ANTHROPOLOGY OF PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS, MA
Anthropology
The Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights Master’s Program
Anthropology is the science committed to the comparative and historical study of humankind, looking across different cultural circumstances and into the depths of prehistory. Anthropology literally means the study of humanity and considers the interplay of biological and cultural factors. The Master’s program at UAB introduces an innovative focus on peace, justice, human rights, and ecology, as considered from anthropological perspectives. The Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights encompasses knowledge and methodologies from social cultural anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology to explore these topics. Students are welcome to approach the Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights from the perspectives of these sub-disciplines. The program focuses on peace justice, sustainability, and human rights at different social levels ranging from individuals, families, communities, cultures, nations, to the international. Students consider how factors such as ecological sustainability, human security, democracy, justice, non-violence, conflict resolution, and human rights are interconnected and related to peace.
Anthropology offers a unique set of perspectives. It can contribute to understanding cultural diversity; reflection on cultural relativism; appreciation of multiculturalism; understanding of effective communication in cross-cultural interactions; knowledge regarding cultural variation in norms, values, beliefs, and culturally-embedded conflict resolution styles; and the development of respect for cultural differences and human rights. This unique knowledge-base and set of perspectives is at the heart of the Master’s program’s focus on peace and human rights, which contributes to the explicitly stated goals of the UAB College of Arts and Sciences to promote diversity and facilitate students meeting the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization. In accordance with the Strategic Plan of the UAB College of Arts and Sciences, the Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights seeks to “enhance students’ global perspective” in an era where “globalization is diminishing the importance of national and political boundaries while increasing the opportunity for international harmony.”
The history of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama constitutes one reason why the development of peace and human rights at UAB is historically and culturally important. The Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights, with its educational purpose, can be seen as the continuation of positive developments made in social justice and civil rights in Birmingham and Alabama over the last half century. The Master’s program complements the educational and outreach activities of the UAB Institute for Human Rights (IHR). The IHR and the Department of Anthropology work together on a variety of local and global projects. Anthropology faculty are involved in a variety of research, educational, and service activities, and work regularly with students to help them pursue their academic interests and to develop the skills needed locally and globally in the 21st century.
Nationwide, the graduates of peace and conflict studies programs have found positions in human and social services, community mediation organizations, in multicultural education, at legal centers, as U.S. Congressional staffers, at NGOs and human rights organizations, and at the United Nations. In addition to preparing students for such career paths, the Master’s in the Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights aims also to ready students for doctoral studies in peace and human rights areas.
Educational Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master’s program in the Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights, students will gain relevant and marketable skills and knowledge. Learning outcomes include, for example, for students to be able to:
1) Thoroughly integrate and critically analyze how factors such as ecological sustainability, human security, democracy, justice, peace, and human rights are interconnected constructs related to the unifying construct positive peace.
2) Discuss and explain the kinds of human rights violations that are currently taking place (e.g., against migrants, indigenous peoples, women, and children) and analyze and critically evaluate the types of efforts that are ongoing to enhance and safeguard human rights worldwide.
3) Explain how cultural relativism relates (positively and negatively) to the application of human rights standards internationally, and students will develop culturally relativistic communication skills that are respectful of and open to cultural differences and different points of view.
4) Draw from multiple anthropologically relevant models and perspectives (e.g., models of socialization-enculturation, third-party mediation, conflict transformation, nonviolent practice, equity, social reciprocity, peace systems, and so forth) in order to apply anthropological perspectives to the analysis of problems in areas such as conflict resolution, peace education, social justice, and human rights protection.
Program Options: Plan I (Thesis) and Plan II (Exam)
The Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights is a two-year Master’s program that requires a total of 36 semester hours. In consultation with an advisor, a student during the first year will make the choice to follow either the Plan I (thesis) or Plan II (no thesis) to complete the master’s degree. All students, whether following the Plan I or Plan II path, will take the four required courses, which total to 12 semester hours (see below). Students following Plan I take 6 elective courses (18 semester hours), plus enroll in 6 semester hours of thesis credit. Students opting for Plan II, take 8 elective courses (24 semester hours), and at the end of their studies must pass a final exam that reflects the comprehensive activities of the student in the program, as prescribed in the UAB Graduate Student Handbook.
Required Curriculum
Four required courses are ANTH 504, ANTH 505, ANTH 509, & ANTH 652. For all students, two of the four are foundational (to be taken in the first year of study). These two courses, “Human Rights, Peace, and Justice” and “Anthropology of Peace, Justice, and Ecology” (the latter being team taught), are designed to provide an introduction to the topic of the Master’s program. A required methods course, “Methods in Peace and Human Rights Research and Practice,” can be taken either in the first or second year. The fourth required course, “Sustainable Peace Seminar,” is an advanced seminar, to be taken in the second year of study.
All procedures and requirements listed in the UAB Graduate Student Handbook apply to this program. Whereas the program offers a diverse set of electives, a community internship also may be substituted for one 3 credit elective course. Additionally, recognizing both that the particular interests of students will vary and that certain relevant graduate level courses are offered in other UAB schools and College of Arts and Sciences departments or at the UA Anthropology Department, students will have the option of taking a maximum of two electives (6 credits) from other departments (e.g., Biology, History, or Justice Science). Finally, students can pursue their interests by requesting to work on a Special Problems (independent study) course under the guidance of a professor within the Anthropology Department (e.g., ANTH 587, ANTH 588, or ANTH 686).
Advising
Upon entry into the Master’s program, each student will be assigned an academic advisor from among the Anthropology faculty. The student and advisor will confer and develop a study plan that is in accordance with the student’s interests and the requirements of the Master’s program. Early on, students can consult with their advisors about whether to pursue either Plan I (thesis) or Plan II (exam). Advisors will be assigned to match as closely as feasible a student’s areas of interest and also in such a way as to distribute the advising duties across the Anthropology faculty. Near the end of the first year, students can request to change advisors if they think a particular faculty member’s area of expertise aligns with their thesis topic.
Student Support
Several Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Research Assistantships are awarded by the Department of Anthropology each semester on a competitive basis. Additionally, some graduate students are employed part-time as assistants on research projects. International students should consult with the Graduate Director about possible tuition reductions. More information can be found here.
Admissions
The deadline for applications for the fall semester will be early in the spring semester. Please check with the Graduate School or the Graduate Program Director for exact deadlines. All of the minimum criteria for admission set by the UAB Graduate School must be met, and the Department of Anthropology has some additional admission requirements.
For details on the Graduate School admission requirements, see the Graduate School website. A brief summary of the requirements is as follows:
•An online application and payment of an application fee.
•A personal statement as part of the application that specifies your academic interests, career goals, and relevant background experience, in this case, in relation the Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights program to which you are applying. Include in your personal statement any peace and human rights volunteer work or work experience, and any other relevant information as to why you wish to study in this program.
•A recognized baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree.
•A 3.0 (B average) grade point average over the last two years of study.
•Previous studies that are acceptable in quality and content to the program (see Departmental Requirement below also).
•One official transcript from each postsecondary school attended.
•If currently enrolled at another institution, applicants must provide both provisional and final transcripts, the latter showing the completion of a degree prior to enrollment in UAB.
•For international students whose first language is not English, the minimum scores on an English proficiency exam as specified by the Graduate School.
The following are additional admission requirements of the Department of Anthropology:
•At least two letters of recommendation.
•Applicants who have not 1) majored in anthropology, 2) minored in anthropology, or 3) taken at least five courses in anthropology, with grades of C or higher may be required to enroll in ANTH 605 - Advanced Cultural Anthropology, or a comparable course offering background in anthropology, in the first semester of Master’s study.
Further Information
For more information about the faculty, researchers, direction, and focus of the department, please see our Department of Anthropology web pages.
