MA in Applied Anthropology in San Jose United States | San Jose State University

Every degree program requires completion of 36 semester units. The Applied Anthropology core curriculum makes up 18 of these units. With advisor approval, students take 6 upper-division or graduate-level Anthropology specialization courses, plus 6 upper-division or graduate courses in their chosen application area from outside the Anthropology department. Another 6 units are dedicated to research, professional internships, and thesis or project report preparation. Note that SJSU Studies courses cannot satisfy either the Anthropology specialization or application area requirements.
Students following Plan A must register for ANTH 299 - Master's Thesis and produce a thesis under faculty committee guidance, submitting the final version to the University Graduate Studies & Research Office for approval. A thesis represents an original scholarly contribution, adhering to standardized academic formats across disciplines while meeting College of Graduate Studies guidelines. The typical structure includes: introduction with problem statement, literature review, methodology section, data presentation, analysis/interpretation, and conclusion. While this structure can be adapted, all modifications require committee chair approval to ensure compliance with university standards.
Plan B (Project)
Plan B participants enroll in ANTH 298 - Anthropology Project, conducting applied anthropological work and producing a process/results report. Unlike the thesis, this report goes only to anthropology faculty, not the College of Graduate Studies. All work must adhere to ethical guidelines set by the American Anthropological Association, Society for Applied Anthropology, and university Institutional Review Board. The project report demonstrates practical application of anthropological methods and knowledge through documented professional or research activities.