2014-2015 Graduate Course Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2014-2015 Graduate Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Anthropology, MA


The master of arts degree signifies an important step in a student’s scholarly development. The requirements for an M.A. degree in anthropology at Syracuse University emphasize comprehensive understanding of the discipline and the mutual articulation of its constituent subfields.

Required coursework and the qualifying examination reflect the department’s intent to expose students to the breadth of anthropology prior to their engaging in more narrowly defined scholarly studies and doctoral research.

1. Credit and core courses requirements:


30 graduate credits that include at least four core courses of which two form a sequence within either the cultural or the archaeological subdiscipline (ANT 611 -ANT 711  for cultural students; ANT 641 -ANT 741  for archeology students) and at least two core courses in other subdisciplines.

Additional Information


Students are expected to complete core courses and qualifying examinations within the first two years in residence.

2. Qualifying examination:


Successful completion of the qualifying examinations in History of Anthropological Theory and Ethnography for cultural students and Archaeological Method and Theory for archeology students.

3. Writing requirement:


Students who do not continue beyond the master’s level are required to submit a master’s paper, which is a significant piece of work on a subject of the student’s choosing, and approved by the advisor. Minimally, it should demonstrate original thinking and knowledge of the literature on a given area, topic, or issue. See “Position Papers ” for the writing requirements leading to a doctoral degree.

4. Tools and methods requirement:


Cultural students choose either:


Archeology students choose one of the following:


Archaeological Field training or Field Program


Archeology students must also fulfill a field training course (ANT 643 - Advanced Field Methods in Archaeology ) or complete an accredited archaeological field program.

5. Advisor and master’s committee:


Students are expected to select an advisor by December 15 of their second year in residence. (The graduate director can serve as an interim advisor until one is selected.)