University of Montana Catalog 2023-2024

Anthropology M.A.

Master of Arts - Anthropology

Required Credits: Thesis/professional project option: 30; Non-thesis option: 36

Required Cumulative GPA: 3.0

Successful completion of the M.A. in Anthropology requires coursework, successful completion of a comprehensive evaluation, and significant original scholarly work. The Anthropology faculty expects that students will complete the requirements for the M.A. degree in two years.

Some background classes are required for all students in the Anthropology Graduate Program. These classes may have been taken previously as an undergraduate and may be used as electives.

  • We strongly recommend one class in each of the four fields of Anthropology: cultural or social anthropology, linguistic anthropology, biological or physical anthropology, and archaeology. 
  • We strongly recommend one or more classes in statistics or quantitative methods. 
  • We strongly recommend one year of a second language.

Requirements

Complete all of the following courses:
ANTY 500Contemporary Anthropological Thought3
Methods - Complete one of the following courses:3
Anthropological Data Analysis
Osteology
Forensic and Mortuary Archaeology
Ethnographic Field Methods
Cultural Resource Management
GIS in Archaeology
Lithic Technology
Artifact Analysis
Archaeological Survey
Archaeological Field School
Methods for Native Languages
Seminar/Workshop
Applied Anthropological Statistics
Advanced Forensic Anthropology
Cultural Heritage Policy & Practice
Phonetics and Phonology
Historical Linguistics
Linguistic Field Methods
NA Indigenous Language and Linguistics
Morphology
Electives - Complete three additional Anthropology (ANTY) or Linguistics (LING) seminar courses:12
Seminar on Human Variation & Evolution
Advanced Forensic Anthropology
Seminar in Bioarcheaology & Skeletal Biology
Theory & Methods in Bioanthropology
Seminar in Contemporary Ethnography
Seminar in Archaeology
Seminar Historical Archaeology
Evolutionary Archaeology
Internship
Thesis, Professional Project, or Non-Thesis Options - Complete one of the following options:12-18
Thesis/Professional Project Option - Complete 12 credits of the following to achieve a total of 30 credits:
Professional Project
Thesis
Additional graduate-level courses
Defense of thesis or professional paper/project
Non-Thesis Option - Complete 18 credits of the following to achieve a total of 36 credits:
Research
Additional Anthropology (ANTY) or Linguistics (LING) graduate seminar
Additional graduate-level courses
A scholarly work or portfolio
Review of the scholarly work or portfolio or a comprehensive examination
Total Hours30-36