Undergraduate Advising | Degree Requirements | Academic Opportunities | Career Development

Our Undergradute Program

The Department of Anthropology is part of the University of Maryland’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. We are centrally located in Woods Hall, between McKeldin Library and the Main Administration Building.

Anthropology is a scientific and humanistic discipline devoted to improving our understanding of human culture and diversity. Anthropologists are holistic in that they endeavor to describe in the broadest sense what it means to be human. This includes exploring relationships between the human past and the present as well as between the biological and social components of our species. Anthropology is the study of people—their origins, adaptations and ecology, distribution, customs, languages, and social and religious beliefs.

The faculty of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Maryland are engaged in a wide variety of teaching and research activities in each of the four traditional subfields of the discipline—archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology.

The Anthropology Department also maintains a strong focus on the practical uses and applications of anthropological knowledge, and faculty members and alumni have played important roles in the development of the field of applied anthropology. Faculty applied interests in such areas as the environment, health, and heritage are reflected in both undergraduate and graduate course offerings.
A strong background in anthropology is an asset in preparing for a variety of careers and professional opportunities. The faculty at the University of Maryland’s Department of Anthropology is uniquely qualified to provide undergraduate majors with advice and assistance related to both their academic and career interests. The undergraduate program also provides a variety of study abroad experiences, summer field schools, and internship opportunities—all of which can contribute significantly to a student’s understanding of the discipline.

Undergraduate majors are encouraged to focus in one of three subdiscipline areas in anthropology: archaeology, biological anthropology, or cultural anthropology.

Follow this link for a statement of the Undergraduate Program Core Values.

Undergraduate Advising

Erik Hanson is responsible for all undergraduate advisement in the department. Erik's email is ehanson@anth.umd.edu. Below you will find the current semester's walk-in hours when you can see Erik as well as information on a number of topics you may find relevant.

Walk-in Hours

• Mondays, 1-4 pm
• Tuesdays, 1-4 pm
• Thursdays, 9-12 pm
• Fridays, 9-12 pm

Becoming a Major

If you're interested in anthropology as a major you should do a few things:

1. read this website so you have a feel for the major
2. research anthropology: read a few articles from anthropology journals, check out a book from the library written by one of our professors, or take a class
3. (this is the tough one) think about what you want to do in the long run, and what you can see yourself doing for a career and make sure that anthropology fits with one or both of those things
4. if you've taken an ANTH class, talk to the professor about majoring and the benefits of doing so

So, you're still interested in declaring the ANTH major:

1. make an appointment with the undergraduate advisor
2. talk with the advisor about your interests in anthropology and goals for majoring
3. the advisor will go over the major requirements and do an orientation to the department with you
4. if it looks like a good fit, then together you will fill out the 'Change of Major Form'
5. then, sign up for an Academic Planning Workshop held by the college and complete a '4-Year Academic Plan'
6. turn in the 'Change of Major Form' and '4-Year Academic Plan' to the Collge of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS)

Undergraduate Listserv

The undergraduate list-serve is a tool designed to communicate departmental matters to all anthropology majors.  If you are not receiving messages from the list-serve, please email Erik at ehanson@anth.umd.edu and request to be added.

Your Area of Focus and Faculty Advisor

You should choose to focus in:

1. Archaeology

2. Biological Anthropology (please note this requires you take specific types of classes, especially science classes, for your supporting course work)
3. Cultural Anthropology

It is important to pick your faculty advisor in conjunction with your area of focus.  Your advisor should work within that area of anthropology so that he or she can give you advice and recommendations.  Please meet with this person regularly so he or she can get to know you and give you useful advice.  You will need to gain his or her approval for your supporting course work later on, so start talking about your faculty advisor early on.

About Supporting Course Work

Start planning your supporting course work with your faculty advisor as soon as you've declared your major.  Your supporting course work must be related to your interests in anthropology AND your area of focus.  For specific rules governing the supporting course work see Degree Requirements.

Your faculty advisor will be the one who has to approve your supporting course work, so you'll want his or her buy-in early in the process.  Your advisor will be able to suggest courses you can take, and help you tailor the course work to your interests, abilities, and goals.  Supporting course work IS NOT an opportunity for you to take whatever you want and plug it into some slots.  Your plan must be well thought out and you should be backed by your faculty advisor in all of your choices.

Your faculty advisor's signature of approval must be filed with the undergraduate advisor's office before you will be cleared for your degree audit. You will not be allowed to register for your senior year until you have your supporting course work okayed by a full-time faculty member.

 Degree Audit

An audit is the procedure for checking your progress toward your degree.  You can have one done at any time but you must have an official audit done soon after you've reached 75 credits, this is required for graduation. 

There are three stages to the audit:

1. check your transcript and degree navigator for errors and let your advisor know if you have questions/concerns
2. make an appointment with the department advisor to check all of your major requirements and provide you with the audit form
3. take the audit form to an advisor at the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) - they will check your progress toward your general requirements

What if I want to Double Major or Double Degree?

The Difference:
Double Major = A minimum of 120 credits and one diploma that lists both majors
Double Degree = A minimum of 150 credits, including a minimum of 18 credits that don't overlap between the two majors, and a separate diploma for each major

To Declare The Second Major You Will Need To:

1. determine which major you'd like to be your "primary" major, this also determines which college will "house" you
2. go to the department of the major you'd like to add and meet with an advisor and let him or her know a) which major you want to be your "primary" and b) whether you'd like to double major or double degree
3. complete the necessary application/orientation activities and paperwork that the advisor tells you about
4. submit paperwork to the appropriate offices per direction of the department advisor
5. remember that "your college" is now the college that is in charge of your "primary" major
6. make sure you know each of your major's policies on their work being counted toward another degree (for example: will English let you use ENGL courses to fulfill your ANTH supporting course work?)

Please Note:
It is to your advantage to do a detailed and specific academic plan when you add another major to make sure you can complete all the requirements for both majors.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology

Students seeking an undergraduate degree are required to complete at least 31 credits of anthropology course work in addition to their skills requirement and supporting coursework. All courses being used to satisfy anthropology major requirements must be completed with a 2.0 or above. Students are expected to complete all Benchmarks on time, gain approval for their supporting course work, and successfully complete a degree audit.

The main components of the degree are:

Benchmarks
Foundation Courses 3 courses/ 10 credits
Method and Theory Courses 2 courses/ 6 credits
Anthropology Elective Courses 15 credits
Skills Requirement
Supporting Course Work 18 credits

Satisfactory Progress Benchmarks (2)
Benchmark 1:
All students entering the major must successfully complete the following requirements within two terms:
a) Two of the following: ANTH 220, ANTH 240, or ANTH 260
b) Four CORE Distributive Studies courses
c) Fundamental Studies Math and English requirements

Benchmark 2:
All students entering the major must successfully complete all three foundational courses: ANTH220, ANTH240, and ANTH260 within three terms.

Foundation Courses (3)
All three foundation courses are required for the anthropology major:

• ANTH220- Introduction to Biological Anthropology
• ANTH240- Introduction to Archaeology
• ANTH260- Introduction to Socio-cultural Anthropology and Linguistics

• ANTH320- Method and Theory of Biological Anthropology (offered in fall)
• ANTH340- Method and Theory of Archaeology (offered in spring)
• ANTH360- Method and Theory of Socio-Cultural Anthropology (offered in spring)

If a student completes all three of the method and theory courses, one course can be used as an anthropology elective.

Anthropology Electives (minimum of 15 credits)
Anthropology majors are required to complete at least 15 credits of anthropology electives.

• 3 of the 15 credits must be from the approved list of Applied Field Methods courses.
• 9 of the 15 credits must be taken at the 300 - 400 level
• A maximum of 6 credits of the following courses may be applied to this requirement: ANTH358, ANTH386, ANTH398.
• Courses listed as ANTH and courses taught by anthropology Affiliate Faculty in other departments can be counted towards the anthropology electives requirement.  Students are advised to check with the Undergraduate Advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies before enrolling in courses with affiliate faculty.
• Pre-approved anthropology courses completed in departments affiliated with the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area can also be applied to the elective requirement. Students are advised to check with the Undergraduate Advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies before enrolling in courses through the Consortium.

Skills Course: Quantitative and/or Second Language (1)
Students who entered the major prior to Fall 2008 are required to complete either the Quantitative course or Foreign Language Requirement. Students entering the major in or after Fall 2008 are required to take a Quantiative course. If you do not know which requirement applies to you please contact the Undergraduate Advisor.

Quantitative Skills Option (required for students entering major Fall 2008 or later)
Designed to give students a background in quantitative analysis and statistics, this option encourages students to develop a mathematical foundation for future academic and career goals. The option is especially important for students planning to continue their education, as quantitative skills are often included in graduate curriculum. The quantitative skills option is satisfied by the completion of one course from the following list with a 2.0 or higher:

• MATH111 or higher level MATH course except MATH113
• STAT100
• BIOM301*
• ECON201 or ECON321
• EDMS451
• GEOG306
• PSYC200
• SOCY201

*Students focusing in biological anthropology are encouraged to take Biometrics 301 (BIOM301).
Additional courses can be used to satisfy this requirement, but must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies

Second Language Skills Option (only available for students added to the Anthropolgy major prior to Fall 2008)
Knowledge of more than one language proves very useful in many professions and in today’s diverse society. Learning multiple languages takes on an even greater importance for students of anthropology, as strong connections exist between language and culture. The second language skills option stresses the importance of this connection and the applicability of additional languages to a student’s future academic work and/or career. This skills option can be satisfied in one of the following ways:

• Successful completion of a foreign language through the first course of the intermediate level with a grade of C or higher;
• Successful completion of high school level 4 in one language with a grade of B or higher;
• Successful completion of a placement exam in which the student placed above the first course of the intermediate level.

Students who have completed a language through high school level four need to provide the Undergraduate Advisor with appropriate transcripts.

Supporting Course Work (minimum of 18 credits)
To fulfill the supporting coursework requirement, students may take courses from multiple departments, or choose to take courses from in our department. The purpose of the supporting course sequence is to enable students to develop skills and additional academic preparation that are related to their specific interests in anthropology. Supporting courses can be used to further develop a student’s focused interest in archaeology, biological anthropology, or cultural anthropology, or they might be directed to a particular topical or skill area—such as social science research methods, human geography, environmental courses, health interests, cultural studies, gender issues, and the like.
The following rules also apply to the supporting course work requirement:

• Supporting courses should relate to the student's area of focus, whether biological anthropology, archaeology, or socio-cultural anthropology.
• All courses intended to satisfy the requirement must be approved by the faculty advisor prior to the student's senior year.  Therefore, students should plan ahead with their faculty advisor.
• Up to 8 credits of the 18 credit requirement may be fulfilled with anthropology courses.
• A maximum of 6 credits of the following courses may be applied to this requirement: ANTH358, ANTH386, ANTH398.
• Courses used to fulfill the University's Advanced Studies CORE Requirement or any other Anthropology requirements may not be applied to the Supporting Course Work section.
• If a student plans to use course work from another major or minor it is the student's responsibility to ensure that work is eligible to be double counted.

Please direct questions concering the supporting  course work requirement to the Undergraduate Advisor.

Click here for the Supporting Coursework Approval Form.

ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Our students have the opportunity to sign up for courses for which they can earn credit as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, or for an Internship or Independent Study. In addition to on-campus resources, we encourage students to diversify their experience by participating in study abroad programs, or through taking courses at nearby institutions participating in the Consortium of Universities in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (ANTH358 A/B/C)
Internships (ANTH 386)
Independent Study: Research Problems (ANTH 398A)
Honor's Program
Senior Thesis Program
Education Abroad Programs
Field Schools
Consortium Courses

Guidelines for Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (ANTH 358A/B/C)

OverviewThe University of Maryland encourages all students to pursue challenging experiences through a variety of learning opportunities.  Working as and Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA) can be a source of considerable enrichment for the student. The course letter corresponds to the area of focus within the discipline. For example, ANTH358A refers to an Undergraduate TA working on an Archaeology course, ANTH358B to a Biological Anthropology course, and ANTH358C to a Cultural Anthropology course. 

Requirements:

• You must have earned a grade of A (4.0) in the class for which you will be assisting.
• You must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
• You must have junior standing (60 credits completed) by beginning of the semester in which you will be serving as an UTA.
• You must complete a contract with the instructor of the course for which you are serving as an UTA. This contract will outline your duties and the methods by which you will be evaluated (See sample contract below).
• The first time you serve as a UTA, you must take the 1-credit UTA Training class offered by the Center for Teaching Excellence. (See http://cte.umd.edu/teaching/utaprograms.html for more information). You may only serve as a UTA two times for credit.

Timeline:

• Identify a potential course and instructor. Note the requirements above.
• Create a contract with the instructor. (See sample contract below).
• Have the contract confirmed through required signatures.
• Turn in a copy of this ANTH 358 contract to the undergraduate advisor’s office. Have the Anthropology Undergraduate Advisor give you the instructor’s section number and permission to enroll in ANTH358.
• Register for ANTH 358 (A, B, or C) under your instructor’s section.
• Go to The Center for Teaching Excellence’s Undergraduate TA Training Program web page http://www.cte.umd.edu/teaching/utaprograms.html and fill out the online student application. Once you complete the application, you will receive an email about how to enroll in a 1-credit course EDCI498- Special Problems in Education. This class will meet weekly and cover the basic things you need to know while serving as a TA.
• Complete EDCI498-Special Problems in Education and complete the requirements outlined in your TA contract. 

Paperwork:

Please complete a contract for this course.  You can use the following document as a template: ANTH358 Teaching Assistant Contract

Guidelines for Experiential Learning (Internships ANTH 386)

Overview

The ability to enroll in and receive internship credit towards your academic record is a privilege requiring you to work in close partnership with your advisor, the department, and your potential internship field supervisor.  Students who are unwilling to take responsibility as the main link for communication among these parties should not pursue credit for internship work.  To begin, students should meet with their faculty advisor and discuss potential ideas for internship work.  Students who wish to engage in internship work should have a good idea of what type of work they would like to pursue, the experiences or skills they would like to gain, and should have had some advanced course work in Anthropology.  If the faculty advisor agrees to support quest your internship work, students may proceed with the steps outlined below in order to receive departmental permission to sign up for internship course work.

The University of Maryland encourages students to pursue enriching and challenging learning experiences with area agencies and organizations.  The Washington area has a large variety of high quality agencies and experts involved in research and practice, and opportunities for field experiences exist in all areas of anthropology. Working in these settings can be a source of considerable enrichment for the student. Students should be able to apply their classroom learning, test out their interests and skills in anthropology, and receive training in a specialized aspect of anthropology which is not available on campus.

Requirements

1. You may register for ANTH386 once for up to 6 credits, depending upon the amount of work performed.  Typically, one academic credit is given after completing 45 hours of the internship. So 135 internship hours would be required for three academic credits; 270 hours for six credits. Steps for registering for internship credit are listed in the timeline below.
2. You must create a final product to receive credit for the internship. The final product ought to both demonstrate the academic value of the internship and be of value to the internship site.  The nature of the final product should be specified in the internship contract and approved by both the faculty advisor and the internship field supervisor.
3. You should keep in contact with your faculty advisor before during and after your internship whether by email phone or in person. Your faculty advisor can assist you if you run into any problems with your internship field supervisor during the internship.

Timeline

1. Meet with your faculty advisor to discuss internship possibilities
2. Find an internship site and identify your field supervisor at the internship site
3. With input from both your faculty advisor and internship field supervisor develop an internship contract (see sample below). The contract should specify the times the student will work, the duties to be performed, the final product to be completed, and the number of credits to be earned. 
4. Get your contract signed by both your faculty advisor and internship field supervisor.
5. Turn your signed contract into the Anthropology Undergraduate Advisor no later than 10 AM on the last day of the schedule adjustment period. The Anthropology Undergraduate Advisor will then give you your faculty advisor’s section number and give you permission to enroll in ANTH386 for 1-6 credits.
6. Complete the requirements specified in the contract.
7. At the end of the internship, have your internship field supervisor complete the final evaluation (see below) and send it to both the Anthropology Undergraduate Advisor and your faculty advisor. Your faculty advisor will give you a grade for ANTH386, once they receive this final evaluation.

Paperwork

1) Please use the ANTH386 Internship Sample Contract to enroll in this course.:
2) At the end of your internship you are required to use the ANTH386 Internship Evaluation to have an evaluation of your work completed.

Guidelines for Independent Study: Research Problems (ANTH 398A)

The University of Maryland encourages that all students should have the opportunity for an enriched and challenging experience through a variety of learning opportunities. Students benefit significantly from Independent Studies.  Working in an Independent Studies situation can be a source of considerable enrichment for the student.  Students should be able to apply their classroom learning, test out their interests and skills in anthropology, and receive training in a specialized aspect of anthropology, which is not available on campus.

Requirements for ANTH 398A

1. Permission of the department is necessary for a student to register for ANTH 398A, and a contract or a memorandum of understanding is required.
2. A signed contract or memorandum of understanding shall exist between the student and faculty member.  This agreement shall clarify duties, assignments, expected hours of effort, and final product to be produced as a result of the independent study.  This agreement shall be filed with the undergraduate advisor and will be placed in the student’s files. See below for a sample agreement.
3. Students can register for ANTH 398A (1-3 credits), and the student may earn up to 6 credits (for 2 or more courses).  If a student takes more than one independent study, the subject matter must be different and specified in the contract.
4. Typically, a student can earn one credit for every 45 hours of effort.  Therefore, three credit hours of independent study shall be earned when the student completes 135 hours of study in the course.  Students should work closely with their mentor/advisor on the number of credits they may earn in the course.
5. Advisors may want to have their students create a product from their independent study course, for example - keeping a diary, or writing a research paper.  The nature of the final product and the basis for the final grade shall be specified in the contract.
6. Students shall meet with their advisor before, during, and after the course, and the advisor and student shall remain in contact (via email, phone, or meeting) throughout the course.
7. The evaluation process shall be specified in the contract.

Steps and Timeline for ANTH 398A Credit

Prior to the semester in which the student registers for ANTH 398A credit:

1. Read the ANTH 398A guidelines.
2. Identify a potential faculty sponsor and meet with him or her.
3. Negotiate your learning contract.
4. Have contract OR memorandum of understanding confirmed through required signatures.
5. Turn in copies of the ANTH 398A contract to the undergraduate advisor no later than 10 a.m. on the last day of schedule adjustment period.
6. Register for ANTH 398A under your faculty sponsor's section number.

In the semester students receive ANTH 398A credit:
Students shall complete the requirements outlined in the contract OR memorandum of understanding.

Paperwork

Please complete either a Contract for ANTH398A in order to register for the course.

Anthropology Departmental Honors

Qualified majors are invited to participate in the department’s honors program. Graduation with Honors is permanently noted on student transcripts and can benefit graduates in seeking employment as well as applying for graduate school.
The anthropology honors program is designed to be accomplished over two consecutive terms, typically Fall and Spring of the candidate’s senior year. In this program, a student works individually with a faculty member of his or her choosing (the Honors Thesis Committee Chair). Students gain the experience of working on a particular topic over an extended period of time and of completing a thesis with the guidance of the committee chair and other members of the thesis committee. To be considered for departmental honors, the ANTH major must have:

• an overall G.P.A. of at least 3.0
• a G.P.A. of at least 3.5 in all major courses

Additionally, the student is required to take the following:

• ANTH486: Honors Research (3 credits)
• ANTH487: Honors Thesis (3 credits)
• One approved graduate level ANTH course (3 credits, taken with the committee chair)

Honors candidates typically take the research course the first term (ANTH486) and the thesis course the second term (ANTH487). Both courses are taken under the direction of the committee chair.
Students interested in entering the honors program should secure the cooperation of an anthropology faculty member to serve as her or his committee chair and contact the Director of the Departmental Honors Program. During the first semester of honors research the honors candidate needs to add two additional committee members, at least one of whom must be a member or affiliate of the Department of Anthropology. When the committee is in place the candidate will prepare, under the direction of his or her committee chair, a research proposal which will be presented to the full faculty committee for their advice and approval.
During the second semester of the thesis preparation, the honors candidate prepares a summary statement of the status and results of the research and writes, under the guidance of her or his committee chair, a detailed thesis proposal which must then be approved by the full faculty committee.
The completed thesis requires approval from the committee chair prior to being distributed to the other faculty committee members. The student will then present and defend his or her thesis in the presence of the entire committee. Possible results of the defense include “No Pass,” “Pass,” and “High Pass.” Students who receive a “No Pass” for the defense will be afforded one additional opportunity to defend.

Paperwork

Please complete a Memorandum of Understanding for this course.  You can use the following template:
Sample Agreement for Honors Program

Anthropology Senior Thesis Program

Students who do not meet the criteria for admission to the department’s honors program can still have the opportunity to develop a senior research thesis. The process of enrolling in and completing the senior research thesis program is the same as described above for the honors program (please review). Additionally, the following conditions apply:

• overall G.P.A. may be less than 3.0
• G.P.A. in major courses may be less than 3.5

The student is required to enroll in the following courses:

• ANTH476: Senior Research (3 credits)
• ANTH477: Senior Thesis (3 credits)

For additional information pertaining to either the Departmental Honors Program or the Senior Research Thesis Program, contact the Director of the Departmental Honors Program:

Dr. William Stuart
0106 Woods Hall
Phone: 301.405.1435
Fax: 301.314.8305
E-mail: wstuart@anth.umd.edu

Paperwork

Please complete a Memorandum of Understanding for this course.  You can use the following template:
Sample Agreement for Senior Research Thesis Program

Education Abroad Programs

The opportunity to participate in an education abroad program, for a few weeks or for an entire year, can be a life changing experience. The University of Maryland offers a variety of year long, semester long, winter term, summer term, and spring break education abroad activities throughout the world. With advance approval, students can also participate in study abroad programs that are offered by other universities in the U.S. and abroad.

Visit the Education Abroad Office for more detailed information and program descriptions:
1101 Holzapfel Hall
Phone: 301-314-7746
Fax: 301-314-9135

Especially rewarding can be the opportunity to participate in an education abroad program that is devoted to anthropology. There is really no substitute for experiencing anthropology in the field. Click here to see education abroad programs currently offered by our own Anthropology faculty.

Field Schools

The Department of Anthropology offers several archaeological and ethnographic field schools. Please click here to see our current offerings.

The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area

University of Maryland students are eligible to take courses at consortium institutions for resident credit.  There are no additional fees; the tuition charged is the same for taking a class at UMCP.  The consortium is an excellent way for majors to add to the number and variety of anthropology courses available to them.
The consortium schools are: American University, The Catholic University of America, Gallaudet College, George Mason University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, Marymount University, Southeastern University, Trinity College, University of District of Columbia, and the University of Maryland, College Park. 

For more information about the consortium:
http://www.testudo.umd.edu/soc/consortium.html

Career Development

Students can acquire a considerable amount of information about anthropology from the websites of the major professional anthropology organizations. Many of these websites also include valuable career information.

General Anthropology

AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
“The American Anthropological Association (AAA), the primary professional society of anthropologists in the United States since its founding in 1902, is the world's largest professional organization of individuals interested in anthropology.”
“The purposes of the Association shall be to advance anthropology as the science that studies humankind in all its aspects, through archeological, biological, ethnological, and linguistic research; and to further the professional interests of American anthropologists; including the dissemination of anthropological knowledge and its use to solve human problems.”

Applied Anthropology

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRACTICING ANTHROPOLOGISTS
“The purpose of NAPA shall be to represent the practice of anthropology and the interests of practicing anthropologists within the American Anthropological Association, to other organizations, and to the general public, and to further the practice of anthropology as a profession.”
SOCIETY FOR APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
“The Society for Applied Anthropology aspires to promote the integration of anthropological perspectives and methods in solving human problems throughout the world; to advocate for fair and just public policy based upon sound research; to promote public recognition of anthropology as a profession; and to support the continuing professionalization of the field. The Society pursues its mission and purpose by
(1) communicating theories, research methods, results, and case examples through its publications and annual meetings;
(2) recommending curriculum for the education of applied anthropologists and other applied social scientists at all levels;
(3) promoting and conducting professional development programs; and
(4) expressing its members' interests-- and anthropological approaches in general--to the public, government agencies, and other professional associations.
Through these activities, the Society strives to be a premier professional organization for anthropologists and other applied social scientists and with colleagues throughout the world.”
WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ANTHROPOLOGISTS
“The Washington Association of Professional Anthropologists (WAPA) is the oldest and largest regional association of professional anthropologists in the world today. Founded in 1976, WAPA serves as a resource, and a social and career development center for anthropologists seeking to apply their knowledge and skills to practical problems for the betterment of society.”

Archaeology

SOCIETY FOR AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY
“The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) is an international organization dedicated to the research, interpretation, and protection of the archaeological heritage of the Americas. With more than 6,600 members, the society represents professional, student, and avocational archaeologists working in a variety of settings including government agencies, colleges and universities, museums, and the private sector.
Since its inception in 1934, SAA has endeavored to stimulate interest and research in American archaeology; advocated and aid in the conservation of archaeological resources; encourage public access to and appreciation of archaeology; oppose all looting of sites and the purchase and sale of looted archaeological materials; and serve as a bond among those interested in the archaeology of the Americas.”
SOCIETY FOR HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
"Formed in 1967, the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) is the largest scholarly group concerned with the archaeology of the modern world (A.D. 1400-present). The main focus of the society is the era since the beginning of European exploration. SHA promotes scholarly research and the dissemination of knowledge concerning historical archaeology. The society is specifically concerned with the identification, excavation, interpretation, and conservation of sites and materials on land and underwater. Geographically the society emphasizes the New World, but also includes European exploration and settlement in Africa, Asia, and Oceania."

Biological Anthropology

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL GENETICS
“The American Association of Anthropological Genetics (AAAG), an educational and scientific organization, was founded in 1994. AAAG aims to:
1. promote the study of anthropological genetics, as this field is broadly defined;
2. facilitate communication between individuals engaged in the study of anthropological genetics; and
3. foster cooperation among anthropological geneticists.”
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGISTS
“Physical anthropology is a biological science that deals with the adaptations, variability, and evolution of human beings and their living and fossil relatives. Because it studies human biology in the context of human culture and behavior, physical anthropology is also a social science.
The AAPA is the world's leading professional organization for physical anthropologists. Formed by 83 charter members in 1930, the AAPA now has an international membership of over 1,700. The Association's annual meetings draw more than a thousand scientists and students from all over the world.”
HUMAN BIOLOGY ASSOCIATION
“The mission of the Human Biology Association is to advance the understanding human biological variation, to enhance the training of professional human biologists, and to foster a better comprehension of the scope of human biology among scientific professionals and the public. To meet this mission, the Association promotes education, discussion, integration and dissemination of research on all aspects of human biological variation through annual scientific meetings and periodic publications.”

Preparing for Graduate School

Students with degrees in anthropology have many options open for graduate school, as a bachelor’s degree in anthropology serves as a solid foundation for many different disciplines. The best resources currently available to you are your professors. Anthropology faculty members have much experience working in academia and with undergraduate and graduate students. If you are considering graduate school in anthropology, use your professors and all faculty within the Department of Anthropology as your first resources. Ask questions and entertain ideas that you can later explore on your own.
Professional schools such as law and medical schools are often flexible regarding a student’s undergraduate major. These schools typically want to see a well-rounded student with a strong academic record. Some professional schools, such as medical schools, may require students to take specific courses as pre-requisites for entrance, but may not require a student to have a specific major. If you are an anthropology major interested in attending a law or health-related graduate program, please see UMCP’s corresponding campus advisor to help you best prepare for this endeavor:

Health Professions Advising
Law Professions Advising

Graduate Programs in Anthropology

Many anthropology graduate programs do not require students to have undergraduate anthropology degrees. However, an undergraduate anthropology degree is beneficial in that it increases your awareness of the field and helps you to learn where your specific interests within anthropology lie. Also beneficial is a broad range of anthropological coursework, including archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics. Many anthropology graduate programs look for second language fluency. For students wishing to do work with non-English speaking populations or in non-English speaking countries, it is most beneficial to be working towards fluency in that language.

Graduate programs vary considerably in their emphasis. Students interested in pursuing graduate study in anthropology should seek the suggestions and advice of anthropology faculty in their particular interest area. Keep in mind that applying for graduate school requires some advance planning. Most schools require complete applications, including letters of reference, essays, and GRE scores, between December and February for admission in the following Fall semester.

For more detailed information about graduate school please refer to:
University of Maryland Career Center

For more detailed information about graduate programs in anthropology, please refer to:
National Association of Student Anthropologists

University of Maryland's Master of Applied Anthropology (MAA)
An innovative two-year professional degree, the MAA is 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.