Applied Anthropology

Applied anthropologists learn from people what they need in order to contribute to reaching a goal or solving a problem. For example, a past student studied disaster warning and response systems for her IP with the aim of designing a system to warn residents of impending mudslides.  Another focused on how small farmer communities obtained and used government grants to improve crop yields. A recent MA graduate investigated ways to bring urban and rural Chinese students together online so that urbanites would be exposed to values beyond economic success and rural students could practice their English. Yet another interviewed members of arts groups about their civic contribution with an eye toward developing such a program herself. 

Students with specific goals and projects in mind can thus build insights on method and strategy from their coursework, while planning an Integrative Project that reviews relevant anthropological literature or incorporates information on previous applied anthropological endeavors into an essay that can inform an actual proposal to gain support for the project.

Suggested programs of study include, with 32 total points: 

• 9-12 points in general anthropology (for example, courses like Communication & Culture; Technology and Culture; Dynamics of Family Interaction; Globalization, Mobility and Education; or other anthropology courses that the student sees as relevant) 
• 3-6 points in ethnographic research methods techniques (to better be able to listen to others) 
• 6 points in courses outside of the anthropology program related to the contexts of your focal issues (health, language, policy, conflict, diversity)
• 6 points in courses outside the program that develop practical skills (mediation and peace-building, media and technology, planning…)
• an internship that applies the themes of the course of study
• an integrative project related to the course work