Advice for incoming students without Anthropology background?

[smallaxe]

Hi everyone! I'll be heading to YorkU in September for a masters in Social Anthropology. I studied Psychology and Equity Studies at U of T for my undergrad -- 4 years ago. I've been teaching abroad in the French West Indies and working as a freelance writer since then, so I've been out of academia for awhile... 

 

I'm interested in lifestyle migrants of colour and their experiences integrating abroad, potentially in the Caribbean and/or Europe. I've been pondering two things: 

 

1) Should I do any reading over the summer to prepare and what would you suggest? I did some Facebook creeping and it seems my cohort is full of fresh grads out of anthropology. I've never even taken an anthropology course... I was mostly interested in ethnographic research methods, and the idea of travelling.

 

2) Will I have the opportunity to do field research abroad? I'm still a bit unclear as to how that works. It's a two year program. I suppose I could just ask the department but I didn't want to seem overly keen about leaving the country!

 

Thanks in advance!

 

[mini monkey]

Hi everyone! I'll be heading to YorkU in September for a masters in Social Anthropology. I studied Psychology and Equity Studies at U of T for my undergrad -- 4 years ago. I've been teaching abroad in the French West Indies and working as a freelance writer since then, so I've been out of academia for awhile... 

 

I'm interested in lifestyle migrants of colour and their experiences integrating abroad, potentially in the Caribbean and/or Europe. I've been pondering two things: 

 

1) Should I do any reading over the summer to prepare and what would you suggest? I did some Facebook creeping and it seems my cohort is full of fresh grads out of anthropology. I've never even taken an anthropology course... I was mostly interested in ethnographic research methods, and the idea of travelling.

 

2) Will I have the opportunity to do field research abroad? I'm still a bit unclear as to how that works. It's a two year program. I suppose I could just ask the department but I didn't want to seem overly keen about leaving the country!

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Hello James!

 

I have a cohort friend who is in a similar position as you, but their degree is not in psychology; rather, it is in a dramatically different field (think 'hard sciences'). So this may be a bit of a stretch, so take this with a pinch of salt. 

 

I think my friend's biggest struggle was the theoretical aspects of the coursework. For me, I already had training in a lot of anthropological theory and methods. A lot of terms that I considered basic were hard for my friend to understand because they were never exposed to them. I recommend the book "Anthropological Theory: An Introductory History" by McGee and Warms if you aren't familiar with the basics of ethnography and the history of ethnographic fieldwork. I've used this book at least 3x during my undergrad years, and a lot of the material is repetitive in graduate school. It may be worth investing in and reading over. But it does sound like your coursework in equity studies may have you well prepared, so it honestly depends on your comfort level. Also try to become familiar with the type of theoretical background that the professors you will be working with have. See how they put that into their own research. This has been difficult for not just my friend but a lot of other cohorts as well. 

 

It is possible that you can collect data abroad, but that has to be with you and your committee. Do they think it's a good idea for you to go abroad? Will going abroad be able to match your study questions? Etc. I think only you and your committee can truly answer that question. I have two friends who are traveling abroad to do field research this summer, and I also have friends who are staying in-state to do research. So there is variation on how research is conducted. 

 

Sorry this is kind of vague. I hope it is somewhat helpful! 

[Nerd_For_Life]

I went into my MA without a background in anthro (and I survived!). I'm now doing my PhD in anthro. I'd recommend contacting the GPD and finding out who is doing the theory course, then asking if you can get a copy of the syllabus in advance and/or last year's syllabus, then start doing some reading! YorkU's anthro program is known as being quite theoretically rigorous so I'd focus on theory before other materials. Also, if you can get a list of books, try reading critiques and reviews of each book as that can help prepare you for some of the common discussions that are going on in anthropology regarding a certain text/theory/etc. I'd also be prepared for a very heavy workload (one of the general differences between BA and MA).

[UNCAnthro]

I came into an anthropology PhD program with a background in agronomy and applied anthropology. In the summer before the program started I read as much foundational theory as I could (Marx, Durkheim, Malinowski, Freud, etc) because I was worried about being too far behind. Looking back on it, I would have been better off reading some interesting novels, relaxing, and reflecting on what I wanted to get out of my PhD and research. It wasn't wasted time by any means, but realize that you'll be spending your first year reading a LOT of social theory and it might be best to let that happen when it happens. Also, remember that even if you don't have a strong background in anthropological theory, your background will bring other strengths and people will appreciate that.

 

On fieldwork, in U.S. universities research abroad is almost required. It's different in the UK, where fewer do research abroad and some do not do original fieldwork.

[smallaxe]

Hello James!

 

I have a cohort friend who is in a similar position as you, but their degree is not in psychology; rather, it is in a dramatically different field (think 'hard sciences'). So this may be a bit of a stretch, so take this with a pinch of salt. 

 

I think my friend's biggest struggle was the theoretical aspects of the coursework. For me, I already had training in a lot of anthropological theory and methods. A lot of terms that I considered basic were hard for my friend to understand because they were never exposed to them. I recommend the book "Anthropological Theory: An Introductory History" by McGee and Warms if you aren't familiar with the basics of ethnography and the history of ethnographic fieldwork. I've used this book at least 3x during my undergrad years, and a lot of the material is repetitive in graduate school. It may be worth investing in and reading over. But it does sound like your coursework in equity studies may have you well prepared, so it honestly depends on your comfort level. Also try to become familiar with the type of theoretical background that the professors you will be working with have. See how they put that into their own research. This has been difficult for not just my friend but a lot of other cohorts as well. 

 

It is possible that you can collect data abroad, but that has to be with you and your committee. Do they think it's a good idea for you to go abroad? Will going abroad be able to match your study questions? Etc. I think only you and your committee can truly answer that question. I have two friends who are traveling abroad to do field research this summer, and I also have friends who are staying in-state to do research. So there is variation on how research is conducted. 

 

Sorry this is kind of vague. I hope it is somewhat helpful! 

 

Thanks for the recommendation! I just looked at the book and I'm familiar with a few of the theorists so I suppose that's a good sign.

[smallaxe]

I went into my MA without a background in anthro (and I survived!). I'm now doing my PhD in anthro. I'd recommend contacting the GPD and finding out who is doing the theory course, then asking if you can get a copy of the syllabus in advance and/or last year's syllabus, then start doing some reading! YorkU's anthro program is known as being quite theoretically rigorous so I'd focus on theory before other materials. Also, if you can get a list of books, try reading critiques and reviews of each book as that can help prepare you for some of the common discussions that are going on in anthropology regarding a certain text/theory/etc. I'd also be prepared for a very heavy workload (one of the general differences between BA and MA).

 

That's very reassuring, thank you! It's good to know that the program emphasizes theory, I certainly need it and I suppose it means I won't be at too much of a disadvantage after the first year. I think that the one advantage I do have is in terms of managing my time and not being afraid of a heavy workload -- that's a typical day as a freelancer! 

[smallaxe]

I came into an anthropology PhD program with a background in agronomy and applied anthropology. In the summer before the program started I read as much foundational theory as I could (Marx, Durkheim, Malinowski, Freud, etc) because I was worried about being too far behind. Looking back on it, I would have been better off reading some interesting novels, relaxing, and reflecting on what I wanted to get out of my PhD and research. It wasn't wasted time by any means, but realize that you'll be spending your first year reading a LOT of social theory and it might be best to let that happen when it happens. Also, remember that even if you don't have a strong background in anthropological theory, your background will bring other strengths and people will appreciate that.

 

On fieldwork, in U.S. universities research abroad is almost required. It's different in the UK, where fewer do research abroad and some do not do original fieldwork.

 

That is true. Someone just kind of put it into my head that I should get a jump on my coursework when I'd been thinking I would just get started when everyone else did... Interesting, I'm pleased to know that the option is there. It makes the idea of quitting travelling a bit more bearable.

Edited May 20, 2015 by jamesaly

[AKCarlton]

I'll add the following books:

 

• A History of Archaeological Thought by Bruce Trigger
• Contemporary Archaeology in Theory: The New Pragmatism by Preucel and Mrozowski

 

They were required in my theory class. But again, there were a few people in other cohorts with no anthro background and they did find. It's really up to you and and the effort you make honestly. Some kids just do the readings, go to class and do their assignments and they sail through...but I am asking questions, and trying really hard to learn everything I can (and I even have an anthro background), but I want to get the most out of my grad career.

Edited May 20, 2015 by AKCarlton

[Nerd_For_Life]

I'll add the following books:

 

• A History of Archaeological Thought by Bruce Trigger
• Contemporary Archaeology in Theory: The New Pragmatism by Preucel and Mrozowski

^^^

YorkU is a Social Anthropology only program, so no archaeology needed

[ecopolitiq]

I agree with most of the other posts here. I entered an anthropology MA/PhD program without ever taking a single anthropology course. My background was interdisciplinary environmental and urban studies, so I had plenty of related coursework in biology, economics, sociology, political science, history... etc.

 

If you want a good overview, I recommend Erickson & Murphy's book "A History of Anthropological Theory." The most recent edition would be best (I think it's on its fourth?) The book is relatively short, well-written, and gives a good overview of what the discipline is about. I obtained and read the book last summer and it turned out to be a good choice.