Anthropology, MA

Location(s): Main Campus

Anthropology seeks to understand the forms and processes of social and cultural production, and the nature and origins of human biological variability, through systematic exploration and scientific examination of human groups and their artifacts and lifeways, both past and present.

There are four traditionally recognized subfields of the discipline: archaeology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology and sociocultural anthropology. Binghamton University’s faculty represent the four subfields, and this coverage is key to the training of its students.

As such, the Master of Arts (MA) in Anthropology requires study in all four of the subfields.

Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree, not necessarily in anthropology, from an accredited college or university is required for admission. All applicants must submit a statement of career goals. Students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States or an anglophone country must also submit proof of English proficiency (such as TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE Academic scores). International students who have received a college or university degree from an institution in the United States or another anglophone country are not required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE Academic scores. Additionally, all international students must provide immigration forms guaranteeing financial support.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the MA in Anthropology must take a minimum of 30 credits, which includes:

One four-credit course in each subdiscipline, as designated by each subdisciplinary caucus, that includes history and theory of the subdiscipline, passed with a grade of B- or better.
Additional coursework, chosen with advice from the student’s principal advisor, which may include no more than 8 credits taken outside the anthropology department, no more than 4 credits of ANTH 597 or 599 (combined), and may not include ANTH 580, 590 or 591

Individual students may be required to complete courses in excess of the 30-credit minimum to acquire master’s-level command of the subject matter of the discipline and to meet the needs of their master’s degree research. Subfields may have specific course requirements within these credits.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate an ability to read research literature in a major language of scholarship in addition to their native language. This requirement may be fulfilled in a variety of ways. Some international students may be able to use their English proficiency to satisfy this requirement. Students should consult with their graduate advisor or the director of graduate studies early in their academic careers to discuss arrangements for the satisfaction of this requirement.

Master’s Colloquium

Each student must present a colloquium to their advisor and reader in the third semester of full-time registration on the student’s thesis topic or the topics of the two-paper option.

Thesis

Each student must write a thesis, which may take the form of a traditional thesis or two shorter papers of publishable quality. The thesis must be read and approved by the student’s principal advisor and one other member of the department faculty. Students may count up to four credits of ANTH 599 Thesis toward the minimum total credit requirement for the master’s degree if they have not already used four credits of ANTH 597 Independent Study.

Master of Arts in Anthropology Public Archaeology Track

The Master of Arts (MA) in Anthropology with the Public Archaeology track (MAPA) is a 20-month program of coursework and practical training designed to prepare students for a range of professional positions. The degree is offered through the Anthropology Department and in conjunction with the Public Archaeology Facility (PAF), a research center on the Binghamton University campus specializing in cultural resource management.

Admission Requirements

Students must have completed an archaeological field school of at least five weeks in duration or the equivalent to be admitted to this track.

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the MA in Public Archaeology must fulfill the following requirements:

Core Courses (4 credits each):
- ANTH 551 Strategies in Archaeology
- ANTH 554G Heritage and Communities
- ANTH 585 Heritage Resource Management - Policy and Procedures
- ANTH 555 The Practice of Public Archaeology.
Enroll for four credits of ANTH 595 Internship, and complete a summer internship in public archaeology.
Complete four to five elective courses, at least two on methodological practica and the others may be practica or an area course.
Completion of a master’s thesis, which will be facilitated by two classes: ANTH 590 Writing Skills and Publication and ANTH 599 Thesis.

Master’s Colloquium and Thesis Requirement

Students must present a colloquium based on the student’s summer internship experience and proposed MA thesis. Upon returning to Binghamton for the second year of the program, students are dedicated to completing a master’s thesis based on their summer internship, with courses focused on professional development, writing skills and publication practices.

Additional Information About the Program

Courses taken to meet the 30-credit minimum must be passed with a B average (3.0).

For more information on the Anthropology MA program, please refer to the Anthropology department website for more information. To apply to the Anthropology MA program, please visit the University Admissions website.