Cultural Anthropology
You’ll develop the cultural awareness and critical thinking skills you need to analyze and produce a broad range of discourse in a full spectrum of careers — and to make a difference in whatever you do.
- 2 Years / Onsite
- Intakes: Jan, Apr, Jun, Oct
Overview
Cultural Anthropology at Auckland Royal Academy investigates human diversity — the extraordinary range of beliefs, practices, social structures, and cultural systems through which people across the world make meaning and organise collective life. The programme develops the ethnographic skills and comparative analytical perspective needed to understand cultural difference with empathy and intellectual rigour, and to apply that understanding in research, policy, development, and community practice.
Fieldwork is a defining feature of the programme, with students conducting ethnographic observation and interviews in Auckland's diverse communities, Pacific Island contexts, and rural New Zealand settings. You will learn to collect, interpret, and represent cultural knowledge ethically and rigorously, developing the reflexive awareness essential for working across cultural boundaries in professional and research contexts.
Career Opportunities
Cultural Anthropology graduates work in international development, public health, museum and heritage management, community development, government policy, journalism, education, and cross-cultural consulting. The ability to understand cultural systems from the inside and to communicate across difference is a capability valued by organisations working in increasingly diverse and globalised environments.
Program Learning Outcomes
Apply ethnographic methods — including participant observation, semi-structured interviewing, and qualitative data analysis — to investigate cultural practices and social phenomena with ethical rigour and analytical depth.
Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of anthropological theory and the history of the discipline, applying theoretical frameworks from structuralism, practice theory, and postcolonialism to interpret cultural difference and social change.
Engage respectfully and reciprocally with Māori, Pacific, and other indigenous communities in New Zealand, applying principles of cultural competence, informed consent, and indigenous data sovereignty in anthropological research.
Programme
| Semester 1 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Anthropology | 4 | ANTH 101 |
| Foundations & Theory | 4 | ANTH 110 |
| Research Methods | 3 | ANTH 120 |
| Semester 2 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Anthropology I | 4 | ANTH 201 |
| Professional Practice | 3 | ANTH 210 |
| Industry Context NZ | 4 | ANTH 220 |
| Semester 3 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Anthropology II | 4 | ANTH 301 |
| Critical Perspectives | 3 | ANTH 310 |
| Ethics & Standards | 3 | ANTH 320 |
| Semester 4 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Anthropology | 4 | ANTH 401 |
| Specialisation Elective | 3 | ANTH 410 |
| Anthropology Capstone Project | 4 | ANTH 490 |
| Total for the entire period of study | 11 |
Contact us
3/60 Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
How to Apply?
- You Apply
Tell us a little about yourself and we’ll help with the rest. Our convenient online application tool only takes 10 minutes to complete.
- We Connect
After you submit your application, an admissions representative will contact you and will help you to complete the process.
- You Get Ready
Once you’ve completed your application and connected with an admissions representative, you’re ready to create your schedule.