Graduate School in Anthropology

Anthropology provides a diverse background important for students planning to continue their studies in the sciences or the humanities, and for those planning to enter professions in law, medicine, community planning and development, and governmental and social services.

Many of our graduates choose to go on to graduate school in anthropology. Students with high GPAs, research experience, good writing skills, and individual mentoring by one or more faculty members are especially likely to be well-prepared for this path.

Graduate Program Rankings

Not all graduate programs are equal. See a ranking of the 82 graduate programs in anthropology. But note that many schools may have have strong specialities that belie their overall rankings. Talk with your professors about what schools might be a good fit for what you want to study.

Did you know that 32 percent of Miami anthropology majors since 1990 have gone on to graduate school in anthropology. Here's a list of some of the schools our graduates have attended:

Ashland University
Australian National University Canberra Australia
Ball State University
California State University Fullerton
Columbia University Teachers College
Emory University School of Public Heath
Harvard
Indiana University
Johns Hopkins University
Kent State University
Miami University
Northern Illinois University
Northwestern University
Ohio State University
Ohio University
Purdue University
Saginaw Valley State University
SUNY at Buffalo
University of Alaska-Anchorage
University of Arizona
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati
University of Findlay
University of Illinois
University of Michigan
Wright State University

Graduate School in Other Subjects

“Anthropology graduates enter a variety of professions and their employability will no doubt increase as the world becomes ever more globalized,” says an article in The Guardian (What to do with a degree in anthropology).

To better understand why an anthropology degree can be valuable for those pursuing professional degrees, read "An Essay on Careers" by Gary Ferraro, which describes a number of career paths for anthropology majors.

Here is a program for those interested in an Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP).

And here are a few links for people thinking about pursuing an advanced degree with a BA in anthropology:

Education

Why is anthropology a good preparation for an MEd? Anthropology can provide powerful tools for students and educators to understand themselves and others in today’s rapidly changing world. For example, contemporary anthropological perspectives on the concepts of race, ethnicity, culture, and nationality are especially germane for today’s students as they develop their sense of identity as a member of different groups. Anthropology also provides methodological tools that can be useful in schools, such as the practice of gathering multiple perspectives from different stakeholders in schools, including students, parents, and staff of diverse backgrounds. This practice can assist educational leaders to move toward more inclusive decision-making.

The American Anthropological Association has an Anthropology Education Committee to “identify, develop, and promote high quality curriculum for the teaching of anthropology in K-12, community college, undergraduate, professional, graduate, adult education and museum programs.” They also provide teaching resources for educators.

Teacher’s College at Columbia University offers a joint degree in anthropology and education, as do the University of Toledo, University of Pennsylvania, Western Washington University and many more.

Engineering

“The bridging of anthropology and engineering … has the potential to create enduring contributions throughout the developing world. Anthropological methods and perspectives can help intrepid engineers who seek to apply their knowledge in the service of humankind,” writes Scott Lacey, founder and Executive Director of African Sky, Inc., a non-profit organization that serves hard-working farm families in rural Mali, West Africa.

Cultural anthropology and engineering design are natural partners according to an essay by Dr. Robert Knecht of the Colorado School of Mines.

MIT even offers a joint degree in anthropology and engineering.

Nursing

Nursing and anthropology are natural bedfellows, and have been for many decades. That's why the prestigious Case Western Reserve offers a Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Arts in Anthropology joint degree

There's even a new and growing field of Transcultural Nursing that combines anthropology and nursing. It focuses on global cultures and comparative cultural caring, health, and nursing theory to deliver culturally appropriate nursing care.

These are just a few of the many professional degrees for which anthropology is a unique and useful preparation.