Master of Arts in Anthropology and Education
The master program in Anthropology and Education is concerned with the cultural, social and linguistic dimensions of education. Our program offers insight to better understand inequalities, cultural differences, linguistic diversity, and the wealth of human life for educational purposes. We examine educational processes in schools and classrooms, in families, on street corners, in community centers, in churches, and in all other non-conventional education settings.
Anthropology is well positioned to answer some of the toughest questions of education and policy-making because of its emphasis on spending time with and learning from people. The program highlights participatory ethnography: engaging in and observing human activities and conversing with people as a means of improving education and collaborating with local groups and organizations. As one of the only master programs in Anthropology and Education in the world, we offer a unique outlook on how to understand and support diverse approaches to education in and outside the classroom.
In addition to core Anthropology courses, we encourage our students to take courses with other departments and program at Teachers College and Columbia University, more generally. For example, many of our students take courses in the International and Comparative Education, Technology in Education, and Applied Linguistics programs.
Our program offers students related courses and concentrations in a highly individualized fashion. We strive to maintain smaller entering cohorts in order to magnify every student’s experience. Our students choose a concentration that most aptly fits their research or professional interests, while faculty work with students to create a course schedule that support these interests. Below is a list of concentrations that students can choose from:
- Urban Education
- Ethnographic Theory and Methods
- Culture and Communication
- Education Beyond Schools
- Applied Anthropology
For more information about the requirements for our Master Programs, click below:
Master of Arts (MA) Degree Requirements
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026 terms.
Master of Arts
- Points/Credits: 32
- Entry Terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | November 15, 2025 | November 15, 2025 | N/A |
| Summer | January 15, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | N/A |
| Fall | January 15, 2026 | July 1, 2026 | N/A |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact ITSadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2025-2026)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 terms.
The Master of Arts degree program in Anthropology and Education offers a disciplinary approach that carefully explores and contributes to the analysis and understanding of educational processes in all settings where education may proceed. Our program offers insight to better understand inequalities, cultural differences, linguistic diversity, and the wealth of human life for educational purposes. We examine educational processes in schools and classrooms, in families, on street corners, in community centers, in churches, and in all other non-conventional education settings.
Administrators, counselors, evaluators, and research associates can improve their work through learning how anthropological methods are applied to educational problems, policy, and practice. Students should choose an area of emphasis from Urban Education or Ethnographic Methods for Education Analysis.
Anthropology is well positioned to answer some of the toughest questions of education and policymaking because it emphasizes spending time with and learning from people. The program highlights participatory ethnography: engaging in and observing human activities and conversing with people as a means of improving education and collaborating with local groups and organizations. As one of the only master programs in Anthropology and Education in the world, we offer a unique outlook on how to understand and support diverse approaches to education in and outside the classroom.
The program requires at least five courses (15 points minimum) in anthropology; courses (9 points) in Complementary/Other Concentration Courses (International & Comparative Education, applied linguistics, philosophy, psychology, sociology); and four other courses (8-9 points) that directly contribute to the emerging professional interest of the candidate or practical courses relative to future professional settings. The M.A. program requires an integrative project in addition to the 32-point program. M.A. students are also required to attend a bi-weekly one-hour MA Advising and Career Workshop, also to assist with the IP, for noncredit.
To satisfy program breadth requirements, master's students must complete two Teachers College courses (for this purpose a course is defined as one in which at least 3 points are earned) outside the major program.
Anthropology & Education Courses (15):
Course Option Examples:
-
ITSF 4010: Cultural and Social Bases of Education (3)
-
ITSF 4014: Urban Situations and Education (3)
-
ITSF 5000: Introductory Methods of Ethnography and Participant Observation (3)
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ITSF 5045: Globalization, Mobility and Education (3)
Complementary/Other Concentration Courses (9):
Selected courses from other fields/disciplines such as International & Comparative Education, Applied Linguistics, History, Philosophy and Sociology.
Professional/Practical Courses (8):
Various specialized skills useful in future professional settings, such as Curriculum & Teaching, Education Policy & Social Analysis, Mathematics, Science & Technology, and Organization & Leadership.
Integrative Project (0):
-
ITSF 4200: Integrative Project Research & Writing Practicum (0)
Grade Requirements:
An overall grade average of B+ is expected. Receiving two B grades or lower, two Incomplete grades, or one F grade will lead to a review by the program faculty and may result in dismissal from the program.
Integrative Project Requirement:
A non-course, advisor-approved, culminating project is a requirement of all masters’ degrees in Anthropology and Education. The exact nature of this requirement is determined with a faculty member.