Anthropology Master’s program at Cornell University

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Anthropology M.A.

anthropology-archeology

Graduate training in the Field of Anthropology emphasizes sociocultural anthropology, with an additional concentration in archaeological anthropology. Biological anthropology is primarily an undergraduate program. Substantively, the Field of Anthropology combines humanistic and social scientific approaches in innovative ethnographic research, emphasizing culture as a productive process and anthropologists as engaged in understanding and defending cultural diversity. Geographically, the greatest depth is in Asia (East, South, and Southeast), but the Americas, Europe, and Africa all also figure importantly. The Field of Anthropology has strong ties with all the geographic area programs, as well as faculty active in many other interdisciplinary programs, including joint appointments with Asian American Studies, Latina/o Studies, American Indian and Indigenous Studies, and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

The graduate program in anthropology is highly individualized and interdisciplinary. Only four courses and a field research proposal are required; thus, the bulk of students' work in language, area studies, or other training is individually designed in consultation with the Special Committee. Individually-tailored examinations occur after approximately the first year of course work (the Qualifying Exam), the second or third year (the Admission to Candidacy, or A Exam), and after completion of the thesis (the Defense or B Exam). Most graduate students in the Field of Anthropology complete one to two years of intensive field research. All doctoral candidates are also expected to teach at some point: most students first get experience as assistants in both introductory and mid-level courses; later, many design and teach courses of their own in the Knight Writing Program. A vigorous colloquium series enriches the intellectual environment for both students and faculty.

The Field of Anthropology primarily admits candidates seeking a Ph.D. because of the lack of funding for, and employment with, only an M.A. With very rare exceptions, every student admitted to the Ph.D. program receives funding to support five years of on-campus study. Graduate students apply for additional funding from Cornell or from major external sources such as NSF, Fulbright, SSRC, and Wenner-Gren to conduct both preliminary and dissertation field research. Most students complete the Ph.D. within seven years and most have gone on to find academic employment at major colleges and universities in the U.S. or abroad.

12 Months Duration
- Credit hours
Yes GRE Required
Yes Scholarships Available

Composition of student population

2 Female Students
2 Internation Students
3 Graduate Students Enrolled

Graduate Program in Anthropology

The field of anthropology considers applicants for admission only once a year, for admission in the fall term. The university urge fellowship applicants to apply as early as possible, to ensure that their folders will be complete prior to the fellowship competition review in late January early February.

An important component of the application is the statement of purpose. Please consider this essay an opportunity to explain not only why applicant seek training in anthropology, but why applicant seek it at Cornell, stating clearly the plan of study applicant propose to undertake.

All applicants whose native language is not English must provide proof of competency in the English language. All international applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting official test scores from TOEFL or IELTS Cornell must receive official TOEFL or IELTS scores before the university can process their application.

For applicants living in regions where the TOEFL iBT is not available, Cornell will accept scores for the paper-based test

Photocopies of TOEFL score reports will not be accepted.

Take the TOEFL early enough to have the results submitted at the time of their application.

The Graduate School requires an overall band score of a 7.0 or higher on the IELTS.

Applicants who are citizens of India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.

Applicant must submit a transcript that shows applicant attended college in one of the approved locations, and that their academic program was at least two years in length.

For some non-native speakers of English, the TOEFL score.

Their Personal Statement should provide the admissions committee with a sense of applicant as a whole person.

Content in the Personal Statement should complement rather than duplicate the content contained within the Research Statement of Purpose, which should focus explicitly on their academic interests, previous research experience, and intended area of research during their graduate studies.

Some applicants manage to obtain funding from sources not usually tapped by anthropologists.

Cornell University Fellowships Students who are offered admission to the PhD program who have no outside funding sources are simultaneously awarded a package of support consisting of a combination of Cornell University Fellowships, usually for the first academic year, and Field guarantees for support during subsequent years of a student program. It is the goal of this field to provide some form of tuition and stipend support support for a minimum of four years to all students who are admitted. Continuing students are expected to apply to external sources of support in order to increase the Field total resources available for graduate training.

The field occasionally permits an applicant to register for coursework only, without admitting the student to either the doctoral or MA program. Non-degree candidates pay the same tuition as degree candidates.

How does the Anthropology Master’s degree program tuition at Cornell University compared with other universities in New York?

Tuition for Master’s in Anthropology program at Cornell University

$30,042 In-state Tuition & Fees
$30,042 Out-of-state Tuition & Fees
UniversityIn state Tuition / Year
Anthropology Masters program at University at Buffalo$14,238
Anthropology Masters program at New York University$36,892
Anthropology Masters program at Fordham University$23,846
Anthropology Masters program at Stony Brook University$13,793

Which other public university offers Master’s program in Anthropology in New York?

Here is the list of top 4 public universities offering Anthropology Master’s program.

Program NameTuition / Year
Anthropology at Stony Brook University

In-state: $13,793

Out-state: $25,583

Anthropology at Binghamton University

In-state: $13,500

Out-state: $25,290

Anthropology at University at Buffalo

In-state: $14,238

Out-state: $26,028

Anthropology at CUNY Hunter College

In-state: $11,398

Out-state: $20,828

Which other private university offers Master’s program in Anthropology in New York?

Here is the list of top 4 private universities offering Anthropology Master’s program.

Program NameTuition / Year
Anthropology at Columbia University in the City of New York$51,194
Anthropology at New York University$36,892
Anthropology at University of Rochester$50,505
Anthropology at Syracuse University$41,714

Jobs, Salaries and Career after Masters in Anthropology

Employment of anthropologists and archeologists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 800 openings for anthropologists and archeologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

The median annual wage for anthropologists and archeologists was $66,130 in May 2020. Number of Jobs in 2020 was 8,500.

Employers prefer the candidate with a Master's degree.

Universities with similar Graduate Program

Program NameTuition / Year
Anthropology Masters program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick$19,724
Anthropology Masters program at University of Kentucky$13,538
Anthropology Masters program at Augusta University$7,444
Anthropology Masters program at Biola University$11,772

Are there Online Masters programs offered in Anthropology?

Here is the list of top-ranked universities offering online masters program in Anthropology

Program NameTuition
Anthropology Online Masters programs at University of Arkansas$8,841
Anthropology Online Masters programs at Washington State University$13,463
Anthropology Online Masters programs at Humboldt State University$9,298
Anthropology Online Masters programs at Canisius College$15,870