The MA program in Professional Anthropology is targeted towards those looking for non-academic careers in practicing and public anthropology, but it can also provide appropriate skillsets and research experience for entry into a PhD program. This MA focuses on flexible course work adapted to student interests and needs, with particular attention to the acquisition of practical skills via methods training. The degree also provides students with hands-on practical work, culminating in a final project such as a portfolio, exam, or professional paper that is shaped and determined by the advisor, committee, and student. Students are guided by advisors with similar areas of interests. Accepted students work with advisors and committees to plan a 2-year curriculum based on student interests and goals.
This Plan B portfolio degree and particularly the degree’s emphasis on research methods courses illustrate the program’s emphasis on obtaining a wide range of practical research skills that will better position graduates to obtain employment and to help solve real-world social and environmental problems. Students work with their advisors and committees to plan how to incorporate an experiential learning opportunity (such as an internship) and professional development training appropriate to their career goals.
Students within this specialization choose one of three tracks in: Archaeology, Applied Cultural Anthropology, or Human Evolutionary Biology:
- The Archaeology track prepares graduates for professional roles in public (local, state, federal) and private (non- and for-profit) institutions that work to interpret, conserve, and preserve archaeological heritage. Students will be prepared to apply skills related to archaeological methods and legislation in contemporary work-force situations.
- The Applied Cultural Anthropology track prepares graduates for careers in government, non-governmental organizations, foundations, research in diverse fields (health, environment, technology, development), user experience design and research (tech), conservation, global business, international and community development, education, and other sectors, as well as for future doctoral study.
- The Human Evolutionary Biology track prepares graduates to apply knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, genetics, and evolution in a wide range of real-world settings. Students gain skills useful in health sciences, forensic sciences, public health, as well as in areas such as law enforcement and disaster response. The program also provides strong preparation for those planning to continue into doctoral programs in human biology, forensic anthropology, biomedical sciences, or related fields.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of anthropological theories and how to apply them appropriately to address and help solve real-world problems.
- Apply anthropological methods by practicing independent and collaborative research techniques that can be used to address both academic questions and help solve societal challenges.
- Utilize and learn to assess anthropological and interdisciplinary data collection and analysis methods and in the process improve data literacy.
- Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills that can be used to solve challenges facing humans and the environment.
- Demonstrate the academic background and skills needed to enter a PhD program in anthropology or to immediately meaningfully practice a job related to the discipline.
Effective Fall 2026
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements: 1 | ||
| ANTH 500 | Development of Anthropological Theory | 3 |
| ANTH 695 | Independent Study 2 | 6 |
| Select 3 credits from outside the Anthropology Department 3 | 3 | |
| Select 12 methods credits and 6 elective credits from one of the following three tracks: 4 | 18 | |
| Archaeology Track | ||
| Select a minimum of 12 credits of Archaeology methods-focused courses: | ||
| Geoarchaeology | ||
| Digital Digging--Geophysics in Archaeology | ||
| Lithic Technology | ||
| Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management | ||
| Zooarchaeology | ||
| Heritage Resource Management | ||
| Seminar in Archaeological Method | ||
| From Death to Discovery | ||
| Geoarchaeology | ||
| Bayesian Chronologies in Archaeology | ||
| Field Archaeology | ||
| Research Design and Analysis in Anthropology | ||
| Spatial Analysis with GIS | ||
| Remote Sensing and Image Analysis | ||
| Select a minimum of 6 credits of Archaeology electives: | ||
| Great Plains Archaeology | ||
| Archaeology and the Public | ||
| Anthropology Curation and Exhibition Methods | ||
| Seminar in Archaeological Theory | ||
| Historical Archaeology | ||
| Place, Space and Adaptation | ||
| Applied Cultural Anthropology Track | ||
| Select a minimum of 12 credits of Applied Cultural Anthropology methods-focused courses: | ||
| Method in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Ethnographic Field School | ||
| Cultures of Virtual Worlds–Research Methods | ||
| Psychological Anthropology | ||
| Anthropology of Happiness and the Good Life | ||
| Ethnographic Discourse Analysis | ||
| Abolition Methodologies | ||
| Foundations of Ethnographic Research | ||
| Ecological and Social Agent-based Modeling | ||
| Research Design and Analysis in Anthropology | ||
| Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation | ||
| Spatial Analysis with GIS | ||
| Remote Sensing and Image Analysis | ||
| Select a minimum of 6 credits of Applied Cultural Anthropology electives: | ||
| Climate, Capital, Culture | ||
| Human Ecology | ||
| Gender and Anthropology | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Applied Medical Anthropology | ||
| Public Anthropology and Global Challenges | ||
| Development in Indian Country | ||
| Indigenous Ecologies and the Modern World | ||
| Gender, Culture, and Health | ||
| Cultural Psychiatry | ||
| Theory in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| New Orleans and the Caribbean | ||
| Development and Empowerment | ||
| Community Development from the Ground Up | ||
| Women, Health, and Culture | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Culture | ||
| The Culture of Disaster | ||
| Food, Hunger, and Culture | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Theoretical Topics in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Anthropology and Global Health | ||
| Place, Space and Adaptation | ||
| Applications of International Development | ||
| Human Evolutionary Biology Track | ||
| Select a minimum of 12 credits of Human Evolutionary Biology methods-focused courses: | ||
| Human Osteology | ||
| Zooarchaeology | ||
| Paleontology Field School | ||
| Human Skeleton Analysis | ||
| Seminar in Archaeological Method | ||
| From Death to Discovery | ||
| Geoarchaeology | ||
| Research Design and Analysis in Anthropology | ||
| Principles of Human Physiology | ||
| Human Anatomy Dissection | ||
| Bioinformatics and Genomics | ||
| Spatial Analysis with GIS | ||
| Criminal Investigations | ||
| Select a minimum of 6 credits of Human Evolutionary Biology electives: | ||
| Human Evolution | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| The Neandertals | ||
| Human-Environment Interactions | ||
| Contemporary Issues-Biological Anthropology | ||
| Anthropology and Global Health | ||
| Human Origins | ||
| Paleoecology | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Society, Deviance, and Crime | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 30 | |
A minimum of 30 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
The Plan B degree does not require a thesis. Instead, students work closely with faculty advisors to determine the shape of an appropriate final project based on students’ career goals. We allow for flexibility here, though typical final projects would include either a portfolio, exam, or professional paper. The portfolio typically contains examples of work meant to highlight students’ research and applied skills and is defended in front of the student’s graduate committee, other faculty, fellow students, and community members. The exam option typically entails students responding to written questions prepared by committee members followed by an oral defense. The professional paper could be modeled on a publishable academic article that meets anthropological subdisciplinary academic standards
- 2
Students work with their advisors and committees to plan how to incorporate an experiential learning opportunity (such as an internship) and professional development training appropriate to their career goals.
- 3
Students should consult with advisors for appropriate outside courses.
- 4
Students can count undergraduate credits (300- and 400-level courses) toward this degree. However, according to the Graduate School, a minimum of 18 degree credits must be at the graduate level (500 or above), and we require for this program that at least 15 of those credits be in regular graduate courses. Courses listed in each track constitute a partial list. Other courses may be used with approval of advisor and committee. Methods courses listed in each track may also be taken to fulfill electives requirements, though courses may not fulfill both methods and electives requirements. The credits in this Plan B portfolio degree (30 total credits) and particularly the degree’s emphasis on research methods courses illustrate the program’s emphasis on obtaining a wide range of practical research skills that will better position graduates to obtain employment and to help solve real-world problems.
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 |