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The primary focus of the anthropology graduate program is the doctoral degree. A master's degree is awarded in the process of pursuing the Ph.D., but students are not admitted for the sole purpose of obtaining a master's degree.

At the master's level, it is expected that candidates will begin to gain professional competence in a specialized field and will have the opportunity to explore a wide spectrum of interests within that field.

Programs for the master's degree in anthropology are intended to build professional competence in the field of concentration. Thorough undergraduate preparation is assumed.  Basic training in archaeology, biological anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology, taken as an undergraduate major in anthropology, is recommended. Specific requirements vary for each concentration. Students are encouraged to consult Graduate Studies in Anthropology for details on requirements for each concentration.

Concentrations within the major are available in archaeology, social and cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, or an intersectional degree track (see description below).

All programs assume that candidates have had general undergraduate training in the discipline equivalent to that required of an undergraduate major at UW–Madison. See Anthropology.

INTERSECTIONAL DEGREE TRACK

Occasionally students have special interests that can be pursued only through a combined program involving two or more of the sub disciplines within the program. Examples might include paleoanthropology, ethno archaeology, or biocultural anthropology. The department offers an intersectional degree track as an option for these special cases. Interested students should write a carefully prepared statement of intent at the time of application to graduate school. This area of study may take longer to complete, and it is strongly suggested that students who are interested in an intersectional program begin in one of the three major sections prior to making this commitment. Admission to the intersectional program requires prior approval by faculty in each section, and students should contact appropriate faculty before writing their statement.

This master’s program is offered for work leading to the Ph.D. Students may not apply directly for the master's, and should instead see the admissions information for the Ph.D.

This master's program is offered for work leading to the Ph.D. Students may not apply directly for the master's, and should instead see the admissions information for the Ph.D.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Major Requirements

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Face to Face Evening/Weekend Online Hybrid Accelerated
Yes No No No No

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Credit Requirement 30 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 16 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement 30 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Details can be found in the Graduate School’s Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) policy (https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244).
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement A GPA of 3.5. No less than 3.0 during the first year; must have a 3.5 thereafter.
Other Grade Requirements Candidates may not have a GPA lower than 3.0 during the first year and must maintain a 3.5 GPA every year thereafter. Candidates may not carry more than 4 credits of Incomplete at any one time; credits of Incomplete over this limit are counted as grades of F for purposes of the GPA until removed.
Assessments and Examinations Successful completion of a comprehensive master’s exam or a Ph.D. qualifying examination is required.
Language Requirements Language study will be required for many students; specifics are determined in consultation with the advisor and co-advisor.

Required COURSES

Students choose from one of four concentrations/pathways (also referred to as "sections") in the department. Students in the Cultural concentration will earn a Master of Arts. Students in the Archaeology, Biological, or Intersectional concentrations will work their advisor and a department committee to determine if the coursework they take meets the requirements for a master of arts or a master of science.

Archaeology Concentration Pathway1

Student must complete a total of 30 credits of graduate course work, including three seminars (ANTHRO 942 Seminar-Archaeological Problems) in archaeology.  Substitutions for the required seminars in archaeology are not normally allowed. (Incoming M.A. students must take at least two seminars as a part of the Ph.D. requirements, and these courses may be taken before or after the qualifying examination.)

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These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

Biological Concentration Pathway1

Student must complete a total of 30 credits of graduate course work. The following courses are strongly recommended in preparation for the general section of the qualifying examination:

ANTHRO 303 Human Skeletal Anatomy4
ANTHRO 601 Proseminar in Biological Anthropology3
ANTHRO 603 Seminar in Evolutionary Theory3
GENETICS 466 Principles of Genetics3
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These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

Cultural Concentration Pathway1

Minimum 30 credits of graduate course work, 15 credits in cultural anthropology, including ANTHRO 860 and ANTHRO 900, and one additional 900-level seminar (not to include ANTHRO 909 if continuing in Ph.D. program).

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These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

Intersectional Concentration Pathway1

There are no specific courses required; students choose courses in consultation with their advisors.

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These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Work from Other Institutions

With program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master's degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

UW–Madison Undergraduate

No credits from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree are allowed to count toward the degree.

UW–Madison University Special

With program approval students are allowed to count no more than 9 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison Special student. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master's degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Probation

This program follows the Graduate School's Probation policy.

Progress criteria may be waived in special circumstances which must be stated in writing and approved by the appropriate section and signed by the department chair. Candidates not making satisfactory progress will be dropped from the program.

ADVISOR / COMMITTEE

This program follows the Graduate School’s Advisor policy and the Graduate School’s Committees policy.

CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED

15 credits

Time Limits

Ph.D. qualifying examinations must be taken no later than the fourth semester and must be passed no later than the sixth semester.

This program otherwise follows the Graduate School's Time Limits policy.

Grievances and appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.

Other

We have a limited amount of graduate student support through teaching assistantships and fellowships. These are awarded competitively, and are only awarded to those applicants who have applied by submitting all of their materials by the December 1 deadline. For more information see the Anthropology funding webpage.

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

  1. Articulates, critiques, or elaborates the theories, research methods, and approaches to inquiry or schools of practice in either biological, archaeological, or cultural anthropology.
  2. Identifies relevant data and assembles evidence pertaining to questions or challenges in one of the three subfields of anthropology taught in this department.
  3. Demonstrates understanding of the primary field of study in historical, social, or global/transnational contexts as revealed in the qualifying exam.
  4. Selects and/or utilizes the most appropriate methodologies and practices in the sub-discipline.
  5. Evaluates or synthesizes information pertaining to questions or challenges in one of the three subfields of anthropology taught in this department.
  6. Communicates clearly in ways appropriate to the field of study.
  7. Follows ethical principles of the discipline including respect and sensitivity to host cultures and communities, inclusiveness and diversity, civility and collegiality, and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Faculty: See Anthropology.