Master of Arts: Anthropology

Anthropology, MA

  • Program Overview

    Students can pursue an MA in Archaeology, Public Archaeology, Linguistic Anthropology or Sociocultural Anthropology. In rare cases students may also pursue an MA in Biological Anthropology, but most master's-level students in biological anthropology pursue the Master of Science degree. Students from any academic major can apply for the MA in anthropology.

    The Master of Arts degree is a four-field degree which normally takes two years. While students focus on one subdiscipline of anthropology, they are required to take a course in each of the other subfields (except for the MA in Public Archaeology).

  • Admissions
    • A baccalaureate degree - not necessarily in the discipline of anthropology - or its equivalent, from an accredited college or university
    • GRE scores not required
    • A statement of career goals along with the application

    Students from countries in which English is not the primary language must also submit TOEFL scores; additionally, all foreign students must provide immigration forms guaranteeing financial support.

  • Degree Requirements

    For the Master's degree in anthropology, a student must complete with a GPA of 3.0 or better and satisfy the following:

    • Pass, with a B- or better, one four-credit course in each subdiscipline, as designated by
      each subdisciplinary caucus, that includes history and theory of the subdiscipline. Specific courses selected must be approved by the student's principal advisor.
    • Pass, with a B- or better, at least six additional credits (exclusive of ANTH 580, 590, 591 [or equivalent] and including no more than 4 credits of ANTH 597 and/or ANTH 599); these may be chosen from the identified subfield distribution courses or from other courses offered within or outside of the department (but no more than four credits taken outside of anthropology may be counted). Specific courses selected must be approved by the student's principal advisor.
    • Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4-point scale, where A = 4). Additional credits beyond this minimum may be required to meet the academic goals established in consultation with the student's principal advisor.
    • Present a colloquium to their advisor and reader in the third semester of full-time registration in which the research plans for the master's thesis or two-paper option are presented. For part-time students, the colloquium must be presented prior to the completion of 30 graduate credits.
    • Satisfy the foreign language requirement (see below).
    • Submit an acceptable Master's thesis or, in lieu of the thesis, and with the approval of the instructors to whom the papers were originally submitted, offer two research papers (the "two-paper option") to fulfill the final requirement for the Master's degree. The choice between these options must be approved by the student's principal advisor. (See appendix 1 in "Guidelines to Graduate Study").

    Foreign Language Requirement: Students are required to demonstrate an ability to read research literature in a major language of scholarship other than English. This language requirement may be fulfilled in a number of ways. Students may undertake to translate, or to read and be examined on, a journal article of about 10 pages selected with the advice and consent of the principal advisor. Alternatively, students may take a translation exam, supervised within the department or through the Translation Research and Instruction Program (TRIP); exam passages are typically about 500 words long and the student, using a dictionary, is given two hours in which to complete a working translation. Students who need to acquire reading knowledge of an appropriate foreign language are encouraged to register for TRIP 707 Foreign Language Research Proficiency, a variable-credit course designed to bring the student to reading competence by the end of one semester.

  • Independent Study

    Independent study provides a means for students to build upon a foundation of regular offerings/instruction. It serves to expand the curriculum in the form of guided readings and research. Independent study credits will normally be accumulated beyond the minimum degree requirements by students interested in building depth in topics not covered by regularly scheduled courses.

    Independent studies are generally available only to students who have completed 24 credit hours of regular graduate instruction. Further, independent study credit is usually not counted toward the minimum 30 credit hours required for the MA degree.

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