Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology (M.A.)

Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology is a discipline involving cultural research and is therefore closely related to History, Linguistics, Literature, History of Art, Social and Cultural Anthropology, Religious Studies and more. It aims to investigate the lifeworlds predominantly in Europe. The research subjects involve both tangible and intangible cultural assets as expressions of norms and values. The mutual processes of transmission between social classes and groups are also important. The aim of cultural-anthropological analysis is to show stability and change not only in the past, but in modern day life with the help of empirical and comparative methods.

Besides the regular MA Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology, there is an option for students to study with a core focus in the "Curriculum Visual Anthropology" (CVA). This specialisation provides an in-depth education in the field of ethnographic documentary film.

With three professorships, the Göttingen Institute is one of the largest institutions for this subject in Germany. Thanks to the broad research portfolios of the lecturers as well as local resources, the institute guarantees an extensive qualification along the entire spectrum of the subject.

Further information

The studies of the masters program qualifies graduates for work in a variety of occupational fields. In fact, there are no professions specifically designated for cultural anthropologists. Graduates possess a broad set of skills for apprehending and critically contextualizing social phenomena. They command the know-how for carrying out and documenting in situ research and transferring the findings into a variety of knowledge formats (textual, visual, audio, digital and others). Their qualification extends to the conception and installation of exhibitions, self-employed work in the media or for cultural and social policy institutions. Graduates will find work in the following fields (amongst others):

• Museums, print and online media institutions
• Documentary film making
• Universities and research institutions
• Non-government organizations (NGOs)
• Trusts and foundations
• Public relations
• Publishers
• Cultural management, cultural policy
• Market research and advertising
• Film, theater and literary establishments

The programme also prepares students for consecutive scientific qualification (Ph.D./Doctorate).