Introduction

The University of Maryland's Master of Applied Anthropology (MAA) is an innovative, two-year professional degree designed for those students interested in the practice and application of anthropology in careers outside of academia. Program emphasis is on the utilization and mediation of anthropological knowledge in practical settings. Skills are developed through internships and enhanced by working with professionals in related and complementary fields.

The Ph.D. program leading to a doctoral degree in Anthropology with an applied focus is now in place, and student applications are being accepted. Please refer to the Ph.D. pages.

Philosophy

The Master of Applied Anthropology (MAA) is a unique degree developed at the University of Maryland, College Park, to encourage students to prepare themselves for a broad range of career alternatives relevant to the practice of anthropology.

Special Notice : Please click here for a special notice regarding the Anthropology graduate program

Areas of Concentration

The department encourages students to draw upon the expertise of the entire faculty and to focus on one of three areas of concentration :

Anthropology of Environment
The focus for this area of concentration is on the management of natural resources and the study of cultural and behavioral factors as they impinge upon our understanding of the environment and our ability to respond to environmentally-based opportunities, problems, and crises. Faculty interests include human ecology, cultural and environmental conservation, culture and cognition in environmental decision making, gender and ethnic factors in environmental problem solving and conservation, environmental justice, ecotourism, and aspects of agricultural development and regional or community planning.

Anthropology of Health
The focus for this area of concentration is on the management of health resources and the study of biological, cultural, and behavioral factors as they contribute to our understanding of health and medical practices and disparities in the provision of human services. Faculty interests include community-based health research, health services program evaluation, health practices and services related to under-represented populations, aging, environmental health issues, anthropological genetics and genomic research, and the relationship between biological and cultural factors in the provision of health care and services.

Anthropology of Heritage
The focus for this area of concentration is on the management of heritage and cultural resources and the identification and study of both material and intangible cultural resources as they relate to our ability to understand the relationships between the past and the present. Faculty interests include historical archaeology, cultural resource management, applied folklore and oral history, heritage tourism development, biological heritage, relationships between culture and history, and health-based heritage practices.

The department does not view these areas of concentration as isolated categories, but rather in terms of their systemic interrelationships. Most faculty members maintain interests that intersect these three areas of concentration. In keeping with the synthetic and holistic nature of anthropological inquiry, the ways in which these areas overlap and relate to each other is as interesting and functionally important as is their particular character. Similarly, while applicants to the M.A.A. program will be expected to indicate an interest in pursuing study related to one of these areas of concentration, students will also be encouraged to explore the interrelationships between their areas and the others.

Students seeking to pursue interests outside these areas may do so with departmental permission and the cooperation of a faculty advisor. Such students are strongly advised to make these arrangements before accepting admission to the program.

For more information about the Graduate program, follow the links below :

The M A A Handbook gives details about admission requirements and the complete program of study.

The Annual Graduate Colloquium showcases MAA research.

The University of Maryland is part of the Consortium of Practicing and Applied Anthropology Programs (COPAA)