Admission to this program is suspended.

Western Michigan University’s Anthropology (M.A.) program provides students with essential training in critical thinking, writing for diverse audiences, and holistic thinking to prepare them for both living and working in a diversity of settings. Students in our M.A. program benefit from both extensive exposure to social theory and experiential learning focused on putting that theory into practice through research. Students learn through seminars focused on social theory, classes in research methods, field experiences in conducting research, and experiential learning courses. Underlying everything the department does is a firm commitment to a public anthropology of, and for, social justice. Our former students work in museums, pursue further training in top academic programs in public health, social work, historical archaeology, medicine, labor studies,  creative writing, and law, pursue careers in a range of government agencies and non-profit organizations, work in community resource management, and play important roles working toward crafting socially and ecologically sustainable communities.

Admission Requirements

1. Students should have completed a major or minor in Anthropology. Other students will be considered but may be required to enroll in undergraduate prerequisite course work or to complete reading lists in subfields in which they have no background.
2. Accumulation of a grade point average of at least 3.0 during the final two years of undergraduate work.
3. Three letters of recommendation are required from persons able to assess the applicant’s academic record, potential for success in a Master of Arts program in Anthropology, and suitability for an assistantship in this discipline. These letters should be submitted directly to the graduate advisor.
4. Each applicant must submit to the graduate advisor a one-page statement outlining his or her career goals and interests in anthropology.