University of Hawaii

What you'll study

The programme builds a foundation across the four traditional subfields of anthropology — cultural, archaeological, biological, and linguistic — while offering a concentration in organisational anthropology and applied methods. Core coursework introduces anthropological theory, ethnographic methods, qualitative and quantitative research techniques, and issues in ethics and community‑engaged scholarship.

• Introductory and theory modules: cultural anthropology, history of anthropological thought, and contemporary theory.
• Methods and analysis: participant observation, interview techniques, qualitative coding, survey design, and introductory statistics for social research.
• Organisational Anthropology modules: workplace cultures, institutional ethnography, organisational change and leadership, comparative management practices, and the anthropology of organisations and markets.
• Applied/practical options: practicum in field research, internship placements with local organisations, community‑based research projects, and collaborative design workshops.
• Regional and topical studies: Pacific and Indigenous studies, migration and transnationalism, language and identity, and public policy applications.
• Capstone and independent research: honours thesis or senior project that typically involves original ethnographic or applied research in an organisational or community setting.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a high school diploma or equivalent from an accredited institution. Admissions typically consider academic achievement across secondary school subjects, with particular weight given to social sciences, humanities and communication skills. A personal statement describing interest in anthropology and organisational studies is required, and applicants are often asked to submit one or two references that speak to academic potential and suitability for fieldwork.

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency by an approved test or recognised credential. Mature students and those with prior tertiary study or relevant workplace experience are encouraged to apply and may be considered under alternative admission pathways.

Career prospects

Graduates are equipped to apply ethnographic reasoning and human‑centred approaches across a range of sectors. Common career paths include:

• Human resources, organisational development and change management roles that require cultural analysis and stakeholder engagement.
• UX research, product and service design, and market research where qualitative insight into user behaviour is valued.
• Consulting for businesses, non‑profits and government agencies on community engagement, diversity and inclusion, and policy implementation.
• Research assistantships, programme evaluation and monitoring roles in NGOs, public health, education and cultural institutions.
• Further study at postgraduate level in anthropology, organisational studies, public policy, law, or business disciplines.

Why study at University of Hawaii

The University of Hawaii offers distinctive strengths for organisational anthropology through its location and research focus. Studying in Hawaiʻi provides direct access to diverse Pacific communities, a strong tradition of Indigenous and Pacific studies, and opportunities for place‑based, community‑engaged research.

Students benefit from faculty expertise in ethnography, applied anthropology and Pacific scholarship, small‑group field training, and partnership opportunities with local organisations, government agencies and cultural institutions. Internship and fieldwork components are designed to connect classroom learning with real organisational settings across the islands and the broader Pacific region.