Anthropology, M.A.
Admission
Applicants for the Master’s degree must have a baccalaureate degree from an approved college of university. Applicants must be recommended to the Graduate School for acceptance by the Department of Anthropology. Admission requirements include official transcripts from all previous colleges or universities (whether a degree was earned or not), a personal statement of the student’s interest and intent, a writing sample, and at least two letters of recommendation. Applicants to the Professional MA track in archaeology must demonstrate completion of a field school or commensurate supervised field experience. A strong applicant should have a 3.50 GPA. Practically speaking, an applicant intending to seek a MA should be supported by at least two faculty members willing to serve as mentors in order to be admitted into the program.
Standard MA Track Requirements (33 Hours)
Students are required to complete a minimum of 27 hours of course work and a master’s thesis (6 hours) for a total of 33 hours. Of these, at least 14 hours must be courses at the 700-level, excluding the thesis hours (ANTH 799). Students must participate in supervised fieldwork and successfully pass a written comprehensive exam. Specific requirements for the Standard MA Track are listed below:
Required Core Courses (6 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 703 | Anthropological Inquiry | 3 |
| ANTH 711 | Professionalism and Ethics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Subfields - Core Course(s) (at least 3 hours)
Students must specialize in one of the following four subfields of anthropology and complete one or more *core courses* in theory and methodology from within that subfield.
Archaeology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 720 | Development of Anthropological Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 745 | Seminar in Historical Archaeology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Biological/Biocultural Anthropology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 762 | Biological Anthropology Principles and Theory | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Cultural Anthropology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 730 | Cultural Theory through Ethnography | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Linguistic Anthropology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 747 | Language as Social Action | 3 |
| ANTH 748 | Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Subfield Coursework (15 hours)
In this course work the student develops, in close consultation with their advisor, a specialty within anthropology. Coursework to build this strength will primarily be taken in Anthropology, but may include one or more courses from outside the Department.
Supervised Fieldwork
Students are required to undertake supervised fieldwork, usually during the summer between their first and second year. This requirement can be met through an approved field school or other supervised fieldwork either as a research assistant on field projects or in the course of collecting their own data. Archaeology students with no previous experience are encouraged to take the field school offered by this program or, when the student’s interests warrant it, at another institution with the approval of the student’s advisor.
Comprehensive Examination
Students must take and pass a comprehensive examination administered by the department.
Master's Thesis (6 hours)
Students must complete a master’s thesis and six hours of thesis preparation.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 799 | Thesis Preparation | 1-9 |
| Total Credit Hours | 1-9 | |
Anthropological Breadth (3 hours)
Each student is required to take one *core course* outside their subfield from the following list:
Archaeology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 720 | Development of Anthropological Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 745 | Seminar in Historical Archaeology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Biological/Biocultural Anthropology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 762 | Biological Anthropology Principles and Theory | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Cultural Anthropology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 730 | Cultural Theory through Ethnography | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Linguistic Anthropology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 747 | Language as Social Action | 3 |
| ANTH 748 | Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Professional MA Track in Archaeology Requirements (30 hours)
Students are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of course work and a master’s thesis (6 hours of ANTH 799) for a total of 30 hours. Of these, at least 12 hours must be courses at the 700 level, excluding ANTH 799. Students must successfully pass a comprehensive exam and complete a master’s thesis. Specific requirements for the Professional MA Track in Archaeology are listed below:
Required Core Courses (12 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 720 | Development of Anthropological Archaeology | 3 |
| or ANTH 745 | Seminar in Historical Archaeology | |
| ANTH 750 | Archaeological Laboratory Analysis | 4 |
| ANTH 751 | Archaeological Research Design and Analysis | 3 |
| ANTH 742 | Public Archaeology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 13 | |
Concentration (12 hours)
Students must choose a concentration in a discipline that complements archaeological enquiry and take at least 12 graduate credits in that concentration. Concentrations may include, but are not limited to, geoarchaeology, geophysical prospecting, geographic information systems, historic preservation, museum studies, materials sciences, and Native American relations.
Comprehensive Examination
Students must take and pass a comprehensive examination administered by the department.
Master's Thesis (6 hours)
Students must complete a master’s thesis and six hours of thesis preparation.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 799 | Thesis Preparation | 1-9 |
| Total Credit Hours | 1-9 | |