The Master of Arts in Anthropology, Professional Methods and Techniques Specialization develops skills in a wide range of methods and techniques used by professionals in applied anthropology, federal, and state natural resource agencies, and other arenas of social, historical, biological, and spatial research about humans. These include qualitative research and interview protocols, quantitative analysis, GIS and remote sensing, archaeological field survey, historic archaeological methods, culture and heritage resource management, and paleoanthropological methods.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Students who are conferred an M.A.in Anthropology will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of anthropological theory and method, and how to apply them appropriately.
- Engage in independent research that addresses academic questions or societal challenges.
- Demonstrate awareness of and respect for human diversity across space and time.
- Possess the academic background and skills to enter a PhD program in anthropology or a job related to the discipline.
Effective Fall 2023
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| ANTH 500 | Development of Anthropological Theory | 3 |
| ANTH 699 | Thesis | 5 |
| Methods-Focused Courses 1,2 | ||
| Select a minimum of 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Human Osteology | ||
| Digital Digging--Geophysics in Archaeology | ||
| Method in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Ethnographic Field School | ||
| Cultures of Virtual Worlds–Research Methods | ||
| Community Development from the Ground Up | ||
| Archaeology and the Public | ||
| Lithic Technology | ||
| Field Class in Archaeology | ||
| Anthropology Curation and Exhibition Methods | ||
| Zooarchaeology | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| Human Skeleton Analysis | ||
| Methods of Analysis in Paleoanthropology | ||
| Heritage Resource Management | ||
| Psychiatric Anthropology Laboratory | ||
| Cultural Analysis of Qualitative Data | ||
| Cognitive Anthropology Field Methods | ||
| Cultural Analysis of Personal Networks | ||
| Seminar in Archaeological Method | ||
| Foundations of Ethnographic Research | ||
| From Death to Discovery | ||
| Global Mental Health--Theory and Method | ||
| Mind, Medicine, and Culture | ||
| Historical Archaeology | ||
| Ecological and Social Agent-based Modeling | ||
| Bayesian Chronologies in Archaeology | ||
| Field Methods Training in Online Environments | ||
| Paleoclimate and Human Evolution | ||
| Field Archaeology | ||
| Research Design and Analysis in Anthropology | ||
| Practicum-Field Archaeology | ||
| Spatial Analysis with GIS | ||
| Remote Sensing and Image Analysis | ||
| Supporting Courses 1,2 | ||
| Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Development in Indian Country | ||
| Cultural Psychiatry | ||
| Approaches to Community-Based Development | ||
| Theory in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Psychological Anthropology | ||
| New Orleans and the Caribbean | ||
| Andean Archaeology and Ethnohistory | ||
| Impacts on Ancient Environments | ||
| Great Plains Archaeology | ||
| The Neandertals | ||
| Anthropology of Happiness and the Good Life | ||
| Culture and Environment | ||
| Culture, Mind, and Cognitive Science | ||
| Theoretical Topics in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Geoarchaeology | ||
| Paleoecology | ||
| Place, Space and Adaptation | ||
| Edge Effects--Place, Embodiment, Environment | ||
| Outside Courses 1,2 | ||
| Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Historical Method: Historiography | ||
| Historical Method: Archives | ||
| Historical Method: Preservation | ||
| Historical Method: Museums | ||
| Research for Public Communicators | ||
| Logic and Scientific Method | ||
| Qualitative Methods in Political Science | ||
| Quantitative Methods of Political Research I | ||
| Seminar in Methods of Qualitative Analysis | ||
| Seminar in Methods of Evaluational Research | ||
| Communication Research Methods | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 32 | |
A minimum of 32 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
Courses listed here constitute a partial list. Other courses may be used with approval of advisor and committee. Select courses with approval of advisor and committee.
- 2
A maximum total of six 300- to 400-level credits may be used to fulfill the requirements of this specialization under the M.A. Anthropology.
Students must complete the minimum number of credits specified in the official program of study as approved by the University Curriculum Committee, and all credit requirements specified in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin for their degree.
Effective Fall 2023
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| ANTH 500 | Development of Anthropological Theory | 3 |
| ANTH 695 | Independent Study | 2 |
| Methods-Focused Courses 1 | ||
| Select a minimum of 12 credits from the following: 2 | 12 | |
| Human Osteology | ||
| Digital Digging--Geophysics in Archaeology | ||
| Method in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Ethnographic Field School | ||
| Cultures of Virtual Worlds–Research Methods | ||
| Community Development from the Ground Up | ||
| Archaeology and the Public | ||
| Lithic Technology | ||
| Field Class in Archaeology | ||
| Anthropology Curation and Exhibition Methods | ||
| Zooarchaeology | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| Human Skeleton Analysis | ||
| Methods of Analysis in Paleoanthropology | ||
| Heritage Resource Management | ||
| Psychiatric Anthropology Laboratory | ||
| Cultural Analysis of Qualitative Data | ||
| Cognitive Anthropology Field Methods | ||
| Cultural Analysis of Personal Networks | ||
| Seminar in Archaeological Method | ||
| Foundations of Ethnographic Research | ||
| From Death to Discovery | ||
| Global Mental Health--Theory and Method | ||
| Mind, Medicine, and Culture | ||
| Historical Archaeology | ||
| Ecological and Social Agent-based Modeling | ||
| Bayesian Chronologies in Archaeology | ||
| Field Methods Training in Online Environments | ||
| Paleoclimate and Human Evolution | ||
| Field Archaeology | ||
| Research Design and Analysis in Anthropology | ||
| Practicum-Field Archaeology | ||
| Spatial Analysis with GIS | ||
| Remote Sensing and Image Analysis | ||
| Supporting Courses 1 | ||
| Select a minimum of 9 credits from the following: 2 | 9 | |
| Development in Indian Country | ||
| Cultural Psychiatry | ||
| Approaches to Community-Based Development | ||
| Community Mobilization | ||
| Theory in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Psychological Anthropology | ||
| New Orleans and the Caribbean | ||
| Anthropology of Happiness and the Good Life | ||
| Culture and Environment | ||
| Culture, Mind, and Cognitive Science | ||
| Theoretical Topics in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Geoarchaeology | ||
| Paleoecology | ||
| Place, Space and Adaptation | ||
| Edge Effects--Place, Embodiment, Environment | ||
| Outside Courses 1 | ||
| Select a minimum of 9 credits from the following: 2 | 9 | |
| Historical Method: Historiography | ||
| Historical Method: Archives | ||
| Historical Method: Preservation | ||
| Historical Method: Museums | ||
| Research for Public Communicators | ||
| Logic and Scientific Method | ||
| Qualitative Methods in Political Science | ||
| Quantitative Methods of Political Research I | ||
| Seminar in Methods of Qualitative Analysis | ||
| Seminar in Methods of Evaluational Research | ||
| Communication Research Methods | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 35 | |
A minimum of 35 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
Courses listed here constitute a partial list. Other courses may be used with approval of advisor and committee. Select courses with approval of advisor and committee.
- 2
A maximum total of six 300- to 400-level credits may be used to fulfill the requirements of this specialization under the M.A. Anthropology.
Students must complete the minimum number of credits specified in the official program of study as approved by the University Curriculum Committee, and all credit requirements specified in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin for their degree.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |