MA in Anthropology and Law

Law does not exist in isolation. It reflects culture, history, power and social relationships. This program is designed for students who want to ask deeper questions about how legal systems work in practice and how they affect real communities.

At UB, you will:

• Study law as a cultural and social process, not just a set of rules
• Learn from faculty in both anthropology and the School of Law
• Engage with historical, theoretical and ethnographic approaches
• Build skills that translate across research, policy and professional settings
• Prepare for doctoral study, law school or applied careers

The program is a strong fit for students with backgrounds in anthropology, legal studies, social sciences or humanities who want interdisciplinary training.

The MA in Anthropology and Law is an interdisciplinary master’s degree housed in the Department of Anthropology and offered in conjunction with the School of Law. Anthropology is the degree-granting department.

The program blends graduate seminars, interdisciplinary coursework and independent research. Students complete anthropology coursework alongside selected law courses and finish the program with a faculty-supervised culminating project.

Students explore the intersections of law, culture and society, with attention to how legal systems are created, interpreted and experienced across different contexts. Areas of study may include:

• Law, culture and social power
• Legal systems in historical and comparative perspective
• Rights, citizenship and governance
• Indigenous law and cultural heritage
• Law, environment and social justice
• Ethnographic approaches to legal institutions

The official graduate course catalog is the sole authoritative source for program requirements and policies.

The MA in Anthropology and Law is a strong fit for students who:

• Are interested in the relationship between law, culture and society
• Want to study legal systems beyond doctrine and procedure
• Are considering doctoral study in anthropology or related fields
• Are exploring future applications to law school
• Plan to pursue careers in policy, advocacy, governance or community-based work

Through coursework and research, students develop advanced analytical and research skills that support both academic and applied paths. Graduates of the program are prepared to:

• Demonstrate mastery of anthropological theory and method
• Analyze legal systems within cultural, historical and social contexts
• Design and conduct independent research using ethnographic and qualitative methods
• Integrate perspectives from anthropology and law in scholarly and professional work
• Communicate complex ideas clearly through research writing and presentations

These learning outcomes support doctoral study, law school preparation, and careers that require critical analysis, research and cross-disciplinary thinking.

Graduates of the MA in Anthropology and Law pursue a wide range of academic and applied paths. Alumni are prepared for:

• Doctoral study in anthropology or related fields
• Law school and other professional programs
• Policy analysis and public service
• Human rights and advocacy work
• Cultural heritage and Indigenous rights work
• Community-based and nonprofit leadership roles

The program builds transferable skills that employers value, including research design, critical analysis, ethical reasoning and professional communication.

If you are interested in museums as dynamic cultural institutions and want graduate training that blends theory, critique and hands-on experience, the MA in Critical Museum Studies at UB offers a distinctive and interdisciplinary path forward.

We are happy to help you explore whether this program is the right fit.