Department of Anthropology
MAA FAQ
Overview
How is the MAA different from the old MAADS?
What is the difference between the MAA and MPhil?
What kinds of people enrol in the MAA?
Is the MAA a stepping stone to higher research?
The program
How does the MAA program work?
What is involved in each coursework unit?
What units are offered each year?
Is the MAA a full-time program of study?
The department
Who is on the staff and what do they research?
What facilities does the department provide MAA students?
MAA research
What type of research projects do students pursue?
How does supervision work?
Do we require ethics approval for our research?
Is funding available for our research?
What are internships?
How is our work assessed?
How do we graduate?
Beyond the MAA
What are the career prospects for MAA students?
What other University activities can MAA students get involved in?
Further Links
How is the MAA different from the old MAADS?
The Master of Applied Anthropology degree was introduced in 2002. It replaced the Master of Arts in Applied Anthropology and Development Studies (MAAADS) which had been offered by the Department since 1991.
The MAA differs from MAAADS in a number of important respects. Graduates of the program receive a named Master degree (MAppAnth) rather than a generic Master of Arts. While the degrees are of the same standing, a named degree indicates specialist and ‘professional’ knowledge in a specific discipline. This can be important when applying for positions where employers are looking for a graduate with a proven track record in further education and independent research on issues that relate directly to the nature of the work involved.
Secondly, the MAA program places greater emphasis on the research element of the degree. A requirement of the MAAADS was the successful completion of an 8 credit point extended essay on a subject directly related to the content of taught units. By contrast the MAA program requires students to complete a 16 credit point essay. The purpose of this is to encourage students to engage in a substantial piece of supervision-led research, and to produce a thesis that complies with the accepted academic format. See comments below on supervision, and types of projects.
The third significant difference between the two degrees is that MAA broadens out the scope of applied anthropology beyond the study of international development issues. However, along with Social Impact Assessment in the ‘developed world’, and advisory work among Aboriginal communities and organisations, the domain of international development remains an important sphere within which anthropologists are employed. For this reason – and because anthropological perspectives on aid and intervention are intrinsically interesting – the MAA program will retain a core focus on development, it’s conduct, impact, politics and ideas that underpin it.
You may occasionally hear members of staff refer to the program on which you are enrolled as MAAADS – it’s simply habit.
What is the difference between the MAA and the MPhil?
The Master of Philosophy is a separate degree. It is a research degree rather than a coursework degree and admission is for students who have successfully gained an Honours degree in Anthropology or its equivalent. MPhil students complete a 50,000-word supervised thesis over the equivalent of two years full-time study.
As the MPhil is classified as a research degree it is possible, in some cases, to upgrade it to a PhD. This is not possible with the MAA.
Students interested in pursuing a research Masters should contact the department's Postgraduate Research Co-ordinator, Dr Kalpana Ram.
What kinds of people enrol in the MAA?
Most years there is a more or less even split between part-time and full-time students. Over the past two years we have seen a welcome increase in international students from Europe (Italy, France, Norway and the UK), the US and Canada, Thailand, China, Vietnam and Mauritius. Australia-based students are mostly part-time students already in employment. Previous and current students include local government workers, social workers, journalists, NGO officials, and administrators in publishing, law and education. We are seeing an increase in students joining the program directly from an undergraduate anthropology or social science degree from Macquarie and other universities.
Is the MAA a stepping stone to higher research?
The MAA is a vocational degree and was not designed with higher research in mind. However, as the research component of the MAA is so substantial, making up around 45% of the degree, it is possible to progress to higher research degrees such as a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or a PhD. Past students have taken this path and gone on to research degrees in Australian universities.
If you are interested in higher research then you should contact Dr Chris Lyttleton, Postgraduate Research Coordinator (chrisl@scmp.mq.edu.au).
How does the MAA program work?
The MAA is a coursework postgraduate degree with a research component. To graduate, students must accumulate 36 postgraduate credit points. These points are gained from the successful completion of FIVE taught coursework units (each worth 4 credit points) and from the successful completion of a 16 credit point Research Project culminating in a 20,000-word thesis.
The length of candidature is one and a half years (three semesters) if you are enrolled full-time, or two years if you are a part-time student.
It is generally the case (and this is advised) that students take three units in the first semester of enrolment, and two in the second undertaking their research and writing their thesis throughout semesters two and three. However, students would look to develop quite a clear idea about their research topic from early on in the coursework. It is a good idea for students to identify a member of staff who has an interest and expertise in an area that relates to your chosen topic. Make contact with that person, explain your research ideas and seek guidance in advance of actual supervision.
When you are ready to begin the research component of the degree, you are required to enrol in a unit in much the same way that you do for individual ANTH800 courses. Remember the research component of the program is to the value of 16 credit points, and is made up of the following units:
- ANTH828 Research Project Part A (4cp)
- ANTH825 Research Project Part B (8cp)
- ANTH827 Research Seminar
For more details on the program structure, click here. If you’re unsure make an appointment to see the program Director, Dr Pal Nyiri.
What is involved in each coursework unit?
Most courses/units involve participation in one evening seminar each week of semester (around 12-13 seminars per unit). The seminars usually take place between 6-8pm in the Anthropology Department’s Meeting Room (C3A630). It varies from unit to unit, but generally the seminars involve a presentation by the lecturer followed by structured discussion around a number of set readings. Students are expected to come fully prepared to contribute to these discussions, and this requires the careful reading of recommended texts.
Students will be provided with a Course Outline that sets out the program of study and points to required and recommended readings.
As part of the assessment students will normally be expected to make one or more class presentations, and in addition to write one or more essays or reviews. The length of these assignments varies between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
What units are offered each year?
Anthropology is a small Department. This means we are able to offer a maximum of SIX units each calendar year. The THREE units on offer each semester are drawn from the ANTH800-level units listed in the Postgraduate Handbook.
Please do not be misled into thinking that all the listed units will be taught every year – this is not the case. Most units are rotated on a two-yearly basis. However, certain core units, such as ANTH800, 801 and 815 are offered every year.
See current offerings here.
Is the MAA a full-time program of study?
The MAA is offered both full- and part-time. The coursework component of the MAA requires students to attend classes only one evening per week per unit. As most students complete three units in first semester this means they are on campus for three evenings a week and as they enrol in only one unit in second semester and one unit in third semester this means they are on campus for one evening a week in 2nd and 3rd semesters. When undertaking the research component of the degree, students may find themselves on campus more frequently, for example, in meetings with supervisors or conducting research in the library.
This arrangement generally suits students, the majority of whom have a full-time or part-time job.
International students who are planning to come to Australia to take the MAA degree may desire more contact and involvement in University life. Iit is possible for students to engage more fully in the academic life of the University. For example, it may be possible for students to attend units offered by the Department of Anthropology, or other Departments, on which they are not enrolled. In addition, students who early on develop a clear idea about their chosen research topic may fully immerse themselves in their research across the three semesters, rather than leaving it until the second and third semesters. This would be strongly encouraged. We also strongly encourage students to attend weekly departmental seminars.
Who is on the staff and what do they research?
For details about the Department of Anthropology's teaching staff, including research profiles and contact details, click here.
[Back to top]What facilities does the Department provide MAA students?
Office space (room 618) is provided for the use of MAA students. It comprises 3-5 computers connected to the internet and desk space. There are also some limited printing facilities.
What type of research projects do students pursue?
Students use a range of research methods. Students are encouraged to do some sort of field-based research, involving interviews, surveys or participant-observation. However, desk- or library-based research, as well as research based around an internship, are also viable options.
Students usually undertake their research in Australia but exceptions have included work on women and livelihoods in Zimbabwe, reconciliation processes in East Timor, and child-centred village-based projects in India.
Recent Australia-based research involving interviews and informal surveys has focused and gambling and shame, impacts assessments for new roads, the Sydney Olympics, and the role of information in asylum-seeking from West Africa.
The topics of recent desk-based theses have included structural adjustment and its impact on the poor, women and HIV/AIDS in Africa, the detention of asylum-seekers and international legal obligations.
Copies of theses are retained in the Department and students enrolled in the program can arrange with the Department to review these. To arrange viewing please contact the Administrative Co-ordinator at maa-admin@scmp.mq.edu.au.
How does supervision work?
The duration of the degree is normally 18 months. Most students begin to identify a research topic in semester one. Often this emerges out of one of the units they’ve completed.
Research and writing the thesis is undertaken through supervision with one member of staff. It is a good idea to make yourself aware of the interests of different staff members and discuss with them your research ideas. Mid-way through the degree you should approach an academic staff member and formally ask if they would be prepared to supervise your research.
Be prepared for this first approach. It is helpful to take along:
- a one page summary of your topic;
- including a research question (or hypothesis);
- a list of key readings;
- and a description of the research methodology .
Your supervisor may at this stage point you in the direction of additional literature.
Once you are ready to begin research it is a good idea to agree to a structure for supervision. This might include a schedule of meetings (perhaps once a month) and a schedule for submitting literature reviews, reports, or chapters. It should be remembered that staff have a busy schedule and may not always be available. It is important to arrange meetings in advance, and keep your supervisor informed about your whereabouts and contact details.
The Department is currently developing separate guidance notes for MAA thesis supervision. These notes should be availiable shortly and will be posted on this site.
Do we require ethics approval for our research?
Research that involves contact with people generally requires ethics approval. But you should always check with your supervisor whether or not the research you propose needs ethics clearance.
Students should discuss completing the ethics applications form with their supervisors. Once completed the form should be sent to the Divisional Ethics Representative. The Department of Anthropology is in the Division of Society, Culture, Media and Philosophy (Faculty of Arts) and for 2005 the Faculty of Arts Ethics Representative is Dr Kirsten Bell (kbell@scmp.mq.edu.au, tel: 9850 8079). The Divisional Representative may recommend changes, the final version of the application is then forwarded to the University Ethics Committee (Human Research) which meets towards the end of most months. The Committee will scrutinise the applications and may recommend changes.
You should expect the process to take about a month from start to finish. It is important therefore that you begin the process a couple of months before you wish to commence research. Research cannot begin until ethics approval has been received.
Don’t be daunted by the process. Completing the ethics applications form and discussing the issues with your supervisor is educative and important. It helps researchers to understand the need for ethical engagement in research.
You will find guidance notes, forms and other information on the Research Office website: http://www.ro.mq.edu.au/ethics/human/
Is funding available for our research?
Neither the Department nor the Division has funding for students undertaking research as part of their coursework Masters degree. The Research Office lists on its website both internal and external funding schemes and sources. You should consult this database and seek advise from the Research Office staff.(http://www.ro.mq.edu.au/about/).
What are internships?
Over the past three years we have placed students in internships and volunteer posts. Examples include an NGO and UNICEF. The Department, either your supervisor, the program Director, or the Head of Department would be happy to write a letter in support of your application for an internship. It will be your responsibility to search the websites of organisations and agencies to identify relevant placements. The Department is also currently developing a database of organisations offering suitable internship opportunities.
The website of the organisation Experience Development is a good place to start the electronic paperchase:
http://www.experiencedevelopment.org/jobs_internships.php
Full contact details of Australia-based NGOs can be found at the Australian Council for Overseas Aid website:
How is our work assessed?
Theses are assessed by two members of staff with expertise in the subject area. Assessment may take up to eight weeks from date of submission. Theses submitted after the set date may take even longer. It is important therefore that you submit in time for the preferred date of graduation.
[Back to top]How do we graduate?
Dates vary from year-to-year and you should check with Academic programs Section. However, for April graduation all grades and the completion certificate should be submitted by the end of January. Therefore, in order to graduate in April of any year, students should have completed the coursework (with grades) and have submitted the thesis by first week of the previous November.
If you are unsure about these deadlines please consult the program Director.
It is important you keep the University informed about any change of address in order to receive important graduation information.
What are the career prospects for MAA students?
The majority of students participate in this degree program because they are interested in anthropological perspectives on the world, and are interested in social, cultural and political dimensions of development and change both at home and overseas. The degree adds to students’ professional qualifications and is evidence of their ability to study and to work independently on a piece of self-identified research.
Many graduates of the MAA or MAADS programs have been successful at either furthering existing careers, or branching out into new fields. Some examples of careers pursued by recent graduates include:
- Tsunami reconstruction in Sri Lanka.
- Employed by the World Bank in Washington.
- Project manager for UNICEF development programs in Laos.
- Ethics officer in the Research Office here at Macquarie.
What other University activities can MAA students get involved in?
MAA students are invited to attend the Anthropology Colloquium series held on Thursday 10.30-12.30 in C3A630. Jovan Maud (jmaud@scmp.mq.edu.au) will have the Colloquium program. Details of the current series can also be found here.
Further Links
These notes provide information that is specific to the Master of Applied Anthropology degree. Other information about enrolments, contact details, dates, HECS/PELS and for international students can be accessed through the Macquarie University website, and printed handbooks. Please consult:
- Postgraduate Studies http://www.postgradandbeyond.mq.edu.au/
- Macquarie International: http://www.international.mq.edu.au
Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio.