Anthropology Programs

The CSULB Department of Anthropology offers an Master of Arts (M.A.) Option in Applied (socio-cultural) Anthropology (http://www.csulb.edu/programs/applied-anthro/).  It also offers graduate work in archaeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology resulting in a general Anthropology Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. The program is designed to meet the needs of students who are seeking to expand their knowledge and increase their competence in Anthropology, or those who wish to pursue applied anthropological work locally or globally, or for those who are preparing for advanced academic careers such as doctoral programs.

ADMISSION

Note: 

The department is not accepting applications from students interested in pursuing study in Archaeology at the M.A. level for the 2008-2009 academic year.

Applicants normally must fulfill the following prerequisites:

1. Satisfy the requirements for admission to the University as a graduate student (see http://www.csulb.edu/depts/enrollment/html/graduate_programs.html

2.       (a) A bachelor’s degree in anthropology; or

          (b) bachelor’s degree with 24 units of upper division courses
in anthropology, comparable to those required of anthropology
majors at this University; or

          (c) hold a B. A. in another field, either a social science, humanity, education or medical science one [depending on which concentration they are applying for], with fewer than 24 units of upper-division course work in anthropology and show evidence of strong potential skills in anthropology. Students under category (c) should submit a petition together with whatever supporting materials recommended by the Graduate Advisor, in addition to those normally required for admission [see below]. Applicants in this category may also be required to complete prerequisite courses after conditional admission.

Domestic Students (International students see special instructions on following pages). In addition to their application to the University via the Office of Admissions, including the Student Aid Application for California (SCACC) all prospective graduate students must submit an application directly to the Department of Anthropology. NOTE: Students must apply separately to both the University and the Department of Anthropology for admission to the Graduate Anthropology Program. The University application period for the next Fall Semester begins on November 1 and until capacity is reached; the Department of Anthropology application deadline is April 15. Consideration for early admission starts February 1st. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.

The application to the Department must include:

1. A properly completed Department of Anthropology Graduate Student Application Form (available from the Department Office or download the doc-file: DEPARTMENTAL-ADMISSION-APPLICATION ).

2. A formal statement of purpose (of about 2 pages), detailing the reasons why you want to conduct graduate work in the Anthropology Program, what you hope to gain professionally from the Program, and a discussion of your short/long term goals.

3. Official transcripts of ALL college or university work to date (including transcripts of course work taken at CSULB). CSULB Admissions Office requires a set in addition to the Department of Anthropology.

4. A research paper or technical report that you feel is representative of your analytical/critical thinking and writing capabilities.

5. Three letters of recommendation from persons well acquainted with your work (recommendation forms are available from the Anthropology Department office or download the doc-file: RECOMMENDATION-ON-APPLICANT ).

6. Evaluation of applications will be on the basis of the above materials. In general, the applicant should have a good overall academic record, favorable recommendations, demonstrated ability to carry out research and to write effectively, and a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 if recently a student.

     International Students: All international students should include in their Department application all of the information required for the domestic students (given above). In addition, instead of applying directly to the Office of Admissions, which is required of the domestic students, international students should apply to the Center for International Education (forms are available either from the Department office or the CIE). Please note that all information required in this application, such as the Graduate Application Form (along with the required educational documents, and the Affidavit of Support, should be sent directly to the CIE. NOTE: Students should apply to both the Center for International Education and the Department of Anthropology for admission to the Graduate Anthropology Program. The CIE application filing period for the next Fall Semester is November 1-30 (the document completion deadline is May 1), and the Department of Anthropology application deadline is April 15. Consideration for early admission starts February 1st. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.

PROGRAM

Core Courses

• ANTH 510 Proseminar (required for Anthropology M.A. students)
• ANTH 501 Development of Anthropological Theory (Required for Anthropology M.A. students)
• ANTH 560 Ethnographic Research Methods (required for Applied and Linguistics students) 

And/or

• ANTH 561 Computer Research Methods in Anthropology (required for Applied Anthropology)

Additional Requirements

APPLIED:

• ANTH 503 The Anthropological Perspective
• ANTH 517 Applied Anthropology
• ANTH 505 Practicing Anthropology
• Internship taken as ANTH 697 Directed Research
• ANTH 698 Thesis
• Plus Elective units approved by Graduate Advisor

LINGUISTICS:

• ANTH 503 The Anthropological Perspective
• ANTH 530 Ethnography of Communication
• ANTH 570 Linguistic Field Methods
• ANTH 630 Seminar in Linguistic Anthropology
• ANTH 698 Thesis
• Plus Elective units approved by Graduate Advisor

THESIS

All candidates for the master’s degree in anthropology must undertake and satisfactorily complete, under the supervision of their committees, a Thesis. The thesis problem is to be developed by the candidate in consultation with the faculty advisor and the other members of the committee, and for Applied students it should be related to the candidate’s internship (see below).

INTERNSHIP

As a special component of the Applied Anthropology program, all applied graduate students are required to enroll in Anthropology 675, ideally in the Fall Semester of their second year, after they have advanced to candidacy. To be supervised by their thesis advisor, the internships must be set up by the individual students to be undertaken. This procedure must include a written contract approved and signed by the sponsoring individual/institution. While the faculty will provide guidance and or suggestions, it is ultimately the responsibility of each student to establish the necessary contact leading to and actually establishing the internship. As a means of promoting professionalism, as well as providing remuneration, students are encouraged to select internships that are paid positions. Again, the internship should lead directly to the student’s Master’s Thesis and should be selected accordingly.

For additional information, contact us at:

Department of Anthropology
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd

Long Beach, CA 90840-1003
Telephone: (562)985-5171
Email: Anthropology Inquiries