Program Overview

Public Issues Anthropology Program

The Public Issues Anthropology program is a 16-month Master's degree that teaches students how to use anthropological theories and findings to understand and address important issues in public discourse.

Program Overview

The program represents a unique approach to graduate studies in anthropology, based on two principles:

1. There are themes and issues that are fundamentally anthropological and which integrate the traditional sub-disciplines of anthropology—sociocultural, biological, archaeological (as well as applied and linguistic)— at every level of research.
2. Anthropological findings, theory, practices, experiences, and methodologies are relevant to current social, political, and cultural issues.

Research Focus

Students can choose to focus on traditional research topics and methods within their chosen sub-discipline, emphasizing in their thesis the public implications of their findings. Other students take an interdisciplinary approach and explore topics that span multiple sub-disciplines, or explore innovative or non-traditional anthropological research topics and methodologies.

Areas of Study

Students can research the archaeology and material culture of ancient societies, analyze the physical and genetic characteristics of human populations, and explore the cultural practices and beliefs of different people. Past students have applied anthropological approaches to interdisciplinary work on:

• Addiction
• AI
• Child care
• Decolonization
• Religious movements
• Migration
• Public health
• Water conservation

Program Structure

The Public Issues Anthropology program is designed to be completed in 4 academic terms (Fall, Winter, Spring, Fall). In this time, students take courses and work on research and have the opportunity to collaborate with top-scholars while gaining valuable analytical and communication skills.

Funding

The program offers nationally competitive funding packages to all incoming students who meet the funding criteria. Full-time domestic students are eligible to receive $18,000/year with the possibility of additional scholarships and awards.

Career Outcomes

The program prepares students for careers both inside and outside of academia. The public issues focus helps students advocate for the relevance of anthropological findings on critical contemporary issues, while also giving students exposure to a variety of sub-disciplines so students graduate as well-rounded experts in the field.

Admission Requirements

The Faculty of Arts is currently limiting the number of international students we can admit due to funding restrictions. If you are an international applicant, please note this limitation before applying.

Program Details

The program is situated within the Department of Anthropology, which is part of the Faculty of Arts. The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.