FAQ

Master's students from our program pursue careers with a wide array of organizations in the U.S. and globally, in areas such as:

• Education: Schools, Policy
• Public Sector: Governments, United Nations agencies
• Non-Profit & Development: Donor agencies, Foundations, NGOs, and Community-based organizations
• Research & Private: Policy institutes and Private entities

Regardless of the setting, students generally focus on supporting efforts to enhance educational practices, shape policy, and develop context-specific programs. 

Our graduates are attuned to challenging educational norms, supporting culturally and linguistically diverse learners and employees, and bridging academic research with practice.

If students enroll full-time, they usually follow the following timelines:

• M.A. (32 credits): 1.5 to 2 years (though some students move quickly to complete the program in 1 year or 3 full semesters, e.g. fall, spring, and summer)
• Ed.M. (60 credits): 2.5 years, or 5 semesters
• Ph.D. & Ed.D. (75 credits): 4 to 5 years, or 6-8 semesters

A breakdown of the credit requirements for each program can be found in the Student Handbook, beginning on page 15. Up to 30 credits from previous graduate work may be transferred in for Ed.M, Ph.D., and Ed.D. students, subject to advisor approval. This may shorten the timeline for each of those degrees.

The doctoral programs may also take more or less time depending on the amount of time a student takes to perform field research and write the dissertation. Students attending part-time will inevitably take longer.

Most of our students are in the M.A. program. The M.A. is for students who do not yet hold a master’s degree. 

An Ed.M. is for students who already have a master's degree but are interested in changing fields or careers. As an advanced master’s degree, the Ed.M. allows the student to transfer in 30 credits and then complete the second degree, giving a student additional experience in a particular field or specialization. 

Especially for students who wish to pursue a doctorate after completing the Ed.M. requirements, the degree may also give faculty a better understanding of students' abilities and interests. It is common for applicants to the Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs to first be accepted into the Ed.M. program.

Nearly all of our doctoral students are pursuing a Ph.D. There are two Ph.D options: a degree in Anthropology & Education or a degree in Applied Anthropology. 

If an applicant’s interests are more focused on schooling or policy, they should apply to the Anthropology & Education Ph.D. for a research degree or to the Ed.D. if they intend to work in arenas of policy development and implementation.

If an applicant’s interests focus on cultural or linguistic anthropology more generally, and its relevance for doing good in the world beyond research, they should apply for the Applied Anthropology degree.

Students from each track largely take the same courses and have much flexibility to tailor their education to support their academic and professional interests. It is also straightforward to switch from one focus to another after beginning your studies.

The entering class has around 20-25 students. The size of our entire program ranges from 60-80 students across all degrees (M.A., Ed.M., Ph.D., and Ed.D.), with the majority at the M.A. level. We are a happily small program in which you get to know your peers and professors.

Our students form a uniquely diverse and interdisciplinary cohort, bringing a wide range of academic and professional experience to addressing complex issues in education. Many do not arrive with a background in anthropology but build anthropological expertise during coursework, research, and the certification examination process. Our students share a foundational passion for people, culture, and learning.

Academic Background

Students typically hold undergraduate or graduate degrees in fields such as:

• Social Sciences: Anthropology (Cultural, Linguistic, Applied), Sociology, Psychology, History
• Education: Teaching (K-12, Higher Ed), Educational Policy, Curriculum Development, and TESOL/Bilingual Education
• Humanities & Liberal Arts: Linguistics, Ethnic Studies, Area Studies, International Relations, and Literature
• Interdisciplinary Fields: Public Health, Social Work, and Development Studies

Professional Experience

Many students enter the program with real-world experience, often from settings where they have directly witnessed the intersection of culture and learning. Their backgrounds include:

• Practitioners in Education: K-12 Teachers, School Administrators, College Admissions/Student Affairs Staff, and Curriculum Designers
• International Development: Consultants, Program Officers, and Field Staff for NGOs, UN agencies, and government development bodies
• Research & Policy: Analysts and Researchers at policy institutes, think tanks, and community-based organizations
• Social and Community Services: Youth Development Workers, Case Managers, and Advocates focused on marginalized or immigrant communities

Our courses meet once a week for one hour and forty minutes to two hours. Courses are typically offered during the afternoon and evenings. 

Many students work part-time, and some work full-time.

Course offerings for current and recent semesters can be viewed on the TC Course Search page by selecting “ITSF (Anthropology & Education)” from the “Subject” drop-down menu.

We offer various scholarships and assistantships for studies. Please refer to the Office of Financial Aid to find out more about possibilities for scholarships, financial aid and loans. Please refer to our Funding Opportunities page for program-specific resources.

It is not possible to get a teaching credential through Programs in Anthropology. The program does not involve student teaching.

A critical component of all students’ applications is the personal statement. Faculty members are looking for applicants who state what their goals are, and how they think a degree in Programs in Anthropology at TC is going to help them to achieve those goals. It is important that the applicant specifies the type of educational and professional background they have and how it has led the applicant to apply to the program.

The second important aspect of the application is the letters of reference. If the applicant has been in school within the last 2-3 years, letters from former professors are recommended. If the applicant is a professional, a letter of reference from a former professor and another from a supervisor (especially if your work is related to the field) are helpful.

For more information on Admissions requirements or final due dates, please contact the TC Admissions Office.

Credits from an accredited graduate school may be transferred at the Ed.M., Ed.D., and Ph.D. levels (NOT the M.A.). A maximum of 30 credits is transferable, pending advisor approval. We view these transfer credits as a form of financial aid, since they decrease the cost of attendance.

The GRE is not required for an application to the program. International students who did not receive an undergraduate education in the English language are required to submit TOEFL test scores. Please confirm all application requirements with the Office of Admissions.

New students will find out who their advisors are once they have been admitted to the program and by May/June prior to beginning the program in September. Faculty advisors will communicate with their new advisees during the summer months as needed. Students will meet with their advisors individually during the first and second weeks of the semester. At Orientation in September during the first week of classes, students will have another opportunity to meet with their advisors and the rest of the program faculty before the new semester begins.

Yes. The program assigns each student an advisor upon entry to the program. If a student wants to switch advisors, they should first ask the permission of the faculty member they wish to be the new advisor. It is the student's responsibility to tell the advisor originally assigned about the switch. If a student does switch advisors, they should inform our Program Assistant to update their records.

At the end of the third semester of coursework, doctoral students select an advisor for the certification exam process. Usually, this advisor continues through dissertation research and writing as well. A student's primary advisor must be a faculty member within the Anthropology Program through the certification exam process. Technically, GSAS approved faculty from other units of the university can be dissertation advisors, but this is unusual and depends on a close match of interests and a relationship over the student’s course of study.

Typically, students who are enrolled full-time take 9-12 credits, or 3-4 courses per semester.  We recommend that students take no more than 4 courses during the first term.

If a course requires instructor permission to register, students should email the professor directly and ask for permission to enroll in the course. Students should explain a little bit about themselves, including what academic program, concentration, and point in their program they are in. It also helps to include why the student is interested in the course based on their goals/experiences and the course description. Most professors are open to interested students from other departments/programs, unless otherwise stated in the course description.

Classes have a limit on the number of students that can be enrolled. If you are interested in a closed class, you can add yourself to the waitlist via the course registration system. Instructions for this process can be found on Slide 8 of the Registrar’s Registration Guide. Some students will likely drop the course during the add/drop period and spaces may become available. It is also recommended to attend the first class meeting so you don’t miss any important information if a spot in the course becomes available.

Descriptions of most courses are offered on the website Courses page and in the TC Catalog. In most cases, it is advisable that students attend the first meeting of a class in the semester to receive a syllabus and make a decision whether or not to take the course. Syllabi are often being completed and finalized in the last few weeks leading up to the start of the semester.

Yes. Cross-registration for courses held at Columbia is possible if a student has approval from their faculty advisor and the course instructor. We recommend waiting until you have completed your first semester to cross register for courses. 

More information can be found on the TC Registrar’s website. Each school has different procedures, so be sure to follow all guidelines to ensure that you receive credit and grades.

It is possible for Ph.D. and Ed.D. students to take classes at other universities that count towards their TC degree. TC participates in the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium which provides for cross-registration among member institutions. Students taking cross-listed courses at another university are subject to the academic regulations of the host university, including the grading system, calendar, and academic honor system. It is the responsibility of the students to familiarize themselves with the pertinent regulations of the host university. 

Students pay tuition to TC for any courses taken as part of the consortium, but the tuition amount is set by the host university and will likely be higher than the cost of a TC course. Please see the TC Registrar’s website for more information.

Most courses at Teachers College are 3 credits unless otherwise stated. While it is uncommon, there are some courses in which a student may select the number of credits they wish to register for. Typically, classes with variable credits entail a slightly different workload for students with different amounts of credits. Students can confirm these options with the course instructor. Pending the instructor’s approval, students can follow the instructions on Slide 9 of the Registrar’s Registration Guide.

Once you are enrolled as a student, you must submit a Transfer Credit Application through the Office of the Registrar. The Transfer Credit Coordinator determines which courses are eligible for transfer credit. The course list will then be sent to your faculty advisor via email for final review and approval. The student's advisor must approve the final number of credits. Once the process is complete, the credits will appear on the student's TC transcript. A full guide to the transfer credit process can be found on the TC Registrar’s website.

The Integrative Project (IP) is a culminating project completed by students as a capstone to their master’s degree. It is an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge base they have developed during their time in the program. The IP allows students to deepen their research skills, and advance knowledge in their area of study and interest. Students typically complete their IP during their last semester or after completion of courses. The exact nature of the project is determined by the student and their advisor.

An Independent Study allows a student to pursue a set course of research with a faculty member that remains outside the traditional classroom setting. Usually, students who choose to engage in an Independent Study formulate a program and approach to a particular research area. A student should select a faculty member who agrees to sponsor them for Independent Study; this is usually the advisor but it can be another faculty member.

After obtaining Special Permission from the faculty member, a student should register for an Independent Study as they would a standard course, using the CRN associated for an Independent Study with the particular faculty member and based on their degree (4902 for master’s students and 6902 for doctoral students). The number of credits is decided between the student and the faculty advisor and usually depends upon the amount of work to be accomplished.

Each student taking an Independent Study must follow through with the work and deadlines established with the faculty advisor. Only if that work is completed will the faculty advisor of the Independent Study submit a grade. Otherwise, a grade of Incomplete (or Fail) will be submitted.

Information about internships and job opportunities can be found through TC NEXT, the career services and professional development support office at Teachers College.

There are several ways to become involved in extracurricular activities, and the program encourages all students to do so. At the beginning of each semester, TC's Office of Student Affairs hosts a large Student Organization reception where students can learn more about getting involved.

Signing up for student organizations' listservs allows students to receive messages that highlight different activities. Below are examples of some of the organizations our students get involved in and/or directly originated in our department:

African Studies Working Group (ASWG)

Association for Educational Anthropology (AEA)

Black Student Network

Coalition of Latinx Scholars

Development in South Asia

Friends of Japan

Korean Graduate Student Association

Passports to Peace

Peace Education Network (PEN)

Queer TC

Society for International Education (SIE)

Spark Notes

Teachers College Chinese Students and Scholars Association