Anthropology

Policies

Admission

The GRE is required. Prospective students should submit the application provided by the MSU College of Graduate Studies and Research. For the Department of Anthropology, students need to provide three letters of recommendation and write a personal statement which describes their previous training in Anthropology and reasons for pursing a graduate degree. Submit these materials to the Anthropology Graduate Coordinator. Anthropology attracts people from a wide variety of backgrounds, so we welcome applicants from any field. Students who do not have the equivalent of at least an undergraduate minor in Anthropology may need to take some undergraduate core courses before taking the Master's seminars.

Financial Assistance

We are able to offer some financial support to most of our students at some point in their training. Graduate teaching and research assistantships are granted each year in Anthropology, on a competitive basis. The Andreas Graduate Scholarship in Anthropology is also awarded annually. Some scholarships and assistantships are available for incoming students. Advanced students can apply for adjunct teaching positions.

To Apply for Financial Assistance, complete a Graduate Assistantship Application, submit a statement about your relevant experience (if you have taught or done research, etc.) with the other materials that you send to the Department of Anthropology. You can apply for other types of financial aid (such as Federal work-study or loans) through the Office of Financial Aid.

Comprehensive Exam Policy

All students are required to take a written comprehensive exam during or following the semester in which the core theory seminar courses are completed. The exam will consist of five questions submitted by the department faculty in two areas: 1) a special area of concentration selected by the student, and 2) general anthropological history and theory in biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. These exams will be graded independently by all members of the anthropology faculty, and the results will be summarized by the graduate coordinator. Students may pass or fail any question. Failed questions may be repeated only once. A student must pass all questions to continue in the program.

Thesis Policy

Students are required to complete a thesis as part of the degree program. The Department of Anthropology follows the basic guidelines found in the Minnesota State University, Mankato Graduate Studies Bulletin. Prior to commencing work on the thesis a student must present a thesis proposal to the examining committee. This proposal should be complete and presented to the student's committee no later than the end of the eighth week of the semester prior to commencing the thesis project. The student will present an oral defense of the thesis to the examining committee at least two weeks prior to the end of fall or spring semester. No thesis defense can be scheduled during the summer.