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Anthropology M.A.

University of Montana Department of Anthropology offers courses of study leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Anthropology.

Successful completion of the M.A. degree in anthropology requires coursework, successful completion of a comprehensive evaluation, and significant original scholarly work. The anthropology faculty expects that students will complete the requirements for the M.A. degree in two years.

Master of Arts - Anthropology

College of Humanities & Sciences

Required Credits (Thesis/Professional Project): 30
Required Credits (Non-Thesis): 36

Required Cumulative GPA: 3.0

Catalog Year: 2019-2020

Background Classes

Background Classes Required for All Students in the Anthropology Graduate Program. These classes may have been taken previously as an undergraduate. These classes may be used as electives.

  • We strongly recommend one class in each of the four fields of Anthropology

  • We strongly recommend one or more classes in statistics or quantitative methods

  • We strongly recommend one year of a foreign language

Thesis or Professional Paper Option

  • Meet with advisor to form a study plan ANTY 500 Contemporary Anthropological Thought

  • Anthropology/Linguistics Graduate Seminar (numbered 501-589, 595, 600-602, or 694)

  • Anthropology/Linguistics Graduate Seminar (numbered 501-589, 595, 600-602, or 694)

  • Anthropology/Linguistics Graduate Seminar or 3 credit Internship (numbered 501-589, 595, 598, 600-602, or 694)

  • 6 credits in ANTY 593 Professional Project or ANTY 599 Thesis

  • One "methods" class numbered 400 or higher (ANTY 402, 408, 412, 413, 416, 431, 451, 452, 454, 455, 456, 466, 467, 476, 495, 501, 512, 513, 514, 602; LING 475, 478, 570, 575, 575, 584; or an anthropological or linguistic field experience of at least 3cr. Courses marked with an asterisk may be taught as methods or theory and the students committee will determine whether or not to count it for this requirement.

  • 9 credits in elective classes numbered 400 (UG) to 595.

  • Thesis or Professional Paper

  • Defense of Thesis or Professional Paper

Non-thesis Option

  • ANTY 500 Contemporary Anthropological Thought

  • Anthropology/Linguistics Graduate Seminar (numbered 501-589, 595, 600-602, or 694)

  • Anthropology/Linguistics Graduate Seminar (numbered 501-589, 595, 600-602, or 694)

  • Anthropology/Linguistics Graduate Seminar or 3 credit Internship (numbered 501-589, 595, 598, 600-602, or 694)

  • A Graduate class (numbered 500-589 or 595) in any Discipline (Anthro is OK)

  • One "methods" class numbered 400 or higher (ANTY 402, 408, 412, 413, 416, 431, 451, 452, 454, 455, 456, 466, 467, 476, 495, 501, 512, 513, 514, 602; LING 475, 478, 570, 575, 575, 584; or an anthropological or linguistic field experience of at least 3cr. Courses marked with an asterisk may be taught as methods or theory and the students committee will determine whether or not to count it for this requirement.

  • 12 credits in elective classes numbered 400 to 589, 595, 600-602, 694

  • A substantive graduate work such as an exhibit, portfolio, or other work that is not a thesis or professional paper

  • Defense of the graduate work produced or a comprehensive examination