Anthropology, MS

The Department of Anthropology offers programs of graduate study designed to provide a broad background in all significant facets of the discipline—biological as well as cultural, analytic as well as descriptive—while still encouraging specialization. It provides training both for students interested in an academic career in anthropology and for those concerned with practical issues approached from the integrative perspective of anthropology.

The department, in cooperation with the Milwaukee Public Museum, also offers a program leading to a Certificate in Museum Studies. The Milwaukee Public Museum, the fourth largest natural history museum in the country, is the site for methods courses that provide the student practical experience in museum work and for courses in the history and theory of museum exhibits. Each student’s program of studies includes training in anthropological theory and methods, issues and problems in cultural anthropology, archaeology, anthropological linguistics and physical anthropology, as well as topics that focus on the student’s area of particular interest.

Admission Requirements 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Admission

An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:

1. An undergraduate major in anthropology comparable to that at UWM.
2. Reason Statement.
3. Three letters of recommendation.
4. A writing sample such as a relevant term paper, article submission, etc.

Applicants without an undergraduate major in anthropology can meet the first requirement in either of two ways:

1. By having completed junior-level courses in three of the four subfields of anthropology (archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, or linguistics) with grades of B or better. These courses may be taken at any accredited college or university if they were not part of the applicant’s undergraduate career. Applicants also may take them as special students at UWM. Applicants planning to take such courses should check with the Director of Graduate Studies to verify that the courses will be acceptable.
2. Applicants lacking courses in anthropology may be admitted to the program and be allowed to take the core classes and advanced seminars without deficiencies under certain conditions. For example, an applicant with an outstanding GPA who has an undergraduate major closely related to their proposed field of specialization could be admitted under this option.

Application deadlines for admission to the program are January 15th for the following Fall semester and September 15th for the following Spring semester. Applicants requesting financial assistance may have other deadlines to be considered eligible. Contact the department’s Director of Graduate Studies for specific financial aid deadlines.

Credits and Courses

Students in the Master’s degree program in Anthropology are required to take a minimum of 30 credits, 15 of which must be obtained in courses numbered 700 or above. Required courses differ by concentration (requirements for students seeking to acquire a Certificate in Museum Studies are listed on that page).

Archaeology Concentration

Biological Anthropology Concentration

Cultural Anthropology Concentration

Anthropology MS with Museum Studies Certificate

Students completing any of the three above concentrations can also earn the Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies as outlined below. The student must select methods, advanced seminar, and electives courses appropriate to their concentration in consultation with their advisor. 21 credits are required for the Anthropology, MS¹, and 18 credits must be completed for the Certificate program, for a total of 39 credits.

¹

Students may request a waiver for any of the above required courses for the Anthropology MS degree except the advanced seminar. To request a waiver, a student must submit a letter to the Graduate Studies Committee. Requests must be accompanied by documentation demonstrating that the student is competent in the subject area of the course for which the waiver is sought. A waived course must be replaced by an anthropology course numbered 700 or above. Museum Studies courses cannot be waived.

Students must maintain a B (3.0) average or better overall. The three core courses must be completed with an average of 3.0 or better. Students with a grade below a B in a core course subsequently accepted into the PhD program must retake the course until they achieve a grade of B or better.

A thesis is required of all students; students may apply up to 6 credits of Research/Thesis courses toward meeting the minimum credits for the degree. The thesis must be formatted in accord with Graduate School requirements. Students will submit an electronic copy of the thesis to the Graduate School and a signed, unbound “hard” copy to the Department of Anthropology.

Additional Requirements

Major Professor as Advisor

The student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student’s studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. A student selects an advisor, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, by the end of the first semester of the program.

Thesis Defense

The student must pass an oral thesis defense. The examination committee must consist of at least three individuals, with a majority being members of the Anthropology Department.

Time Limit

The student must complete all degree requirements within five years of initial enrollment.

Anthropology MS Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Anthropology MS program will be able to: 

• Demonstrate mastery of major theoretical and methodological approaches in biological anthropology, anthropological archaeology, and sociocultural anthropology. (Anthropological Concepts) 
• Formulate a research problem and conduct research to investigate the problem using appropriate anthropological methods. (Research Competence) 
• Produce a thesis fit for public dissemination that clearly formulates a research problem and presents the results of the study with reference to anthropological theory, including critical assessment of previous research and suggestions for future research directions. (Written Communication) 
• Explain the research questions, methods, and outcomes of their research in the public forum of a thesis defense. (Oral Communication) 
• Follow ethical principles appropriate to relevant subfields when undertaking research and in educational and professional contexts. (Ethics) 

Accelerated Program Option

This program is offered as part of an accelerated graduate program. For more information, see Accelerated Graduate Degrees.

Anthropology, BA/Anthropology, MS

This accelerated graduate degree involves the following bachelor’s and master’s degrees: Anthropology BA and Anthropology MS. There are six (6) forward-shared credits and 15 backward-shared credits for a total of 21 shared credits.

Eligible Forward-Shared Courses

Students can utilize six credits maximum to forward share. See list below for courses that may be forward shared. These courses must be taken at the graduate (G) level.

Eligible Backward-Shared Courses

Students can utilize 15 credits maximum to backward share toward the BA in Anthropology. 

Note that Core courses (ANTHRO 801, ANTHRO 802, and ANTHRO 803) and the Advanced Seminar (ANTHRO 763 or ANTHRO 940) cannot be shared. Classes taken to fulfill Graduate requirements for Method 1, Method 2, Elective 1, Elective 2, Elective 3, and Elective 4 can be shared. See below for the list of approved graduate classes for backward-shared credit.

Undergraduate Requirements

The Accelerated Graduate Degree in Anthropology requires students meet the following criteria:

• Minimum GPA of 3.5 (Anthro and Cumulative)
• Junior standing
• Prior completion of ANTHRO 101, ANTHRO 102, and ANTHRO 103
• Declaration of major in Anthropology with an intent to apply for the Accelerated Master’s Degree in Anthropology

Approved enrollment into graduate level coursework during an undergraduate career does not guarantee admission to the MS in Anthropology as part of the Accelerated Graduate Degree. These courses fulfill requirements for the BA in Anthropology, regardless of acceptance into Graduate School.

Graduate School Admission Requirements

Admission to the MS in Anthropology as part of the Accelerated Graduate Degree in Anthropology is selective. Students apply by January of their Junior (3rd) year. In order to be considered for admission into Graduate School, students must meet all existing Department of Anthropology graduate program admission requirements.

Sample Plan of Study

The sample plan below illustrates how students can progress through their undergraduate degree and transition into an Accelerated Graduate Degree (AGD). It provides an example of when undergraduate and graduate-level coursework may be completed and how shared credits can be applied toward both degrees. This is a sample plan, not a required course sequence, and your plan may vary. Work with your undergraduate advisor to develop an individualized plan and confirm all Accelerated Graduate Degree requirements.