MA
Anthropology
Application Deadline
Contact Information
Admission Requirements
Required Tests
Additional Requirements
- GRE
- TOEFEL or IELTS (required for international students)
Additional Requirements
- Letter of intent specifying
- Research is central to our Master’s program. Please describe a research project that you would like to undertake in our program (this should constitute the bulk of your 2 page essay). The following questions can help guide you:
- What research questions interest you?
- What kind of research do you plan to conduct?
- Where would you like to conduct this research? (when answering this question, be sure to consider the interests of the current BYU anthropology professors since you will need to identify a professor who will want to work with you on your research. To this end, it is often wise to contact the professor before you apply).
- Which professor would you like to work with and why?
- Why are you applying to this program and how does this program fit with your personal and professional goals? (this should be no more than a paragraph or two).
- Writing sample showing us an example of your best writing
- Undergraduate degree in anthropology or related field (understood very broadly)
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Letters of recommendation (2)
Program Requirements
Total Credit Hours Required (30): A minimum of 24 hours of course work plus 6 thesis hours (ANTHR 699R); A minimum of 20 hours (of the 24 noted above) must be taken under the direct instruction of professional anthropologists at BYU or in another acceptable department at the university. Thesis, readings, internship, and individual work do not count toward these 20 hours. Required and additional courses are noted below.
Required Core Courses:
ANTHR 600 (History of Anthropology)
ANTHR 601 (Current Archaeological Method & Theory) OR ANTHR 503 (Contemporary Anthro, Theory)
ANTHR 602 (Quantitative Methods for Anthropology) OR ANTHR 543 (Ethnographic Data Analysis)
ANTHR 512 (Heritage Resource Management) OR ANTHR 639R (Special Topics in Psychological Anthro)
Additional Courses: 12 hours of electives from ANTHR 530-695R, with a maximum of six hours from 695R.
Examinations: (A) Oral presentation of thesis proposal; (B) Oral comprehensive examination in conjunction with the thesis proposal; (C) Oral defense of the written thesis.
Final Written Thesis: 6 hours of ANTHR 699R and successful completion of a master's level thesis.
Email: anthropology@byu.edu
Required Core Courses:
ANTHR 600 (History of Anthropology)
ANTHR 601 (Current Archaeological Method & Theory) OR ANTHR 503 (Contemporary Anthro, Theory)
ANTHR 602 (Quantitative Methods for Anthropology) OR ANTHR 543 (Ethnographic Data Analysis)
ANTHR 512 (Heritage Resource Management) OR ANTHR 639R (Special Topics in Psychological Anthro)
Additional Courses: 12 hours of electives from ANTHR 530-695R, with a maximum of six hours from 695R.
Examinations: (A) Oral presentation of thesis proposal; (B) Oral comprehensive examination in conjunction with the thesis proposal; (C) Oral defense of the written thesis.
Final Written Thesis: 6 hours of ANTHR 699R and successful completion of a master's level thesis.
Email: anthropology@byu.edu
Program Outcomes
Field Work and Technical Skills
Graduate students will be competent in fieldwork and data analysis. Specific technical skills include some combination of the following: archaeological excavation techniques, archaeological site documentation, mapping, artifact analysis, field note writing, participant observation, interviewing, and/or ethnographic data analysis.
Professional Communication
Graduate students will be able to produce professional quality research papers suitable for presentation at professional meetings or publication.
Professional Standards and Ethics
Graduate students will know and follow professional standards and ethics relative to their field. For students focusing on archaeology this will include understanding ethical issues related to the management, excavation, interpretation, and display of cultural resources. For students focusing on sociocultural anthropology, this will include an understanding of the ethics of working with human subjects.
Method and Theory
Graduate students will have a solid foundation in current method and theory, as well as an appreciation and understanding of the historic development of the broader discipline of anthropology.
Graduate students will be competent in fieldwork and data analysis. Specific technical skills include some combination of the following: archaeological excavation techniques, archaeological site documentation, mapping, artifact analysis, field note writing, participant observation, interviewing, and/or ethnographic data analysis.
Professional Communication
Graduate students will be able to produce professional quality research papers suitable for presentation at professional meetings or publication.
Professional Standards and Ethics
Graduate students will know and follow professional standards and ethics relative to their field. For students focusing on archaeology this will include understanding ethical issues related to the management, excavation, interpretation, and display of cultural resources. For students focusing on sociocultural anthropology, this will include an understanding of the ethics of working with human subjects.
Method and Theory
Graduate students will have a solid foundation in current method and theory, as well as an appreciation and understanding of the historic development of the broader discipline of anthropology.
Program Stats
Characteristics of Students from Past Academic Year
Total Students
25.0
International
1.0
Male
8.0
Female
17.0
LDS
23.0
BYU Undergraduate
17.0
Five Year Average of Graduated Students
Average Years to Degree
1.89
Graduated Per Year
18.2
GMAT Quantitative Percentile
67.5
Five Year Average of Admitted Students
Applied Per Year
9.4
Admitted Per Year
6.0
Percent Admitted
63.83
Average GPA
3.59
Courses and Faculty