M.A. in Anthropology

Graduate Applications and Admissions

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, and students may begin their studies in any semester. In order to be considered for an assistantship, however, all application materials must be received by March 15. The materials that are evaluated in the admissions decision include the following:

• An application form, completed on-line and submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies.
• Transcripts from all previous graduate and undergraduate coursework, to be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies.
• GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative, Writing) from within the last five years, to be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies.
• A statement of purpose, describing what you wish to gain from graduate study in Anthropology and how the program will help you achieve those goals, to be sent to the Department of Anthropology and Sociology.
• A writing sample, which is not required but is encouraged, to be sent to the Department of Anthropology and Sociology.
• Other materials, such as a curriculum vitae or resume, that the student wishes to be considered, to be sent to the Department of Anthropology and Sociology.

Applicants who are admitted will be given either regular or conditional status. All admissions decision notifications will be made by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Program Requirements

Coursework. The master's degree (MA) requires a minimum of 33 semester hours, 18 of which must be earned in course work at the 600 level or above; completion of a seminar in each of the four subfields (ANT 631, ANT 621, ANT 641, ANT 651); and completion of an approved thesis. The seminars are taught in alternating pairs during fall semesters so that all will be offered during a normal three-semester residency. No more than 6 hours of field courses (ANT 516, ANT 536) and no more than 9 hours of independent study courses (ANT 692, ANT 792) will be applied to the degree.

An acceptable proficiency in one foreign language, or proficiency in statistics is required. This may be satisfied by taking 6 hours of a foreign language at the 500 level or above, or by taking two graduate courses in statistical methods approved by the faculty. An outside minor of nine hours in an approved related field may be included toward the total hours required. Normally, minors are developed to augment specific anthropological interests and must be approved by the faculty.

Comprehensive Examinations. The comprehensive examination entails a six-hour exam that covers major issues and knowledge relevant to the student's area of thesis research. Examinations will be administered on campus during the third week of the spring semester and are taken after a student completed all four subfield seminars. Questions will be contributed and evaluated by the thesis committee.

Thesis. Based on discussion with committee members, background research, interests, and opportunities, the student will present a formal thesis proposal to his/her committee. Normally a proposal defense should be scheduled within one year of passing the general examination. The thesis proposal will outline the problem to be addressed, a brief literature review, the method of data collection, the relevance of the proposed project as a contribution to anthropological knowledge, and an assessment of the project's feasibility. An oral defense of the proposal will be conducted at a meeting between the student and the committee. The defense will provide an opportunity for the student to clarify ideas, and receive additional feedback about the thesis topic. Once a final draft is completed and the thesis director deems it appropriate, a thesis defense will take place. At the defense, which may be attended by any student or faculty member of the university, the student will be asked to present their research findings and address any questions that may arise. The committee members will vote in private as to whether the student has successfully defended the work. They may agree to accept the thesis as finished, as acceptable with minor revisions, or as unacceptable. If the latter decision is reached, the student will not be eligible to graduate during that term and must re-defend the thesis at a later date.

Guide to Writing a Thesis (pdf)

Graduate Student Funding

To the extent that it is fiscally possible, the program is committed to providing support for full-time graduate students. The actual number of assistantships available is beyond the control of the faculty. Support is awarded on an annual basis and normally limited to two academic years.

Graduate Assistantships. Each graduate assistant will be expected to put in the required amount of work time each week. Generally students on assistantships will be assigned to individual faculty members who may utilize them for teaching or research activities at their own discretion. Students on academic probation are not eligible for assistantships.

Teaching Assistantships. A very limited number of students may be selected to take responsibility for sections of ANT 101. Only second-year graduate students will be considered, since the university requires at least 18 hours of graduate coursework in anthropology in order to teach. In addition, student teachers must have taken ANT 601 during their first year and be enrolled while they are teaching.

Dual Master's Programs

Anthropology/History in Applied Cultural Heritage Studies

Anthropology/Library Information Sciences