The Master’s programme is a full-time course of three semesters. During the first semester, students study a set of compulsory courses that open up a broader field, seeking to explore the intersection between cultural anthropology and cultural heritage. In the second semester, students have the opportunity to develop their individual interests and competences by studying in one of two specialisations: Cultural Anthropology or Cultural Heritage. The third semester provides a research seminar, a field practice and a summer school, giving the opportunity to deepen and put into practice the acquired knowledge, skills and competences.

Specialization in cultural anthropology combines traditional anthropological topics such as holidays, folklore, mythology, religion, ethnic and national identities, etc. with the interest in and challenges of newer cultural phenomena – globalization, media, advertising, political communication, the Internet, etc. Students will not only learn to work in the field with anthropological methods and tools and to analyze the contemporary world, but they will also develop specific sensitivities and competencies that will enable them to pursue careers in a wide range of fields (cultural tourism, media, advertising and PR agencies, government cultural institutions, the non-profit sector, etc.). etc.), where abilities to understand society and its processes, to develop projects using culture – the past and cultural heritage in particular – as a resource, etc., critical thinking combined with flexibility, etc. appear to be key assets.

Specialization in the field of cultural heritage combines anthropological sensitivity and analytical tools with a more specific professional training, providing additional knowledge, skills and competences in the field of cultural heritage, its socialization and management in the context of contemporary realities and processes and in particular for:

• Structure and function of state and municipal cultural institutions, regulations and institutional practices related to cultural heritage;
• Means and types for financial maintainance of cultural heritage;
• Laws and regulations related to cultural heritage;
• Elaboration, preparation and management of cultural projects related to cultural heritage;
• Monitoring and evaluation of cultural projects related to cultural heritage;
• Developing proposals for conservation strategies, assimilation, socialization, and use of cultural heritage;
• Presentation of the national cultural heritage within international context;
• Cultural tourism related to cultural heritage;
• Cultural policies related to cultural heritage;
• Analysis and expert reports in cultural heritage;
• Developing team work abilities in the spirit of professional ethics;

The approach to cultural heritage is complex, including, in addition to traditional archaeological and historical monuments, architecture, artistic heritage and gallery art, ethnographic heritage (including traditional crafts, everyday culture, cooking), museum infrastructure, etc.

The programme forms and develops such hybrid knowledge, skills and competences that open a wide field for professional realization and development. It expands the opportunities of bachelors from different specialties, while at the same time providing the opportunity to obtain additional qualifications for specialists already actually engaged in various fields, for example, the socialization of cultural heritage and the development of cultural tourism in Bulgaria, etc.

Those specialising in Cultural Anthropology can turn to research work, in particular in the field of field research, qualitative methods of work, interviewing, participant observation, etc. Their competencies in content analysis, visual and media studies, etc.; their knowledge of cultural specificities and interactions in the global world, cultural policies, institutions and practices, etc. make them suitable for any field where intercultural issues arise that require analysis, interpretation and competent management. Graduates of the programme can be both creative cultural actors on the part of the state and business, and critical evaluators of work in this field – as journalists, civil society actors, etc.

The graduates of the Cultural Heritage specialization can successfully realize their professional career in all spheres of cultural tourism, in cultural institutions, state and municipal structures, as well as in non-profit organizations related to the problems of cultural heritage by participating and organizing the process of production, financial provision and realization of cultural product for the purposes of preservation and socialization of cultural heritage, cultural tourism, social integration, education, etc.

Graduates from the „Cultural Anthropology and Cultural Heritage“ MA Programme could work as:
Cultural heritage managers
Cultural heritage animators

1923 2621 6009 – cultural institute caretaker/manager
1924 2621 6010 – curator
1986 2632 6015 – social anthropologist
1987 2632 6016 – cultural tourism specialist
3513 5113 6006 – museum/art gallery tour guide