Anthropology of the Americas

Anthropology of the Americas is a unique Master's degree programme in Germany. The international programme is dedicated to the study of the past and present of indigenous societies of Latin America and their global entanglements. It combines the methodical skills and theoretical knowledge of the cultural and social studies with profound regional expertise of Latin America. The Master's programme aims at the consolidation of academic and interdisciplinary knowledge. Students learn various competences in the fields of archaeological, ethnohistorian, and ethnographic research, which allow them to take up occupations in many different areas, inside and outside of academia (e.g. national and international organisations and companies, cultural management, museums, science management, research & education). We offer a particularly wide range of courses, covering the social changes from the beginnings of complex societies to colonial history and cultural and social issues of the present. Students can specialise in two key areas: They can specialise in cultural anthropology by focusing on sociopolitical and cultural processes and dynamics in present day Latin America, with a particular emphasis on the situation of indigenous societies. They can specialise in archaeology and ethnohistory by studying pre-Columbian societies on the basis of archaeological and epigraphic research (e.g. Mayan hieroglyphic writing) as well as transformation processes after the Spanish conquest. Additionally, students can learn an Amerindian language (Aztec/Náhuatl, Yucatec Maya, Kaqchikel Maya, Quechua). Courses on the history and presence of indigenous societies in Central America and South America are offered on a regular basis. Moreover, partnerships with universities in Europe and Latin America offer opportunities to study abroad for one or two semesters. The programme involves a total of 120 ECTS composed of three compulsory modules (in total 25 ECTS) and a wide range of topics and perspectives in the elective module section (65 ECTS). The Master's thesis counts for 30 ECTS. Each module (10 ECTS) contains two classes and a final module exam. The Master's programme includes an internship, which can be undertaken within an archaeological project, an exhibition project, an ethnographic museum or within a non-governmental organisation in Germany or abroad. Students usually start in the first and second semesters with two compulsory modules (20 ECTS) and later develop their own regional and methodological specialisation within a broad offer of modules on archaeological, ethnohistorical, epigraphic, linguistic or anthropological research and/or museum studies (in sum 60 ECTS). The second to fourth semesters are used to acquire professional experience in research projects (museum, archaeology, anthropology, development with 5 ECTS). In the last part of the MA programme (mainly during the fourth semester), students develop their research-based MA theses and present their results in a lecture (5 ECTS) before finalisation. PDF Download

Course details verified 10 Sep 2026 — intakes, entry requirements and course facts · official source

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Prerequisites

For applicants from outside of Germany, a certified translation of the required credentials must be provided in either English or German along with the originals (also in PDF format). Admission to the MA programme in Anthropology of the Americas requires a Bachelor's degree in a socio- or cultural-anthropological subject, or an archaeological or historically oriented subject that pertains to Latin American studies or Spanish studies. Applicants from other degree programmes must have obtained regional knowledge of the Americas (24 credits) achieved through separate studies or participation in events with an average grade of at least 2.3 (in the German grading system) in their previous studies. See below for language requirements.

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