Program Requirements

Some Curricular Nuts and Bolts

The Master of Arts in Anthropology is minimally a 30-hour program. It comprises 24 hours of course work at the graduate level plus 6 hours of thesis or an internship. At least 12 of the 24 hours must be in courses at the 600 level. In addition to the nine (9) credit hours of the 600-level core seminars, students take another 15 credit hours of course work (electives) at the 500 or 600 level, and six (6) credit hours of thesis or internship/practicum hours. Students may enroll in 9 credit hours in another department. Additionally, students may enroll in 500-level courses in another department with the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies or their advisor. Six credit hours taken at the 500 or 600 level as an undergraduate or non–degree seeking student may be applied toward the M.A. in Anthropology on the condition that the student earned a grade of B or higher in the course. Approval of the Director of Graduate Studies is required. Classes taken as an undergraduate at the 500–level and used as credit for an undergraduate degree may not be used for graduate credit.

Core Courses

Everyone takes these two:

• ANTH 608  Social and Cultural Theory

• ANTH 612  Contemporary Issues in Anthropology

Everyone takes one of these:

• ANTH 609  Research Design: Archaeology

• ANTH 610  Research Design: Biological Anthropology

• ANTH 611  Research Design: Socio-Cultural Anthropology

Electives: See the full course catalog.

Successful completion of the thesis option entails 24 seminar hours plus 6 credit hours of thesis:
Core Seminars = 9 hours
Topical Electives =15 hours
Thesis = 6 hours
Total =30 hours

Successful completion of the experiential option entails 24 seminar hours plus 6 credit hours of internship:
Core Seminars = 9 hours
Topical Electives =15 hours
Internship= 6 hours
Total =30 hours

Visit the UofL Academic Catalog website for a complete overview of the Anthropology (MA) degree requirements.