (advanced undergraduate courses). All master’s degree candidates are required to attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the core courses (described below) in order to qualify for the degree.

All master’s degree candidates are required to take the comprehensive written examination before the completion of 30 semester hours of graduate work. Written master’s degree examinations can receive one of three grades: High Pass, Pass, or Fail. “High Pass” signifies performance sufficient for both the Master of Arts degree and advancement to the Doctor of Philosophy program, provided other requirements have also been satisfied. “Pass” signifies performance adequate for the master’s degree but insufficient to enter the doctoral program. “Fail” means a performance inadequate for the master’s degree. In the case of grades of Pass and Fail, the written examination may be retaken once.

The curriculum covers the range of medical anthropology interests: ethnomedicine, international and global health, psychiatric anthropology, human adaptation and disease, nutrition, and so on. All Master of Arts degree students in medical anthropology must complete 30 hours:

*

 Anthropology or other department offerings with advisor approval.

Dual Degree Options

• Anthropology, MA/Medicine, MD
• Anthropology, MA/Public Health, MPH
• Nursing, MSN/Anthropology, MA