Master of Arts in Anthropology

I. Admission to Graduate Program
II. Requirements for a Master of Arts Degree

Graduate studies in anthropology at the University of Hawaii are oriented toward training individuals to become well-rounded scholars and teachers, as well as competent researchers and/or practitioners in one or more subfields of Anthropology (Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Discursive Practices and Physical Anthropology).

The M.A. Program is intended to assure the graduate of the fundamentals in her or his elected subfields, while the Ph.D. Program provides an opportunity for further specialization. The Department also offers an alternative terminal M.A. track in Applied Archaeology.

For further, more informal advice for graduate students and junior scholars, see also "The Other Graduate Handbook," written by Dr. Alison Rautman, who has given us permission to share it on our website.

I. Admission to Graduate Program

Students whose undergraduate concentration has been in anthropology are eligible for admission to the program. This includes those from the University of Hawai'i. However, students with other academic backgrounds are also eligible for admission.

Graduate Application Information

Advisor

The Chair of the Graduate Faculty will select an interim advisor for each incoming student who intends to become a candidate for a graduate degree. Any Graduate Faculty member of the Department of Anthropology is eligible to become an interim advisor. If a student prefers a particular faculty member, the student may request that person to be the advisor. Faculty members may examine the records of incoming students and submit to the Chair of the Graduate Faculty the names of any whom they wish to advise.

At this time, Progress Form I will be completed and filed with the Graduate School (refer to General and Graduate Information Catalog for Graduate Division requirements). Completion of Progress Forms is the joint responsibility of the student, the advisor, and the Graduate Chair. Either the student or the advisor may later propose a change of advisor to the Graduate Chair if another faculty member better matches the student's interests.

Deficiencies

The student, the interim advisor, and the Graduate Chair will determine whether there are any undergraduate deficiencies, and, if any, how they are to be eliminated. Minimum undergraduate preparation is considered to consist of passing with a "B" or better at least one course in each of the following sub-fields: archaeology, physical anthropology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology.

Three Person Committee

Before the end of the second semester the student is strongly advised to select a three-person committee. The Dean of the Graduate Division will officially appoint this committee upon the request of the student, the agreement of the proposed members, and the recommendation of the Graduate Chair. A student may request a change in the composition of his committee at any time except in the period between the scheduling of comprehensive or degree conferring examination and completion of all requirements for passing them.

Eligible Persons

Any person on the Graduate Faculty of the Anthropology Department, or any other department of the University, is eligible to be a committee member, subject to the agreement of the members, the endorsement of the Graduate Chair, and the approval of the Graduate Division Dean. The committee chair must be a member of the Anthropology Department's graduate faculty, and two of the three members must be from the Department of Anthropology.

First Conference and Study Plan

As soon as possible following the formation of the committee, and prior to the end of the second semester in residence, the student is expected to initiate a candidacy conference. The conference must include all members of the student's committee. At this conference the student will submit in writing a proposed program of study, including an outline of course work (in general terms rather than specific courses), specification of sub-disciplinary, foreign language and areal specializations, a prospective research project, if appropriate, and any other provisions deemed appropriate to the training.

At this conference the student's plan of action will be discussed and modified in appropriate ways. Admission to candidacy will be contingent upon acceptance by all the committee members, and the student, of the proposed study plan. Any major deviation from this basic plan will require a re-convening of the student's committee and consideration of the proposed changes. The new plan must be submitted in writing by the student and approved by all concerned. The student will work closely with the principal advisor to implement the plan.

II. Requirements for a Master of Arts Degree

All incoming graduate students are required to attend the Colloquium Proseminar their first two semesters in residence.  The colloquia are held on Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. Do not enroll in any classes that will overlap this time.

A minimum 30 credit hours of course work are required for the M.A. degree in Anthropology. (The average course is 3 credits). M.A. students must be enrolled at the University of Hawai‘i full-time (8 credit minimum) for at least 2 semesters while completing the degree.

Graduate students must maintain at least a B (3.00) average. All courses taken for degree credit must be taken for a letter grade (A-F). Credit/No Credit courses do not count toward degree credit.

Directed Reading and Research (699) credits when taken for a grade (A-F) may be counted toward the M.A. degree.  Consult the Graduate Chair to determine the exact number of credits that can be applied in specific cases.

A minimum of 18 credits must be taken within the Department of Anthropology, whether upper division (300-400 level) or graduate (600+) courses. 699 and 700 do not count toward this requirement.

Plan A students must take a minimum of 12 credits in graduate level courses numbered 600 and above. Plan B students must take a minimum of 18 credits in graduate level courses numbered 600 and above.

Again, 699 Directed Reading and Research and 700 Thesis Research DO NOT count towards these 600 level credits.

Students should clear undergraduate deficiencies during their first year. Upper division courses taken to clear deficiencies may be used to fulfill the Method/Theory/Area or 3rd subfield requirements listed below. (The number of credits are not doubled, however. For example, if you took a 300 level course in linguistics to clear that deficiency, it could qualify as your 3rd subfield, assuming your 2 cores had been in Cultural and Archaeology, but it would count only as 3 credits toward your total degree credits, not 6).

M.A. candidates must pass with a B (3.00) or better:

• 2 out of 4 Core courses (601 Ethnology, 602 Linguistic Anthropology, 603 Archaeology, 604 Physical Anthropology)
• 1 upper division or graduate level course in a third subfield. (The third subfield course can also fulfill the following Method/Theory/Area requirements.)
• 2 Method or Technique courses
• 2 Theory or Topic courses
• 2 Culture or Geographic Area courses

(See the Courses by Area, Method, and Theory Designations [pdf] or the course description booklet available in Saunders 346C.)

Candidacy Meeting: Students should convene a committee and hold their Candidacy Meeting by the end of their second semester (that is, before May of your first year in residence).  At that time, elect Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis):

Plan A [click here for complete requirements]:

Requires enrollment in a minimum of 6 credits (maximum of 12) of 700 Thesis Research to graduate. 699 credits can be used to fulfill this requirement, but you MUST be enrolled in at least one unit of 700 the semester you graduate.

Plan B [click here for complete requirements]:

Requires approval of 3 scholarly papers on anthropological topics, 1 of which must be a Research Proposal. Plan B students are also strongly encouraged to complete a Capstone Experience by either taking the 698 Professional Skills Development course or giving a full-length colloquium presentation at the Department of Anthropology or another program’s speaker series.

The Department also offers a terminal M.A. track in Applied Archaeology.

Graduate Chair:
Prof. Jack Bilmes
Saunders 311
956-7669
gradchr@hawaii.edu

page last updated August 23, 2009