Master of Social Work - Traditional
The traditional Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University at Buffalo is des...
M.A. in Anthropology
Buffalo, New York
INTAKE: Jan & Aug
Program Overview
The M.A. in Anthropology at UB is a 30-credit hour program designed to provide students with a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied aspects of anthropology. Students can choose to specialize in one of the traditional subfields or explore interdisciplinary concentrations. The program aims to equip graduates with critical skills for successful careers as anthropologists, whether in academia or professional settings. The curriculum is flexible, allowing students to combine required coursework with research and electives tailored to their individual needs and interests. The program culminates in a master's project paper.
Curriculum: The M.A. in Anthropology requires 30 credit hours of coursework. The core curriculum typically includes graduate-level survey courses in the chosen subfield(s) of anthropology. For instance, students focusing on Medical Anthropology take core courses like "Graduate Survey of Social Anthropology" and "Qualitative Research Methods," along with specialized medical anthropology courses such as "Ethnomedicine," "Transcultural Psychiatry," or "Anthropology of Reproduction." Electives allow students to delve deeper into their areas of interest, with up to 6 credits potentially taken from outside the Anthropology Department with prior approval. The program concludes with a culminating master's project paper, where students demonstrate their research capabilities.
Research Focus: The Department of Anthropology at UB boasts a robust research environment, with faculty and graduate students actively engaged in diverse scholarly inquiries across all subfields. Research interests span a wide range of topics, including archaeology (e.g., Northeast US prehistory, Teotihuacán, Mexico), cultural anthropology (e.g., contemporary problems and culture change, cultural heritage, religion and society), medical anthropology (e.g., environmental and sociocultural factors in disease and health, disability, human genetics and legal ethics), and physical anthropology (e.g., human evolution, primatology, human biology, morphology). The department's facilities, including extensive laboratories, office space, classrooms, and a museum, support both basic and applied research. Students are encouraged to develop their own research projects, often culminating in their master's project paper.
Industry Engagement: UB's Anthropology Department fosters strong ties with various industries and community organizations, emphasizing the applied nature of anthropological knowledge. The UB Archaeological Survey, a non-profit cultural resource management (CRM) firm housed within the department, provides hands-on training for students through a summer field school and engages in projects for public and private entities, including highway, residential, and commercial development assessments. This provides students with direct experience in cultural resource management, a significant applied field for archaeologists. Graduates also find careers in government, healthcare, non-profit organizations, and the corporate world, leveraging their skills in social research, data analysis, cross-cultural understanding, and effective communication.
Global Perspective: The M.A. in Anthropology at UB inherently embraces a global perspective, as anthropology is the study of humanity across all cultures and times. The curriculum and faculty research span diverse geographic regions, including Africa, the Americas (North, Central, and South America, including contemporary Indigenous groups), the Caribbean, and Europe. Courses often examine global issues such as migration, diaspora, cultural diversity, and their impact on societies worldwide. Students are encouraged to participate in international field schools and study abroad experiences to broaden their understanding of the human condition in different contexts. This emphasis prepares graduates to be culturally sensitive global citizens capable of addressing complex issues in an interconnected world.
Location
Buffalo, New York
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
USD 28210
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants for postgraduate programs typically require a minimum academic achievement of 70% or above in their bachelor's degree.
English Language Proficiency:
- IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 or 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL: Overall score of 90 or higher.
- PTE: Overall score of 61 or higher.
- DET (Duolingo English Test): Minimum score of 120.
The University at Buffalo (UB) offers a variety of scholarships and financial aid opportunities specifically aimed at supporting international students who wish to pursue their studies in the United States. These scholarships are designed to reward academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement, helping to make education more affordable for talented students worldwide.
Merit-Based Scholarships: UB provides competitive merit scholarships to outstanding international undergraduate and graduate students. Awards such as the International Student Academic Excellence Scholarship recognize high-achieving students based on their academic records, standardized test scores, and extracurricular involvement.
Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships: Graduate international students can apply for teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships which offer tuition remission and stipends. These opportunities allow students to gain valuable teaching and research experience while offsetting the cost of their education.
Departmental Scholarships: Many academic departments at UB offer scholarships tailored to students in specific programs or fields of study. These awards may consider academic merit, research interests, or financial need.
External Scholarships: UB encourages international students to explore external scholarship options from private organizations, governments, and international foundations that support study in the U.S. The university’s International Student Services office provides guidance on identifying and applying for such funding sources.
A Master of Arts (M.A.) in Anthropology from the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) provides graduates with a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of human behavior, culture, and society across various contexts. This interdisciplinary training, spanning cultural, archaeological, linguistic, and biological anthropology, equips individuals with highly transferable skills in research, analysis, and cross-cultural communication, making them versatile professionals in a wide array of fields.
Cultural Resource Manager (CRM) / Archaeologist: Many anthropology graduates, particularly those specializing in archaeology, work in cultural resource management firms. They identify, evaluate, and protect archaeological sites and historic properties, ensuring compliance with environmental and historic preservation laws for construction and development projects. This often involves fieldwork, excavation, and report writing.
Social Science Researcher: Graduates are well-prepared for roles as social science researchers in academia, market research firms, non-profits, or government agencies. They design and conduct qualitative and quantitative research, analyze data on human behavior and social trends, and provide insights for policy development, program evaluation, or consumer understanding.
Museum Professional: An M.A. in Anthropology is an excellent foundation for careers in museums and cultural institutions. Graduates can work as curators, collections managers, exhibit designers, or museum educators, involved in preserving, interpreting, and presenting cultural artifacts and human history to the public.
Community Development Specialist: With their understanding of diverse communities and social dynamics, anthropologists can work in community development. They help identify community needs, facilitate participatory planning, and implement programs related to social services, housing, or economic empowerment for non-profit organizations or local government.
International Development/Aid Worker: The global perspective and cross-cultural communication skills gained in an anthropology program are highly valued in international development. Graduates can work for NGOs, international organizations, or humanitarian aid agencies, assisting with program design, implementation, and evaluation in diverse cultural settings worldwide.
User Experience (UX) Researcher / Ethnographer: In the tech and business sectors, there's growing demand for "corporate anthropologists" or UX researchers. They apply ethnographic methods to understand consumer behavior, user needs, and cultural contexts to inform product design, marketing strategies, and user experience, working for tech companies, design firms, or market research agencies.
Human Resources Specialist / Diversity & Inclusion Manager: Anthropologists' deep understanding of human behavior, social structures, and cultural diversity is valuable in human resources. They can contribute to talent management, organizational culture development, and particularly to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within corporations or large organizations.
Public Health Specialist / Medical Anthropologist: Graduates with a focus on medical anthropology can work in public health settings. They apply their knowledge to understand the cultural context of health and disease, develop culturally sensitive health interventions, and conduct research on health disparities or healthcare delivery systems.
Policy Analyst: Anthropologists' ability to analyze complex social issues and their historical and cultural roots makes them effective policy analysts. They can work for government agencies, think tanks, or advocacy groups, researching and evaluating policies related to social welfare, cultural heritage, environmental protection, or education.
Technical Writer / Communications Specialist: The strong writing and analytical skills developed in an M.A. in Anthropology are highly marketable. Graduates can work as technical writers, communications specialists, or content creators, translating complex information into accessible language for various audiences in fields ranging from government to corporate communications.
