Kutztown University

What you'll study

This programme builds a foundation in anthropological theory and ethnographic method, then applies those tools to organisations, workplaces and institutional culture. You'll study core topics in cultural anthropology alongside specialised modules that examine organisational life, workplace interaction, institutional change and the relationship between culture and management.

• Core anthropology courses: introduction to cultural anthropology, anthropology of language, history of anthropological theory.
• Research and methods: ethnographic fieldwork, qualitative interviewing, participant observation, and courses in research design and applied methods for organisational contexts.
• Quantitative and analytical skills: statistics for social sciences, data visualisation and mixed‑methods approaches to complement qualitative practice.
• Organisational Anthropology specialism: workplace ethnography, organisational culture and change, leadership and power, corporate culture, consumer culture and design anthropology.
• Experiential learning: internships or practicum placements with businesses, NGOs or local government, and a culminating capstone project or senior seminar applying ethnographic methods to an organisational problem.
• Electives: options from related areas such as sociology, psychology, business studies, public policy and communication to broaden applied skills.

Entry requirements

Applicants are typically expected to hold a recognised secondary school diploma or equivalent. Admissions consider academic performance across a broad high‑school curriculum; preparation in the social sciences and strong writing skills are advantageous. Standardised test requirements (SAT/ACT) may be subject to institutional policy, so applicants should check current guidance from the university.

Transfer applicants should provide college transcripts and descriptions of previously completed courses to determine appropriate credit. Mature applicants and those with relevant life or work experience are encouraged to apply and may be asked to submit a personal statement outlining interest in anthropology and experience with research or organisational work.

Career prospects

Graduates combine ethnographic and analytical skills with an understanding of organisational dynamics, opening a range of career pathways. Typical roles include:

• Human resources and organisational development — culture change, employee engagement and diversity initiatives.
• Market and user research — qualitative research, customer insight and consumer experience design.
• Consultancy — organisational change consulting, ethnographic consultancy for product and service design.
• Public sector and non‑profit roles — programme evaluation, community engagement and policy analysis.
• Further study and research — postgraduate degrees in anthropology, organisational studies, business, human‑centred design or public policy.

Why study at Kutztown University

Kutztown University provides a liberal‑arts environment where students can combine hands‑on fieldwork with interdisciplinary coursework. The university emphasises small‑group teaching and close faculty mentoring, which supports the practicum and capstone components essential to applied anthropology. Students benefit from local internship opportunities with businesses and community organisations in the region, as well as access to campus research resources and faculty expertise in ethnographic methods and applied social research.

The programme is designed to equip students with practical research skills, critical thinking and communication abilities that employers value, while allowing flexibility to pursue electives in business, communication or public service to tailor the degree to specific career goals.