MA Requirements

Residence Requirements and length of Graduate Program:

The University regulations require that a student must complete all requirements for the M.A. degree, including thesis, within five years from the date of his/her admission to the graduate program. A seriously motivated student should be able to earn the M.A. degree within two to three years, if an appropriate thesis topic can be selected early, and field work begun promptly.

Archaeology

The course requirements for the degree consist of a minimum of 12 credit units at the graduate level, of which 3 c.u. must be Arch 805.3. A thesis is required and must be an original piece of work, normally based upon research carried out by the student in the field. An oral defense of the thesis concludes the program.
In addition, students will be required to complete GSR 960 Introduction to Ethics and Integrity and if thesis research involves Humans, GSR 961 Ethics and Integrity in Human Research, and ARCH 990 and 994.

Anthropology

The MA program offers two options.

OPTION 1: The thesis-based MA in medical and environmental anthropology is a two year program, requiring at least 12 credit units of coursework, plus a thesis based on original research along with an oral defence. Applicants will be assessed on an individual basis and adjustments made to coursework requirements as required.

The program has, as its base, three core courses in ethnographic methods, medical anthropology, and environmental anthropology. They are required courses for all students.

In addition to the three required core courses, one elective (possibly chosen in an allied field) will round out the coursework requirement, providing both a solid theoretical and methodological foundation and intensive specialization in the subfields of medical and environmental anthropology.

Required coursework will include the following.

Core Courses:

  • ANTH 802.3: Community-Based Research: Ethnography and Engagement
  • ANTH 804.3: Medical Anthropology
  • ANTH 806.3: Environmental Anthropology

All students will take an additional 3 credit unit elective (in either ANTH or an allied field) to be chosen in consultation with the student's supervisory committee.

In addition, students will be required to complete GSR 960 Introduction to Ethics and Integrity and 961 Ethics and Integrity in Human Research, and ANTH 990 and 994.

OPTION 2: The project-based MA in practicing/applied anthropology is an 18-month program, requiring at least 18 credit units of course-work, plus a project designed in collaboration with a client group. Applicants will be assessed on an individual basis and adjustments made to coursework requirements as required.

The program has, as its base, four core courses in ethnographic methods, medical anthropology, environmental anthropology, and practicing/applied anthropology. They are required courses for all students.

In addition to the four required core courses, two elective courses (possibly chosen in an allied field) will round out the coursework requirement, providing both a solid theoretical and methodological foundation and intensive specialization practicing and applied anthropology and social science more broadly.

Required coursework will include the following.

Core Courses:

  • ANTH 802.3: Community-Based Research: Ethnography and Engagement
  • ANTH 804.3: Medical Anthropology
  • ANTH 806.3: Environmental Anthropology
  • ANTH 808:3 Seminar in Practicing and Applied Anthropology

All students will take an additional 6 credit units in elective courses (in either ANTH or an allied field) to be chosen in consultation with the student's supervisory committee.

In addition, students will be required to complete GSR 960 Introduction to Ethics and Integrity and 961 Ethics and Integrity in Human Research, and ANTH 990 and 994.