The General Option

For the Master of Arts Degree in Anthropology

Some of the areas of inquiry that have been pursued successfully in the past under the general option include:

• Ethnological and Indigenous Studies
• Demography
• Epidemiology
• Medical Anthropology
• Historic and Prehistoric Archaeology
• Applied Anthropology
• Skeletal Biology
• Paleoanthropology
• Women's Studies
• Gender Issues

The General Option is primarily oriented toward academic research and is ideal for students who plan to continue on to work toward a PhD degree at another university. Most students conduct original research that results in an thesis that is used to satisfy the MA degree requirements. Classes are chosen with advice from a faculty advisor to best fulfull the student's goals.

Students who satisfactorily complete one of the following plans will earn the Master of Arts degree in Anthropology with the general option.

1. Thesis/Professional Project Plan (30 credits total)

   1. Anthropology 500 and 9 credits in additional Anthropology graduate seminars.

   2. A total of 1 to 10 credits in ANTH 599 (Thesis) and/or 593 (Professional Project), consistent with graduate school requirements (6 credits recommended).

   3. At least one methods class numbered 400 or higher.

   4. A defended thesis or professional project

2. Non-Thesis Plan (36 credits total)

   1. Anthropology 500 and 12 credits in additional Anthropology graduate seminars.

   2. A total of 1 to 10 credits in ANTH 597 (Research), consistent with graduate school requirements (6 credits recommended).

   3. At least one methods class numbered 400 or higher.

   4. A comprehensive evaluation (a defense if the scholarly work or portfolio will satisfy this requirement, otherwise it may be administered as an examination).

   5. A reviewed scholarly work or a portfolio of shorter scholarly works

Here are some documents that you may find helpful in learning more about the exact requirements of the general option.