Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]

Master of Arts in Anthropology


Applicants for admission to this degree program are expected to have completed at least 15 undergraduate semester hours in anthropology. Students lacking this background will be required to take compensatory work during their graduate program.

Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http://www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

Requirements (30-36)


A minimum of one course taken for graduate credit from each of the four following subfields of anthropology (12)

Archaeology


Cultural-social anthropology


Linguistic anthropology


Physical anthropology


Additional Requirements


Students choosing the thesis option must take at least 18 additional semester hours, of which at least 12 must be in anthropology. For students electing to write a thesis, the additional 12 hours in anthropology must include at least three semester hours of ANTH 699.

Students choosing the non-thesis option must take at least 24 additional semester hours, of which at least 18 must be in anthropology.

Consequently, of the total 30-hour credit requirement for the thesis option, three semester hours must come from ANTH 699.

Independent study courses may not be substituted for required courses without the consent of the student’s adviser and the department chair.

Each student in the master’s degree program must demonstrate to the satisfaction of their faculty committee proficiency in either statistics or a foreign language useful for the student’s research and must choose one of the following options.
 

Thesis Option


Students choosing this option must register for at least 3 semester hours of credit in ANTH 699, Master’s Thesis, and satisfactorily complete the departmental qualifying examination in their primary subfield of anthropology. Approval of a written preliminary thesis proposal is required before registration in ANTH 699. Although the student may seek approval of the preliminary thesis proposal at any time, successful completion of the qualifying examination in the student’s major subfield of anthropology is a prerequisite to formal registration in ANTH 699.

Non-Thesis Option


Students choosing this option must successfully complete the comprehensive examination in anthropology, covering all four subfields of anthropology.