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With an advanced degree in anthropology, you'll be ready for a career analyzing and shaping human experiences. Pursue a specialization while benefitting from CSUN's comprehensive Anthropology program.

Why Earn a Master's in Anthropology?

Help understand and tell the story of humanity with a master's in anthropology. You'll study the biology of our human ancestors and how they adapted to their environments. You'll analyze languages and cultural patterns—from the past to the present. You'll gain advanced research skills to collect and interpret data. In the field, you'll put theories into practice as you examine artifacts and conduct interviews.

With your knowledge, you'll be ready to enter a Ph.D. program in anthropology. You will also be qualified to teach or find a career that will use your educational background and research skills.

Why Study Anthropology at CSUN?

Well-rounded Education

CSUN's Anthropology master’s program emphasizes broad training in four fields of anthropology:

• Archaeology
• Biological anthropology and human evolution
• Cultural anthropology
• Applied anthropology

You take courses in each of these areas to provide you with a comprehensive view of anthropology. At the same time, you will be able to choose elective courses to help focus your studies to your area of interest.

Two Tracks

We offer two culminating experience options to prepare you for your future career path. You can choose to pass a series of comprehensive exams or write a thesis. If you want to teach at the community college level, we encourage you to take the comprehensive exam. If you plan to enter a Ph.D. program, we recommend you choose the thesis option.

Field School

Research and field work is an important part of anthropology. As a master's student, you'll be able to attend field schools to gain hands-on experience as an anthropologist. You'll spend about a month working in research areas and museums all over the world.

What You'll Learn

With a master's degree in anthropology, you will receive a broad view of the field. You'll take seminars in sociocultural anthropology, archaeology, physical anthropology and anthropological theory. You will also create and take classes in an area of specialization. This will give you both breadth and depth for your degree.

In your required graduate seminars, you will learn advanced theories on:

• Cultural anthropology
• Biological anthropology
• Archaeology
• Applied anthropology

You will also take classes on:

• Research design
• Proposal and grant writing
• Advanced research methods

You will take three elective courses for your area of specialization.

As a culminating experience, you will write and defend a thesis or take a comprehensive exam.