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MA in Anthropology

Immerse yourself in the study of peoples and cultures, past and present, with our Anthropology master’s program.

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Program Details

About

Master of Arts in Anthropology (MA)
In-person evening courses
Archaeology Summer Field School on Saturdays
30 Credits

Application Deadlines

Summer
May 1

Fall
July 15

Spring
December 1

Get Started

Overview

Prepare for exciting careers in archaeology, cultural preservation, and geographic information systems with a master’s degree in anthropology. This dynamic degree program also builds a solid foundation for doctoral study.

At Monmouth University, you will learn from renowned faculty in small classes settings. You’ll gain essential skills such as cultural resource management and preservation, archaeological field methods, skeletal and artifact analysis, and mapping and spatial analysis.

Career Outcomes

You’ll find Monmouth anthropology alumni working for the American Museum of Natural History, the U.S. Forest Service, and the New Jersey Historical Commission to name just a few. A graduate degree prepares you for a range of master’s in anthropology jobs, including in the areas of:

Biological anthropology
Forensics
Cultural anthropology
Cultural resource management
Archaeology
Social policy
Community engagement
Geographic information systems
Teaching

Learn more about what our alumni are doing.

Specializations and Certificates

You can tailor your master’s in anthropology to fit your interests. In addition to a wide array of electives, you may also wish to add a certificate to your course of study.

Archaeology Certificate

This 18-credit certificate within the MA gives you specialized skills and knowledge to work as a professional archaeologist or museum/preservation professional. You’ll learn from veteran faculty members and participate in rich real-world learning experiences. This certificate prepares students to qualify to become a Registered Professional Archaeologist.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate

Love maps and location systems? In Monmouth University’s 12-credit graduate certificate you’ll build technical skills as you work directly with experienced industry experts. The program also prepares you for professional GIS certification.

Curriculum & Research Requirements

Your MA in Anthropology will include core courses, electives, and a thesis. You have plenty of flexibility to customize your course of study based on your interests.

Core Requirements (15 credits)

Your required courses include:

Anthropological Theory
Seminar in Biological Anthropology
Archaeological Theory
Two of the following:
- Field Methods in Archaeology
- Ethnographic Methods
- Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

View full degree requirements and course descriptions at the graduate catalog.

Electives (9-12 credits)

Customize your anthropology master’s degree by choosing electives that match your interests. Courses have included:

Ancient Technology
Visual Anthropology
Native American History and Prehistory
Underwater Archaeology
Historic Artifact Analysis
Zooarchaeology: The Archaeology of Animals
The Amazon
Psychological Anthropology

Thesis Requirement (3-6 credits)

Your master’s thesis requirement includes research, writing, and your thesis defense. You may choose to write a library thesis (3 credits) based on work with secondary sources or a research thesis (6 credits) based on your own original research.

Our students explore a vast range of topics; recent theses include:

An ethnohistorical study of heritage and identity in the New Jersey Pine Barrens
An ethnographic study of community resilience in Belmar, New Jersey, after Hurricane Sandy
An archaeological study of a Jamaican slave hospital in the era of amelioration
A bioarchaeological study of dental pathologies in the ancient Egyptian New Kingdom populations
Documentary archaeology of Buttonwood Corners, a New Jersey African-America site

Application Overview & Requirements

Here’s an overview of the admissions process for our master’s degree in anthropology:

Admissions Criteria & Application Requirements

To be considered for admission:

A four-year baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA

Your application must also include:

Two letters of recommendation; these should be from a professional or academic contact, such as a professor, supervisor, mentor, or colleague
500-word essay that describes your professional and academic goals and how a graduate degree in anthropology from Monmouth will help you reach them

Why Monmouth for Your M.A. in Anthropology?

Curriculum

Study with renowned faculty members with a wide range of anthropology, archaeology, and GIS interests. Choose elective courses or a graduate certificate based on your individual academic interests and career goals.

Summer Field School

Participate in grant-funded research and excavations at nationally significant historic sites, analyze collections of historic artifacts, and present your research at regional and national academic conferences.

Enriching Experiences

Gain rich real-world experience through research projects, an internship, or fieldwork. Leverage Monmouth’s network and gain professional connections to local and national Cultural Research Management firms.

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More Affordable

Learn more about tuition and financial aid options for graduate students.

Cost & Tuition

Graduate Student Financial Aid

Research Opportunities

Our students conduct research and participate in field experiences around the globe, from archaeology surveys around New Jersey lighthouses to military archeology sites in the Caribbean.

Graduate Student Research Opportunities

Excavation team digging in front of a light house

Testimonial

“I participated in experiential learning opportunities, such as working at the American Museum of Natural History. I conducted hands-on research excavating and analyzing artifacts from St. Catherine’s Island. This opportunity enabled me to make career-changing connections.”
Matt LoBiondo

Program Faculty

Our anthropology faculty members are published scholars and seasoned practitioners with a range of expertise and experience. Their research and professional interests include historical and prehistoric archaeology, zooarchaeology, military sites archaeology, forensic anthropology, visual anthropology, geographic information systems, urban ecology, North American Indians, food and culture, tourism, human variation, modern evolution, and human-nature relations.