MA in Medical Anthropology and Global Health - International Health

The main purpose of the Master of Arts degree program is to prepare students to begin teaching, research, or service careers with a solid background in anthropology. Undergraduate course work in anthropology, while helpful, is not a prerequisite for admission. Requirements for the master’s degree include credit hour requirements, core course requirements, and a six-hour comprehensive written Master of Arts examination. A candidate for the master’s degree is required to complete 27 hours of class work, including an approved statistics course (3 hours) in which the student has earned a grade of C or better. No more than 6 credit hours of electives may be taken in 300-level courses (advanced undergraduate courses). All master’s degree candidates are required to attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the core courses (described below) in order to qualify for the degree. All master’s degree candidates are required to take a six-hour comprehensive written examination in their field set by the department's examination committee. This examination must be taken before the completion of 27 semester hours of graduate work. Written master’s degree examinations can receive one of three grades: High Pass, Pass, or Fail. “High Pass” signifies performance sufficient for both the Master of Arts degree and advancement to the Doctor of Philosophy program, provided other requirements have also been satisfied. “Pass” signifies performance adequate for the master’s degree but insufficient to enter the doctoral program. “Fail” means a performance inadequate for the master’s degree. In the case of grades of Pass and Fail, the written examination may be retaken once. The objective of the Medical Anthropology and Global Health Program is to train medical anthropologists, physicians, nurses, and other health professionals (1) to recognize and deal with, on both theoretical and practical levels, the complex relations between the biological, social, cultural, psychological, economic, and techno-environmental determinants and concomitants of sickness and health in both local and global settings; and (2) to analyze and evaluate how health services are organized and delivered. Within the Medical Anthropology and Global Health Program, students may choose to specialize in medical anthropology, cross-cultural aging, international health, urban health, or psychological anthropology. International Health The international health specialization offers students training in international health research as well as in evaluation of international health projects. The curriculum includes course work in medical anthropology, epidemiology, and special topics in international health, such as maternal and child health. Students are qualified to work in international health research, in academic positions, or in administrative positions in governmental or private agencies. Other Specializations Students interested in a graduate degree in social-cultural anthropology should contact the department about requirements.