University of San Diego

What you'll study

This programme blends core anthropological subjects with specialised courses in organisational analysis and applied research. You will study cultural anthropology, social theory, and the history of anthropological thought alongside practical training in ethnographic methods, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and applied design for organisations.

• Core anthropology modules: Introductory cultural anthropology, comparative social systems, kinship and identity, and anthropological theory.
• Methods and skills: Ethnographic field methods, participant observation, interviewing, qualitative coding, survey design and basic statistics for social research.
• Organisational Anthropology specialisms: Courses on organisational culture, workplace ethnography, change and leadership in organisations, technology and work, and culture in global organisations.
• Applied projects and practicum: Internships, community-engaged fieldwork, practicum placements with local businesses, NGOs or public agencies, and a capstone research project or senior thesis applying ethnographic methods to an organisational problem.
• Interdisciplinary electives: Options commonly taken include courses from business, communication, sociology, psychology, human-centred design and data analytics to complement anthropological expertise.
• Structure: The degree is typically completed over four years, combining General Education requirements with major coursework, methods training and at least one practicum or fieldwork experience.

Entry requirements

Admissions follow the University of San Diego’s undergraduate criteria. Typical applicants should present a recognised secondary school diploma or equivalent with a strong academic record and evidence of intellectual curiosity. Admissions commonly take into account school transcripts, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation.

• For first-year applicants: completion of secondary-level preparatory courses in humanities and social sciences is helpful; colleges often consider extracurricular experiences that demonstrate engagement with communities or research-minded activities.
• For transfer applicants: submission of college transcripts showing successful completion of general education or lower-division coursework and a competitive college GPA.
• Standardised tests may be optional in admissions decisions; consult the university for current test-flexibility policies.
• International students: proof of academic equivalency and demonstration of English proficiency through accepted exams or other evidence are normally required.

Career prospects

Graduates with a specialism in Organizational Anthropology are prepared for roles that require sociocultural insight, qualitative research skills and the ability to translate human-centred findings into organisational change:

• Human resources and organisational development: culture change, diversity and inclusion, leadership development.
• User experience and customer research: UX researcher or ethnographer roles in tech and design firms.
• Management and consulting: organisational consultants who use qualitative insights to inform strategy and operational change.
• Non-profit and public sector: programme design, evaluation, community engagement and policy analysis.
• Research and academia: roles in applied research centres, market research firms, or progression to postgraduate study in anthropology, organisational studies, business or related fields.

Why study at University of San Diego

The University of San Diego offers a liberal arts environment with small class sizes and close faculty mentoring, which benefits ethnographic training and hands-on research. The campus’s urban Southern California location provides ready access to a wide range of organisations—non-profits, startups, established corporations, health and biotech institutions and government agencies—making internships and practicum placements practical and varied.

Students in this programme can draw on interdisciplinary collaboration across departments, opportunities for community-engaged learning and supervised fieldwork, and advising designed to link anthropological methods to tangible career pathways in business, technology, the public sector and civil society.