Name of programme                            SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Qualification awarded

Field of study                                        Social sciences

Study area                                            Social sciences

Length of the programme                     2 years (4 semesters)

Scope of programme (ECTS)               120 ECTS

Language of instruction                        English 

Location                                               Kaunas, Lithuania

Starting date                                        1st of September

Tuition fee for Non-EU students          TBC

Overview

This Programme offers an intensive introduction to contemporary anthropology. As societies around the world vary enormously in their social, cultural and political forms, the Master of Social Anthropology Programme is designed to study these variations and the common humanity contained therein. Such topics as transnational mobility, debated cultural practices of inclusion and exclusion as well as the transformation of the state are especially articulated in the Programme. It also provides the students with a thorough theoretical and methodological grounding, essential for attaining non-judgmental understanding and appreciation of the diversity of other cultures, significance of cross-cultural perspectives and intercultural understanding. The Programme combines classroom and experiential field-based learning activities as appropriate for each student’s career plans. It teaches students how to carry out independent scientific research and conduct ethnographic fieldwork.

Due to international cooperation between Vytautas Magbnus University and Southern Illinois University (USA) Social Anthropology students have the opportunity to receive Southern Illinois University’s Certificate in Intercultural Understanding. For that the successful completion of 18 ECTS three courses held by visiting anthropology professors from Southern Illinois University and other universities is required.

Feedback of lecturers and students

“The Social Anthropology Master’s program at Vytautas Magnus University is a very supportive atmosphere for academic inquiry and research. Because of its high student to faculty ratio and wide array of course offerings, the programme allows you to work closely with your professors to carefully craft the course of study that you wish to follow within the discipline. International guest lecturers and researchers also gave the programme a truly international flair. My professors were available to meet one on one, and were always ready to give extra support and insight into projects and research. As an international student, the study programme itself gave a wonderful framework for understanding my daily life in Lithuania. I chose to pursue my Masters’ Degree abroad in order to be in the field both in an out of the classroom. I believe that I made the right choice attending VMU, and am happy for the tools it gave me to help pursue my professional career”.
Will Gordon, Graduate of Social Anthropology programme from USA

Competencies acquired

MA in Social Anthropology provides students with these skills:

cultural understanding and tolerance;
creative and analytical thinking which leads to design a research project, write a grant proposal, conduct an independent field research based research;
be able to analyze and interpret fieldwork data in order to solve problems which emerge out of global contemporary socio-cultural processes;
to act as mediator for socio-culturally different and / or conflicting interest groups in order to enhance the solving of existing cultural conflicts.

Career opportunities

Social Anthropology programme is primarily geared towards the students who plan to continue their studies after, those who seek career advancement in either private or public sectors in human resource development, international business, cultural resource management or work within various organizations as well as international, state and local governmental agencies etc.

Career opportunities for graduates include, but are not limited to:

anthropological consultant to international (cultural, educational, public health, defence) organizations and nongovernmental agencies;
migration, refugee and ethnic minority analyst;
cultural sustainability analyst;
urban and rural development advisor;
cultural and human resource development analyst;
trainer in intercultural communication;
project planner and manager;
public policy researcher;
public opinion poll and market researcher.