M.A. in Anthropology and Certificate in Museum Studies

"Most of what we know of the whole human trajectory we know through objects." Professor William Simmons, Senior Vice President of Academic Outreach and Affiliated Programs, Brown University.

The ASU School of Human Evolution and Social Change Offers a Unique Interdisciplinary Museum Anthropology Program.

In a school with a unique combination of anthropology with the sciences, social sciences and humanities, we have developed a comprehensive program to explore the growing self-consciousness about how museums actively produce knowledge, as well as to examine fundamental questions concerning their cross-cultural role in society. Museum anthropology addresses these areas and acknowledges the immense policy implications that can only be solved through the collaboration of specialists from multiple disciplines. It is this interdisciplinary cross-cultural approach that forms the core of the Museum Anthropology program at ASU.

The degree program offers a theoretical approach to the study of museums and is designed to involve students with the principles, practices, and critical analyses of museums. Courses in the Museum Anthropology program address topics that are prominent in contemporary anthropology – representation, materiality, cultural property, visual culture, public culture, globalization, and post-colonial encounters – in relation to past and present museum settings and activities. Additionally, the program promotes exploration into the ways that anthropologically informed perspectives, methods, and insights can find expression in contemporary museum practice.

Students can apply to ASU’s museum anthropology program to receive either an M.A. in Anthropology with an emphasis in Museum Anthropology, or they can earn a Certificate in Museum Anthropology.

"As a recent graduate of the Museum Anthropology program at ASU, the strongest part of my experience was the close contact with faculty and guidance from museum professionals as I developed research questions that explored the complex issues museums will face in the future." Catherine Nichols

Faculty:
Gwyneira Isaac, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Director, ASU Museum of Anthropology
Arleyn Simon, Director, Archaeological Research Institute
Judy Newland, Exhibit Developer, ASU Museum of Anthropology (teaches Exhibit Design and Development)