Emory University

What you'll study

The curriculum balances theoretical foundations, research training and applied electives so students develop both conceptual breadth and practical competence. Typical components include:

• Theoretical foundations — political economy, symbolic and interpretive approaches, theories of organisation, and the anthropology of work and institutions.
• Research methods — intensive instruction in ethnography, participant observation, interviewing, qualitative coding, and the integration of quantitative and digital trace data for mixed-methods projects.
• Organisational ethnography — practicum-style modules on workplace culture, leadership, decision-making, and the materiality of organisational processes.
• Applied methods and design — courses on design research, evaluation, knowledge translation, and communicating findings to non-academic audiences.
• Electives and interdisciplinary options — opportunities to take classes relevant to organisational study from business, public health, information science or policy programmes to tailor training to career goals.
• Capstone — a substantial research project, thesis or practicum placement in which students conduct an extended study of an organisation or develop an applied research deliverable for an external partner.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised bachelor’s degree. Admissions committees look for evidence of academic preparation in the social sciences or related fields, demonstrated capacity for independent research, and clear motivation for studying organisational questions from an anthropological perspective. Typical application materials include academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement outlining research interests and career aims, and a CV. Relevant work, internship or field experience and samples of written work strengthen an application.

Career prospects

Graduates move into roles where ethnographic sensibilities and qualitative rigour are prized. Common pathways include organisational development, human-centred design and UX research, management and strategy consulting, evaluation and monitoring for NGOs or public agencies, market and consumer research, policy analysis, and roles in HR and change management. Others continue to doctoral study or pursue research positions in think-tanks and universities. The programme’s applied training aims to equip students to communicate actionable recommendations to diverse stakeholders.

Why study at Emory University

Emory offers an interdisciplinary environment with links across business, public health, and policy schools, enabling rich cross-sector collaboration for organisational research. Located in a major metropolitan region, students can access a wide range of practicum and internship partners in corporations, nonprofits and government. The department emphasises small-group mentorship and intensive methodological training, so students receive tailored supervision for capstone projects and placements. Emory’s combination of theoretical depth and applied opportunity makes it a strong choice for those who want to apply anthropological methods to real-world organisational challenges.