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.

Division of Letters and Sciences, Undergraduate Studies, Law and Health Professions Advising Office

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 advise 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, 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, Graduate and Professional School

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

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.