Graduate Study?

Question

Hello,

I've just graduated from university with a 1st Class degree in Popular Music. The aspect of the course which most interested me was the cultural studies side of things: for my final year dissertation I did an (ethnographical) study of the ways that online and offline communities interact within the music scene in Oxford and found it thoroughly interesting.

So I was wondering, from those of you who might know or have experience, what kind of graduate study i might enjoy, particularly whether I might find anthropology or social study interesting, whether they would take me with a Popular Music degree, and whether I might be able to 'specialise' in something music related within these fields??

Thanks for any advice!!!

Answer 1

I have found my passion in anthropology and Rutgers is rated in the top ten of Anthropology programs twice, once for cultural anthropology and again for evolutionary anthropology, that is why I am going there.

If you want to discuss it further feel free to email me.

Answer 2

Cool! You've found something you love.

Go for it.

I'm thinking sociology.

Since your undergrad degree isn't IN sociology, you may have to take a few make-up courses, as it were. But don't let that stop you.

Anthropology is going to be about other cultures (which is why I'm suggesting sociology; as a prof of mine once said "sociology is anthropology about OUR culture"). Not that you wouldn't be interested in that, too. And you might consider a couple of courses in anthro.

Yes, they'll take you. It's not unheard of to switch fields from undergrad to grad work. Use your paper, which sounds pretty sociological, as your "cred" and be willing to take a few extra courses, that they'd expect all grad students in sociology to have.

Your first step is to scope out what grad departments there are that would fit best with what you want to do, then talk to some of those profs, waving your study under their noses.

Answer 3

Anthropology graduate departments may consider you even with a degree in another subject field, although you may be required to do a pre-masters program, which will take you about a year and you will take some core undergraduate anthropology courses. I do think that your interests could take you into the field of anthropology especially if you find an excellent department with professors and advisors who share your interests. Research several schools to find one that is right for you. You may also want to look at sociology and art departments.