Master of Arts (MA) Program

For more information on graduate programs,

contact the Director of Graduate Studies at anthgrad@uark.edu. 

 

The Master of Arts program is designed to proved advanced training in archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology.  Students are expected to complete their MA in four semesters (two years).

 

MA Thesis Committee

In consultation with their advisor, students enrolled in the MA program must form a MA Thesis Committee by the end of their first year of coursework. This committee may or may not be the same as the Graduate Advisory Committee. As with the Advisory Committee, students must complete a Graduate School form to officially create this committee; when completed, this form should be submitted to the graduate school with a copy also sent to the Director of Graduate Studies and Department Chair.

Responsibilities of this committee may include:

  • Reading outlines and drafts of internship reports, thesis manuscripts, and offering constructive feedback
  • Conducting oral and written examinations as appropriate
  • Advising about career options and opportunities

 

MA Coursework

All students enrolled in the Anthropology MA program must complete the following as part of their coursework:

  1. The 5000-level Method & Theory course in their area of specialization (ANTH 51003 for cultural, ANTH 52003 for archaeology, and ANTH 53003 for biological) These courses are designed to review the history of anthropological subfields, and review and discuss recent theories and practical implications/applications of various methods of acquiring, analyzing and interpreting anthropological data. Your advisory committee may identify additional Method and Theory courses for you to take.
  2. At least one “core course” in each of the other two subfields of anthropology. A list of courses that will fulfill these requirements will be provided to graduate students each semester. Although course offerings will vary, a core course will typically include material that is considered foundational for that subfield.

No more than six hours of courses taken outside the Department of Anthropology may be used toward course requirements for the MA degree. Additional courses may be taken but will not count toward the degree requirements. MA students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.85 on all graded coursework at the University of Arkansas to be eligible for the MA degree. Courses where a grade of D or F were earned will not be counted toward the degree requirements.

Additional information regarding courses listed above, as well as other courses provided in the department, can be found in the Graduate Catalog of Studies.

 

MA Degree Options

In consultation with their advisor, students should choose one of the three options listed below to satisfy the requirements for a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology beyond the core coursework requirements listed above. As stipulated by the graduate school, all requirements for the MA degree must be completed within six consecutive calendar years from the first date of enrollment in the MA program. Exceptions to this timeline will be considered on a case-by-case basis and extensions must evaluated by the student’s advisor and requested through and approved by the Graduate School in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies.

MA Option 1: Thesis

  • A total of 30 semester hours (24 hours of coursework and 6 thesis hours [ANTH 6000V]), including the required courses listed above
  • A thesis plan that will be submitted to your thesis committee by the time you have completed 18 hours of graduate courses (typically in the fall of the second year)
  • An MA thesis
    • After completing the necessary research, you will write the thesis in the format as described in the University of Arkansas Guide to Theses and Dissertations, and submit it to your major advisor for feedback and approval. You must distribute your thesis to the rest of your thesis committee at least two weeks before the final oral examination.
  • An oral thesis defense conducted by your thesis committee
    • Students should consult the Graduate School deadlines for thesis defense and graduation; scheduling of the defense should be conducted in conjunction with the student’s primary advisor and their MA Thesis Committee.
    • After passing this examination and negotiating any necessary final requirements or revisions with your committee, you should prepare the final thesis document and obtain approval signatures from your advisor and thesis committee. Consult the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate School for proper guidelines for submitting final degree paperwork.

MA Option 2: Internship

  • A total of 36 semester hours (30 coursework and 6 hours of internship [ANTH 6100V), including the required courses listed above.
  • A successfully completed internship (i.e., CAST, Arkansas Archeological Survey or other organization approved by the department).
  • An oral examination conducted by your advisory committee.

MA Option 3: Non-Thesis

  • A total of 36 semester hours of coursework, including the required courses listed above.
  • An oral examination conducted by your committee.

Students selecting options 2 or 3, are urged you to develop a portfolio to structure their oral examination.  Portfolio should include these items:

  • Summary of graduate education, including courses taken.
  • Career objectives.
  • Bibliography (articles and books read during graduate program).
  • Samples of original research papers and reports

Updates regarding progress on MA degree requirements, and especially records of MA thesis defenses and/or graduation should be provided to the Director of Graduate Studies and Department Chair in writing via email.