The Qualitative Methods and Anthropology for Business Certificate provides a 9-credit course of study designed to support students interested in bringing ethnographic methods and anthropological lenses to a career in business. Anthropologists work in a variety of fields, across the public and private sectors. The qualitative and analytic approaches cultivated by anthropology are valuable in consulting, product development, design, market research, leadership and management, entrepreneurialism, and other fields. Thus, the Qualitative Methods and Anthropology for Business Certificate is designed to support students of any school or major who are interested in a career in business by providing a grounding in practical research skills and key anthropological approaches.
The Certificate is built around three courses, which students can take in any order. The key methodological skills component is ANT 220: Ethnographic Methods, in which students engage directly in ethnographic research, gaining practical experience in these skills. Students also take either ANT 100: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology or SOC 100: Introduction to Sociology, which fulfills a Social Science (S) designation for General Education; as well as one of four 300-level courses focused on the culture and history of markets and business.
The certificate may be earned in conjunction with a degree program or as a stand-alone credential. (Students pursuing a stand-alone credential are not eligible for federal financial aid and may not participate in Commencement.) After the student applies for graduation, the certificate is posted to the student’s official transcript and an official diploma stating the area of the certificate is issued.
