# 2026-2027 Course Catalog

**Source**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/anthropology-ma/
**Parent**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/

*for the Master of Arts in Anthropology*

---

The master's degree can be a first stage toward the doctorate or may be used by students wishing to apply knowledge of anthropology to a related field. Candidates must present a thesis or paper in lieu of a thesis acceptable to their advisers and another member of the graduate faculty within the department.

*for the Master of Arts in Anthropology*

---

For additional details and requirements refer to the department and the [Graduate College Handbook](http://www.grad.illinois.edu/gradhandbook/).

### Thesis Option

Course List

     | Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [ANTH 599](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=ANTH%20599 "ANTH 599") | Thesis Research (min/max applied toward degree) | 4 |
| Total Hours | | 32 |

#### Other Requirements

Grad Other Degree Requirements Single Column

 | Requirement |
| --- |
| Other requirements may overlap |
| Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: 8 at the 500 level |
| Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: 12 |
| Minimum GPA: 3.0 |

### Non-Thesis Option

Course List

     | Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [ANTH 590](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=ANTH%20590 "ANTH 590") | Dissertation Readings (4 min) | 4 |
| Total Hours | | 32 |

#### Other Requirements

Grad Other Degree Requirements Single Column

 | Requirement |
| --- |
| Other requirements may overlap |
| Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: 8 at the 500 level |
| Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: 12 |
| Minimum GPA: 3.0 |

*for the Master of Arts in Anthropology*

---

1. **Skills for independent research**. Graduate students will acquire professional-level research and reasoning skills to identify important research problems and to subsequently design, execute, and clearly report the results of independent research programs.
2. **Subfield-specific expertise**. Our program encompasses the four fields of anthropology, while our core curriculum grounds the separate graduate trajectories. Graduate students should develop an in-depth understanding of the differences and similarities of people through a combination of technical skills, language abilities, and theoretical approaches relevant to their chosen expertise.
3. **Contributions to discipline.** Graduate students will develop their intellectual skills to contribute to the discipline through service, research, teaching, and publishing.
4. **Ethical and professional standards.** Graduate students will abide by accepted ethical standards of professional anthropological conduct.

---

## **Graduate Degree Programs in Anthropology**

- Majors
  - [Anthropology, MA](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/anthropology-ma/)
    - optional concentration
      - [Medieval Studies](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/concentration/medieval-studies/)
- [Anthropology, PhD](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/anthropology-phd/)
  - optional concentrations
    - [Medieval Studies](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/concentration/medieval-studies/)
    - [Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/concentration/second-language-acquisition-teacher-education/)

- Minors
  - [Museum Studies Graduate Minor](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/minors/museum-studies/)

*for the Master of Arts in Anthropology*

---

## **Anthropology**

Department Head: Dana Rabin\
Director of Graduate Studies: Krystal A. Smalls\
Director of Program: Name\
[Anthropology website](http://www.anthro.illinois.edu)\
[Anthropology faculty](https://anthro.illinois.edu/directory/faculty)\
109 Davenport Hall, 607 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801\
(217) 333-3616\
[anthro@illinois.edu](mailto:anthro@illinois.edu)

### **Museum Studies**

Program Coordinator: Susan Frankenberg

## **College of Liberal Arts & Sciences**

[College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website](https://las.illinois.edu/)

## **Admissions**

[Anthropology Graduate Admissions](http://www.anthro.illinois.edu)\
[Graduate College Admissions & Requirements](https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply)\