MA in Anthropology

Catalog Year: 2025-2026

Banner Code: LA-MA-ANTH

Master of Arts in Anthropology students learn the history of critical inquiry in the discipline of anthropology and how to approach and develop a topic of research. Students are trained in fieldwork and ethnographic methods appropriate for their goals and are guided through the research and writing methods central to completion of a thesis or project. In the process, students learn about the ethics of conducting research. Students may focus on cultural anthropology or bioarchaeology. The program prepares students for careers in government, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, museums, and numerous other fields, or to pursue a doctorate in the field. 

Admissions

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Admissions. For specific information, see Application Requirements and Deadlines.

Policies

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see Graduate Policies.

Satisfactory Progress

According to university policy, students may be terminated if they fail to achieve satisfactory progress toward their degree. Students in the program are judged as having failed to achieve satisfactory progress toward their degree for the following reasons:

• two consecutive semesters in which academic warnings appear on their transcript
• failure to successfully complete ANTH 535 Sociocultural Theory in Anthropology, ANTH 537 Biocultural Theory in Anthropology, and ANTH 586 Quantitative Methods in Anthropology  OR ANTH 650 Ethnographic Research Methods within 4 semesters of first enrolling as degree-seeking students in the MA in Anthropology program
• failure to enroll in graduate coursework in anthropology for 2 consecutive semesters, unless there are compelling reasons for not having done so

Like all academic policies, these provisions take effect with the publication of this catalog and apply to all graduate students in the MA in Anthropology program regardless of their catalog year.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 30

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Core Courses

Electives

Students can choose to focus their electives around an emphasis in these four areas: advanced training in sociocultural anthropology; culture, health and bioethics; museums and anthropology; or transnational and global issues. Up to six credits may be from other disciplines with the prior written approval of the graduate director.

Students may take ANTH 690 Internship as elective credit. An internship can serve as a primary field research site for the thesis.

Thesis or Research Project

Students should be aware of the policies governing theses. They must follow the thesis enrollment policy of the university and, once enrolled in ANTH 799, maintain continuous enrollment.