Anthropology

The University of Waterloo offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Public Issues Anthropology. Currently there is no part-time studies option available.

Admission Requirements

Specific admission requirements are as follows:

• an Honours Bachelor's degree with at least a B overall standing (75%) with 78% in the major. The expectation is that the undergraduate degree will be in Anthropology, but students with at least 5 courses in Anthropology may be admitted as long as these were part of a major in another social science or humanities program. The program will also accept students with a background in the natural sciences, as long as the 5 Anthropology courses they have taken include both ethnography and anthropological theory;
• applicants must demonstrate to the Advisory Committee competence in theory and methods adequate for study at the graduate level, e.g., through completing undergraduate courses which include these topics.
• two letters of reference from academic sources;
• Supplementary Information Form;
• official transcripts from all other post-secondary institutions;
• proof of competency in English (if applicable). A score of at least 600 is required in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). See Academic Regulations - English Language Proficiency Certification for other acceptable tests of English.

Application Deadline: February 1.

Degree Requirements

Students will proceed toward the degree by writing a thesis after completing a minimum of 2.0 credits.

Course requirements are as follows:

Anthropological Theory and Public Issues Anthropology will be offered in the Fall semester and Research Methods in the Winter semester. Students will usually complete their fourth course in the Winter semester. As the program grows, further substantive courses will be added to the range of courses offered regularly in the program.