The applied anthropology degree program is designed for non-anthropologists who are already engaged in, or plan to enter, such fields as medicine, business, public health, education, journalism, law, environmental management, social services to refugee or immigrant populations, rural development, or public policy evaluation. It is designed to provide the student with a basic anthropological training and an appreciation of the significance of a cross-cultural perspective in professional practice. The master’s degree is neither required nor encouraged as a stepping stone to the PhD. Those persons intending to become professional anthropologists should apply directly to the PhD program.

Prerequisites

Applicants must have obtained a degree in some discipline other than anthropology and have an expressed intention to continue working in, or enter, that field. Prospective students should also explain in their written statements how they expect anthropology to enhance their capability or improve their effectiveness in their chosen career. This is important because students who enter the program with well-defined goals derive the most benefit from the resources the department and the University have to offer. Under exceptional circumstances, applications for this program may be considered after the regular application deadline date. Please read the admissions requirements and procedure at www.bu.edu/anthrop/graduate/ma before applying.

Course Requirements

Students enrolled in the program must successfully complete a minimum of eight semester courses (32 credits), two of which may be taken outside of the Department of Anthropology. During the first semester the program coordinator assists students in choosing appropriate courses, which normally include the department’s proseminars (AN 703, and a choice of either AN 704 or AN 705). By the second semester students must select a major advisor from among the faculty. Students are required to achieve an overall grade point average of 3.0 (B) in their coursework. During their last semester students may enroll in a directed study course (GRS AN 902) under the guidance of their major advisor, and begin developing a topic for the required research paper. While it is possible for a full-time student to fulfill all of the program’s requirements in two semesters, many students often need an extra semester of residency to fully complete their studies.

Language Requirement

Each MAAA candidate is to show proficiency in a foreign language approved by the student’s advisor or the Graduate Committee of the Department. Certification is based on completing at least four semesters’ coursework in the language at the undergraduate level or passing a two-hour written comprehensive examination. Students wishing to take the written examination in a language for which the department has no examiner among the regular faculty must obtain approval for the examiner from the Graduate Committee.

Research Paper

Each student must write a special research paper under the direction of the major advisor and two other faculty members. One of the latter may be from another department. The project should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to integrate anthropology with his or her own discipline or profession. It should be well-conceived but modest in scope and can be based on either library or field research.

Financial Aid

No financial aid is available through the University for students enrolled in the applied anthropology program. International students are urged to apply for support to their governments or international agencies.

The PhD program in anthropology is designed to provide a relatively broad background in the field with a primary emphasis either on sociocultural anthropology or biological anthropology. Major foci of research and instruction in sociocultural anthropology include religion, law and politics, ethnicity, gender, history and anthropology, problems of social change and economic development, culture and the environment, cognition and culture, and medical anthropology. The faculty has greatest strengths in the study of cultures and societies in the Islamic world, East and Southeast Asia, and Africa. Major foci in biological anthropology include human biology, behavior and evolution, and the study of living and fossil primates.

Prerequisites and Admissions Tests

Applicants should have obtained the BA or MA degree in anthropology or show evidence of equivalent preparation in some other social science subject. The department also requires an official record of the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. The application process itself is administered by the Graduate School, which sets the University requirements, fees, and deadlines.

Course Requirements

In the first stage of the program candidates are expected to prepare themselves in general anthropological research methods and theories, as well as develop competence in their specific area (or areas) of specialization. This is accomplished by means of coursework, reading, and directed research during the period of residence. The University requires that students entering with a bachelor’s degree must successfully complete at least 16 graduate semester courses for the PhD degree. (Those students who enter the program with a qualifying master’s degree must successfully complete at least 8 graduate semester courses for the PhD degree.) All PhD students must take three semesters of the departmental proseminar (AN 703, 704, and 705) and a course in research methods. In addition to these core requirements, students specializing in sociocultural anthropology must take at least two anthropology courses in social or cultural theory, and one anthropology course focusing on the ethnography of a specific geographical region outside of their own ethnographic area of specialization. Students specializing in biological anthropology must take at least three of the 500-level courses offered by the department in that area. To ensure a well-rounded education in general anthropology, all students must take one course in the anthropology of language and an additional course focusing either on archaeology or the history of their research area. Students may be excused from this requirement by petition to the Graduate Committee if they can demonstrate adequate previous training in any of these areas. The remaining coursework should be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor to create a coherent program of study that may include courses from other departments.

Students who successfully complete the required 16 semester courses (or 8 semester courses and a special research paper) may be eligible to receive the MA degree in anthropology. For other University requirements, time limits, and general procedures, candidates should consult the General Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Admission; Policies and Procedures section.

Language Requirement

Before taking the comprehensive examination, all students must achieve mastery in the major scholarly language of their field region. If that language is English, any other major foreign language can meet the requirement. Students are expected to master the local language of their field site; this may be the same as the scholarly language in some cases. Mastery is normally indicated by the successful completion of three years of college language study or its equivalent. More may be required depending on the specific language.

During the first term of enrollment, students should give the Director of Graduate Studies a plan for meeting this requirement. Students must apply to the Director of Graduate Studies for the final approval of this requirement.

PhD Qualifying Examination and Thesis Prospectus

Each student must pass both a written and an oral PhD Qualifying Examination given by members of the advisory committee. The examination covers (1) general anthropological method and theory, (2) a subdisciplinary topic, and (3) at least one geographical area outside the United States for sociocultural anthropologists, or research specialization for biological anthropologists. The purpose of the examination is to determine whether a student will be recommended to continue working toward the PhD degree. Following successful completion of these qualifying examinations, the student is expected to prepare a proposal defining the research problem for the PhD dissertation. This should be submitted no later than one semester after passing the Qualifying Examination. The proposal will include a statement of the theory, research methods or techniques to be employed, and the significance of the research. Written under the guidance of the advisory committee, the prospectus will be presented orally to the PhD advisory committee. All members of the faculty and the graduate student body are encouraged to attend these presentations. Normally, dissertation research begins immediately after the examination of the proposal and continues for at least one calendar year.

Residence Requirement

See information on academic regulations under Admission; Policies and Procedures.

Dissertation

Departmental approval of the dissertation proposal is obtained through successful presentation as outlined above. Two members of the faculty will supervise the candidate as she/he prepares the dissertation. The goal is a dissertation that makes an original contribution to knowledge and is clearly written.

Final Oral Examination

Upon completion of the dissertation, each candidate shall present a final oral examination before a committee of five members, at least four of whom are normally drawn from the department. The examination is based primarily on the dissertation and related problems in the field of specialization.