MA Degree Program

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.

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 Hawaii. However, students with other academic backgrounds are also eligible for admission.
Graduate Application Information

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.

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.

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.

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

A minimum 32 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.

All incoming graduate students are required to enroll during their first two semesters in the 1-unit Anthropology Colloquium Proseminar Course, ANTH694. This counts as 2 credits toward the degree.

All courses must be taken for a letter grade (A-F). Credit/No Credit courses do not count toward the degree, with the exception of ANTH 694. Graduate students must maintain at least a B (3.00) average.

A minimum of 20 credits must be taken in graduate level courses numbered 600 and above. 699 Directed Reading and Research and 700 Thesis Research DO NOT count towards this 20 credits.

A minimum of 20 credits must be taken within the Department of Anthropology, whether upper division (300-400 level) or graduate (600+) courses. Again, 699 and 700 do not count toward this requirement.

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

An M.A. candidate 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 Course Descriptions booklet for course categorizations.)

Students should clear undergraduate deficiencies during their first year. Note that courses taken to clear deficiencies may NOT be used to fulfill the Method/Theory/Area or 3 core/subfield requirements listed above. However, they can count toward total degree credit if they are upper division (300-400) courses.

Students are expected to convene a committee and hold a Candidacy Meeting by the end of their second semester. At that time, elect Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis):

Plan A:
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:
Requires 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.

Plan B (Portfolio) [Applied Archaeology; terminal degree]:
Each student must successfully complete the minimum of 32 credit hours of required and elective coursework as part of the degree. Students must also demonstrate competency on a final written examination, taken no later than the last semester prior to graduation. The examination tests students on their general competence in topics that are the focus of the curriculum, including archaeological method, theory, area, research design, and historic preservation. In lieu of a final examination (and at the discretion of the students' committee) a student may be permitted to complete a report on original research, or three publishable papers.

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