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Programs
Offered in Anthropology
B.A. / Minors / Combined
B.A. & M.A. / M.A. Public /
Ph.D. / Ph.D. Race, Gender,
Social Justice
Application dates
Undergraduate
Programs
Bachelor
of Arts in Anthropology
Admission
to the Program:
Formal admission to the major by the department's undergraduate
studies director requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.00
(on a 4.00 scale) and a grade point average of 2.00 or higher in
two anthropology courses.
Major Requirements: A total of 42 credit hours
with grades of C or better. If a student's career plans require
skill in a foreign language, a cluster of courses in a second discipline,
field experience, or some other special preparation, arrangements
will be made in discussion with the undergraduate advisor.
For University and Course Requirements, consult the University Catalog.
University Honors Program: Students in the University
Honors Program have the opportunity to graduate with Univesity Honors
in the major. To do so, students complete 12 hours of advanced-level
Honors work in the department, including a Senior Honors Thesis
and, upon departmental recommendation, graduate with University
Honors in the major. See the section on the University Honors Program
in the American University catalog for further details.
Minors
in Anthropology The
Minor in Anthropology requirements include Perspectives in Cultural Anthropology;
two courses from among Human Origins, Introduction to Archaeology, or Language
and Culture ; and three additional courses chosen at the 300 level or higher.
For additional information, consult the University catalog.
The Minor
in Public Anthropology requirements include Perspectives in
Cultural Anthropology; Principles of Applied Anthropology; and an
additional 12 credit hours, at least 9 of which must be at the 300
level or above. For additional information, consult the University
catalog.
Combined
B.A./M.A. in Anthropology This
program is primarily but not solely designed for transfer students who enter the
American University in their junior year with substantial background in anthropology.
It allows eligible students to complete the B.A. in Anthropology and the M.A.
in Public Anthropology after three years (6 semesters) of uninterrupted study.
Students with interest in applied anthropology or in a field related to anthropology,
such as law, social services, government service, or public health, find this
degree combination especially appropriate for preprofessional training. Admission
to the Program: The standards for admission to the undergraduate major must first
be satisfied. Undergraduate majors ordinarily apply at the end of their junior
year. Admission decisions follow the procedures used to evaluate graduate applicants
to the M.A. programs. Requirements
include: All requirements for the B.A. in Anthropology; all requirements for either
the M.A. in Public Anthropology. Students may use 6 credit hours of course work
at the 500-level or above in anthropology to satisfy the requirements for both
degrees. See
the University catalog for additional information. Graduate
Programs
Master of Arts in Public Anthropology
(What
can I do with this degree?)
Mission
Statement:
The MA Program in Public Anthropology prepares students
in archaeology and cultural/social anthropology for careers in public service,
commuity organizing and social advocacy. Through coursework, research projects
and internship experiences, students explore the workings of culture, power and
history in everyday life and acquire skills in critical inquiry, problem solving
and public communication. Coursework in related fields - Sociology, Public History,
Education, International Development, Justice, Law and Society - enhances these
perspectives and skills. Program graduates are prepared for employment in the
DC area, other US locations and international settings. They work with projects
in such areas as cultural resource management, women's and minority health, educational
equity, refugee resettlement, human rights and environmental justice.
Admission
to the Program: M.A students may focus their graduate studies
in Cultural/Social Anthropology or in Archaeology. Both concentrations
combine classroom and experiential/field-based learning activities
as appropriate for each student's career plans and political goals.
Personal statements should follow the guidelines
as posted under the "Preparing a Personal Statement" section
under the "Prosepective Students" button on this site.
Pathways after graduation will range widely and include working
as researchers, public intellectuals, community leaders, and grassroots
organizers. All graduates will be prepared to engage the possibilities
of anthropological theory and method for illuminating social problems,
past and present, articulating social justice, and building social
change.
Degree
and Major Requirements: A total of 30 credit hours of approved graduate work,
chosen from the list of courses below. ANTH-632 and ANTH-552 are required of all
students. Relevant courses from other departments or schools may also count for
the masters degree with approval of your academic advisor.
-One written
comprehensive examination, as appropriate to the student's degree
concentration
-A thesis or nonthesis option of two substantial research papers
prepared in conjunction with advanced courses or research seminar,
read and approved by two faculty members and the department chair.
Course
Offerings
A. Required courses:
ANTH-632 Contemporary Theory:
Culture, Power, History
ANTH-552 Anthropological Research Methods B.
Elective courses: At least 18 credits from the following courses, chosen in
consultation with your advisor: No more than 6 credits can be taken from ANTH
691 and ANTH 797
ANTH-531 Topics in Archaeology
ANTH-532 Changing Culture
ANTH-534 Class and Culture
ANTH-535 Ethnicity and Nationalism
ANTH-541
Anthropology and State Policy
ANTH 542 Reinventing Applied Anthropology
ANTH-543 Anthropology of Development
ANTH-544 Topics in Public Anthropology
ANTH-550 Ethnographic Field Methods
ANTH-552 Anthropological Research Methods
ANTH-631 Foundations of Social and Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 634 Foundations
of Archaeology
ANTH-635 Race, Gender, & Social Justice
ANTH-637 Discourse,
Text and Voice
ANTH-640 Current Issues in Anthropology
ANTH-691 Internship
ANTH-797 Master's Thesis Seminar C.
Interdisciplinary Study: Six hours course work in another academic department
or school, such as the School of Communications, School of International Service,
or the Departments of History or Sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Doctor
of Philosophy in Anthropology
(What
can I do with this degree?)
Mission
Statement:
The PhD Program in Anthropology
provides opportunities for advanced study in critical/community archaeology; in
race, gender and social justice (with the Department of Sociology); and in poverty,
development and displacement. Coursework draws on anthropology's four-field tradition
and on the cross-cultural and interdisciplinary resources within CAS and across
the university. Dissertations in archaeology and cultural/social anthropology
examine the dynamics of culture, power and history in North America, Latin America,
Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. Program graduates pursue careers
in college teaching and in public and private settings outside of academe. The
program is committed to working with students from diverse backgrounds, including
those traditionally under-represented in higher education. Diverse voices and
perspectives are fundamental to this program. The
Ph.D in Anthropology, the highest academic degree in our field, is the degree
of choice for you if you plan a career as a professional researcher; if you want
to teach in a college or a university; or if you hope to work as a consultant
to business, industry or government. Our
department offers doctoral-level training in urban anthropology; ethnicity; the
anthropology of work; the anthropology of development; language, culture and cognition;
gender and culture; cross-cultural quantitative analysis; and historic and public
archaeology. We encourage our doctoral students to explore policy-oriented questions
as well as more traditional, academic themes in any of the areas. Students will
find ample opportunities for developing skills in applied anthropology with our
doctoral program.
Admission
to the Program: Applicants must meet the minimum university
requirements for admission to graduate study. Admission is based
on academic record, two academic letters of reference, and an example
of the applicant's work, e.g., a term paper. The GRE is required,
and scores should be sent directly to the department. Personal statements
should follow the guidelines
as posted under the "Preparing a Personal Statement" section
under the "Prosepective Students" button on this site.
An undergraduate major in anthropology is not required.
Degree Requirements:
A total of 72 credit hours of approved graduate work. Students entering
the program with an M.A. in Anthropology earned elsewhere must complete
at least 30 credit hours of course work and no more than 12 credit
hours of dissertation credit in residence. Four comprehensive examinations.
A dissertation and an oral defense. Field work is a component of
dissertation research except in very unusual cases. Two
languages or one language and statistical or computer analysis as
a tool of research.
Course
Requirements: Proseminar: Cultural and Social Anthropology; Proseminar: Archaeology
and Physical Anthropology; Proseminar: Anthropological Linguistics; Doctoral Dissertation
Seminar Ph.D.
Concentration in Race, Gender, Social Justice The
Department of Anthropology offers a Ph.D. concentration in Race, Gender, and Social
Justice, in cooperation with the Department of Sociology and other campus teaching
units. Coursework, internships and dissertation projects assume a foundation in
anthropological theory and method, build on that foundation to explore the complex
intersections of race, class, gender and sexuality in historical and contemporary
settings, and use those perspectives to advance equality and social justice. The
mission statement for this concentration is
listed above, under Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology. Degree
requirements are listed below. For more information, contact the program coordinator
in the Department of Anthropology. Admission
to the Program: Admission to the Race, Gender, and Social Justice concentration
assumes the candidate has earned a 30-hour MA in Anthropology or an affiliated
field. Candidates with MA's in other academic fields may find they want to enroll
in additional course work in anthropology before beginning their advanced course
work in Race, Gender, and Social Justice. Required hours in anthropology can be
adjusted, as appropriate, to accommodate such needs. Degree
and Major Requirements: At least 36 hours of course work and no more than
12 credit hours of dissertation credit. Two languages or one language and statistical
or computer analysis in a field of research. Four comprehensive examinations,
at least two written and at least one oral. Examinations
include: Anthropological Foundations, Current Issues in Race, Gender, and
Social Justice Studies I & II, and Defense of Dissertation Proposal
Course
Requirements:
12
hours of core courses
ANTH-632 Contemporary theory: Culture, Power, and
History
ANTH-635 Race, Gender and Social Justice
ANTH-552 Anthropological
Research Methods A second course in research methods, chosen in consultation with
advisor
12 hours of anthropology-based course work in Race, Gender
& Social Justice studies, chosen in consultation with the student's advisor,
from such courses as:
ANTH-531 Topics in Archaeology: Archaeology and Politics
ANTH-532 Changing Culture ANTH-535 Ethnicity and Nationalism
ANTH-537
Topics in Language and Culture: Language, Literacy and Schooling
ANTH-541
Anthropology and State Policy
ANTH-544 Topics in Public Anthropology: Environmental
Justice, Human Rights
ANTH-637 Discourse, Text and Voice
ANTH-640 Current
Issues in Anthropology.
12 hours of course work in at least two cooperating
teaching units, including Justice, Law, and Society; History; School of International
Service, Sociology
6 hours of dissertation seminar (including a 3
hour of capstone seminar in RG&SJ Studies
The department
encourages inquiries from persons who are interested in the area
of anthropology but are uncertain about pursuing a graduate degree.
By calling the department at (202) 885-1830, you can become more
familiar with the anthropology courses and the undergraduate and
graduate programs.
Application Dates
UNDERGRADUATE STUDY
Dates to remember for undergrads:
Fall:
Early Decision - November 15
General Admission - February 1
Spring:
US - December 1
International - September 1
Applications that are received by February 1st will be notified
of the decision by April 1st. Early decision applicants are notified
by December 31st.
GRADUATE STUDY
Dates to remember for grads:
Fall:
For fellowship consideration - January 15
General Admission - February 1
Spring: October 1
Applicants will be notified of the decision as applications are
reviewed after the deadline and up until June 1st. There is no set
date that you will receive notification of admission or denial.
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