MA Museum Anthropology at Columbia University

Programme overview

The free-standing MA in Museum Anthropology, offered by the Department of Anthropology with the American Museum of Natural History, is a professional degree for those in or entering the museum field. It prepares students to interpret collections for the public, work in collections management, or join museum research and education staff.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences | Department: Department of Anthropology (with the American Museum of Natural History) | Duration: 30 points | Intake: Fall (deadline 18 February 2027) | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: New York, NY, United States

What you will study

The programme consists of 30 points including three core courses, six points of internship and a required thesis. Internships may be at museums such as the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Museum of the American Indian.

Career pathways

Collections management and registration; scientific, educational or research roles in museums.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Small intake; an anthropology or archaeology major is not required but may be preferred, and applicants with prior museum experience are strongly preferred. Statement of academic purpose, personal statement, resume, writing sample of 10-15 pages, three letters of evaluation from academic sources, transcripts. GRE General not required. International applicants whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country where English is not the official language submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test scores. Fall deadline 18 February 2027.

Intake: Fall (deadline 18 February 2027)

Duration: 30 points

Apply through the official page: https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/prospective-students

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