Anthropology Master of Arts Degree Program

General Sequence (30 credits minimum)

  1. Anthropology (24 credits minimum):

    1. Ant 502, 504, 506, 508, and one course as advised from each of two of the following subdisciplines:

      Archaeology: Any course in the series Ant 530-39, 630-39 as advised;

      Biological Anthropology: Any course in the series Ant 510-19, 610-19 as advised;

      Ethnology: Any course in the series Ant 553, 575, 641, 643, 660-679, as advised;

      Linguistics: Any course in the series Ant 520-29, 534, 620-29 as advised;

      Proficiency in any subdiscipline may be demonstrated through departmental examination, and specific course requirements may be waived. This does not alter the minimum 24 credits requirement.

    2. Research requirement: Satisfactory completion of a research seminar and approval of a research project paper or a master's thesis.

  2. Supporting courses (0-6 credits): Selected courses in related disciplines as advised.

Cognate Field Sequence (30 credits, minimum)

  1. Anthropology (18 credits, minimum):

    1. Courses as required and/or advised in two of the following four subdisciplines:

      Archaeology: Any two courses in the series Ant 504, Ant 530-39, 630-39 as advised;

      Biological Anthropology: Ant 502, and either 519 or 611 as advised;

      Ethnology: Any two courses in the series Ant 508, 553, 641, 643, 660-679, as advised;

      Linguistics: Any two courses in the series Ant 506, 520-29, 534, 620-29 as advised;

      Proficiency in any subdiscipline may be demonstrated through departmental examination, and specific course requirements may be waived. This does not alter the minimum 18 credits requirement.

    2. Research requirement: Satisfactory completion of a research seminar and approval of a research project paper or a master's thesis.

  2. Cognate field (8 credits, minimum): Courses as advised in a cognate field such as historical archaeology, ethnomedicine, and primitive art. A cognate field must be defined in writing by the student and approved by the Department of Anthropology prior to admission.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants with undergraduate majors in anthropology are preferred, and each is expected to have had at least one undergraduate course in each of the four subdisciplines. Applicants are required to submit official Graduate Record Examination scores. Students seeking admission to the Cognate Field Sequence must also provide acceptable written descriptions of their proposed cognate fields. Students entering the program with less than 18 credits in anthropology are required to extend the minimum program above with additional work in that field to bring their total preparation to a desired level. The additional work required is at the discretion of the department and ordinarily will not exceed 18 credits.