MA in Anthropology in Davis United States | University of California Davis

The Department of Anthropology features an esteemed graduate program divided into two interconnected divisions: Evolutionary and Sociocultural. The Evolutionary Division (E-Wing) adopts a scientific perspective to explore human biology and culture across time through interdisciplinary research. The Sociocultural Division (S-Wing) examines contemporary social structures and cultural interpretations in modern and postmodern contexts. Nearly all students enter the program solely for doctoral studies, fulfilling MA requirements as part of their PhD trajectory. Our graduate program cultivates scholars capable of producing innovative, rigorous contributions to anthropological knowledge through doctoral research. It serves as a conduit connecting traditional scholarship with emerging methodologies. We maintain selective enrollment to preserve a dynamic, research-focused environment with personalized faculty mentorship. Ideal candidates possess substantial foundational knowledge in anthropological subfields. Doctoral candidates must complete graduate seminars and/or statistics courses, pass written and oral examinations, conduct pre-dissertation research, and produce an original dissertation.

The curriculum provides in-depth understanding of primate/human behavioral evolution, primate ecology, cultural development, prehistoric societies, archaeological frameworks, identity studies, critical theories, power dynamics, gender studies, political systems, and urban anthropology. Graduates develop both qualitative and quantitative expertise for professional careers in archaeology, linguistic anthropology, biological anthropology, or sociocultural anthropology research and instruction.