MA in Applied Anthropology in Mississippi State United States | Mississippi State University

The Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures provides graduate programs culminating in a Master of Arts degree with an applied anthropology concentration. To earn this degree, students must complete a thesis, undertake a semester-long or summer internship (5 credit hours), pass an oral examination, and finish 25 credit hours of graduate coursework. Specialization options include applied archaeology (covering bioarchaeology) or applied cultural anthropology.

The applied archaeology track concentrates on cultural resource management, offering training in archaeological methodologies, theoretical frameworks, grant writing, consulting procedures, and professional ethics. Specialized study areas encompass surface survey techniques, excavation methods, artifact examination, settlement pattern studies, environmental archaeology, and osteoarchaeology. While the regional focus is the Southeastern United States, the skills acquired are universally applicable.

The applied cultural anthropology specialization covers environmental anthropology, medical anthropology, development studies, economic anthropology, business anthropology, and urban anthropology. With faculty expertise spanning the United States, Latin America, and the Middle East/North Africa, students can select thesis projects domestically or abroad. The curriculum highlights practical ethnographic research methods and prepares graduates for professional roles in both public and private sectors, as well as for advanced academic pursuits.