Master's Program

THE MASTER'S PROGRAM 

A. Admissions. Most students admitted to graduate study in the MA program have completed at least the equivalent of fifteen semester hours of anthropology as undergraduates, including introductory courses in the subfields of anthropology (archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology) as well as more advanced courses in at least two sub-fields. If the baccalaureate degree has been earned without this background, a student’s advisor will plan an appropriate program of study to bring the student to the same level of preparation, in terms of breadth and depth, as students who have earned the BA in anthropology. 

B. Statement of Purpose. The master's degree is the first stage in the development of a professional career in anthropology. The MA degree may lead to admission to a Ph.D. program, to a teaching career at the secondary or junior college level, or other specialized employment, such as cultural resource management in archaeology or applied work in cultural anthropology in the public interest. Most students should complete the MA program within two years of full-time study. 

The goal of the MA program is to enable the student to acquire the intellectual foundation and the skills to pursue a career as a professional anthropologist. To do that the student needs to demonstrate the capabilities to complete an MA thesis or exam, namely: 

1. The ability to formulate anthropologically interesting problems. 

2. The critical ability to apply an appropriate methodology in linking empirical observation with a theoretically informed generalization. 

3. A working familiarity with a body of data (e.g., a population, a culture area, a culture period). 4. The ability to demonstrate these competencies in writing. 

Students meet this MA program goal by completing a personal core curriculum of four to six courses, developed in consultation with a faculty advisor and the graduate studies committee. This course of study is then complemented by other courses and by any other assignments given by the graduate advisor and graduate studies committee. 

The MA program should be completed in two years, and departmental funding at the MA level will be limited to a maximum of 5 semesters. Departmental funding includes all TA-ships, and stand-alone teaching such as the Residential Academic Program (RAP) and Continuing Education, RA-ships, and Lab Coordinator positions. 

The following requirements, guidelines, and steps are effective for entering students beginning Fall 2015.  

C. Guidelines and Requirements 

Upon admission to the program, students are assigned an advisor. In some cases, a student may be assigned co-advisors due to a mutuality of interests.  

All students should consult with their advisors before the beginning of each semester to select courses that best suit their personal interests and professional goals. They should communicate regularly with their advisors to keep them abreast of interests, challenges, and opportunities. Once per year, advisor-advisee communication is formalized in the Graduate Review (see the Graduate Review Form).  

All students must fulfill the Graduate School’s requirements for a master’s degree, namely: • Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours composed of graduate-level seminars, 21 of which must be in the student’s major field of study; 

• Sustain a 3.0 GPA; 

• Earn a minimum of six credits (thesis option) or twelve credits (non-thesis option) in the 600-800 range. 

• For those completing an MA thesis, a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 9 credits of Anthropology 699  must be completed. 

• Not more than 6 credits may be transferred into a student's degree program from non-degree programs (e.g., Division of Continuing Education graduate credits, non-degree graduate student program, and graduate credits earned at other universities (if not earned in fulfillment of a degree). Such transfers take place only after a recommendation from the advisor to the GPD. 

• Independent studies are not encouraged in a course-based master’s program. In rare cases at the MA level, a maximum of 6 units of independent study may be counted toward the 30 units, but 21 units must still be credits from graduate seminars in the major department, i.e., Anthropology. 

For additional details, see the Graduate School website: 

Master's: All students earning a master’s degree in the Department of Anthropology must take the following courses: 

• Anthro 600 Intro to Grad School 

• Research Methods (course to be approved by Advisor) 

• Theory & Method (in the student’s primary subfield) 

• Graduate-level seminars in at least three of the four anthropology subfields 

*Note: Teaching in Anthropology is required for all incoming students with a teaching assistantship; in the event a master’s student has alternate funding or is not working as a TA they may receive approval from the Graduate Program Director (GPD) to waive this requirement. 

All students must select a coursework or thesis option by the end of the first year. 

D. The MA Program Assessment Meeting. Toward the end of the second semester of study, the Graduate Program Director (GPD) shall convene an MA program assessment meeting with an ad-hoc advisory committee and each MA student. The ad-hoc committee shall consist of the GPD, the student’s advisor, and a member of the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC). In advance of the meeting, the student should provide the program coordinator with a copy of the MA Coursework Plan (see Appendix for example). The purpose of the meeting is to 1) review the student’s completed coursework to date; 2) review the coursework plan for the ensuing semesters; and 3) decide whether the student will be pursuing a coursework or thesis MA option. 

Upon considering the materials in the student's file and discussing them with the student, the committee will (1) recommend any appropriate changes in the program of study and (2) decide what additional work shall be done to complete the MA degree and prepare for the MA exam. In assessing the coursework plan, the ad-hoc committee will consider the competencies necessary to attain anthropological breadth and depth. 

The character of this end-of-first-year meeting is not that of an examination. Rather, it actively involves the student in assessment and planning; it is a joint review of the first year's work and a planning session for the ensuing semesters.

E. The Master's Integrated Portfolio-based Exam.  

The Master's general examination takes place upon completion of both required coursework and any assignments made at the Program Assessment Meeting (such as the MA thesis). The MA Exam Committee conducts the exam. The committee consists of the advisor, the GPD, and one other faculty member. The other faculty member will be chosen from one of the course instructors whose writing sample appears in the portfolio. The student will choose that faculty member in consultation with the advisor. If they cannot reach an agreement, the Graduate Studies Committee will make the decision.  

The purpose of this examination is twofold: to evaluate the student's progress to date and to formulate future plans. The announcement of the examination is made by the GPD in writing to the entire faculty no less than two weeks before the scheduled date. For students who complete an MA Thesis (see G. below), the MA Thesis Defense serves as the Master's General Examination. 

The exam proceeds along three steps: 1) The student submits a portfolio with three writing samples from coursework taken in three different subfields. Samples may include research papers, grant proposals, short essays, etc. The student may make selections in consultation with his/her/their advisor; the student submits three questions based on the portfolio, of which the committee will select one; 2) The student has 10 days to answer the question in the form of a 10-page essay (double-spaced, approximately 3,000 words, plus references cited); and 3) the student meets with the MA exam committee to complete the oral exam.  

The GPD will schedule dates for the MA Exam in the Spring semester, typically a week after spring break, and the fall semester as needed. The oral evaluation portion of the examination is based on coursework, the portfolio, and the written essay. The exam committee combines its assessment with the evaluative materials from the student's file and makes a recommendation regarding the student to the GPD for approval. This recommendation usually takes the form of one of three options: 

l. the student's participation in the program is to be terminated without the MA degree; 

2. the student has qualified for the completion of the MA degree only; or 

3. the student has qualified for the MA degree and proceeds directly with the PhD course of study. 

On rare occasions, the exam committee may decide to postpone making a final recommendation—usually for no more than one semester. A written explanation for the postponement is presented to the student and the GPD and a date is set for a second master's general examination. All MA candidates are expected to complete all degree requirements within three calendar years (see Chapter V, section I). 

F. Routes to the MA Degree. For those students whose master's program does not include a thesis, the MA degree is conferred upon certification of the GPD to the Graduate Dean that the degree requirements have been met. These include a "pass" for the master's general examination, the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 graduate credits (of which at least 12 must be in 600-series or higher courses) at the University of Massachusetts, the completion of the Certificate of Eligibility form, and payment to the Graduate School of required fees. For those students whose program does include the MA thesis, the basic requirements are the same, although from six to nine credits of a minimum of 30 credits must be master's thesis credits. 

G. Master's Thesis. If the student is required by the advisory committee at the MA program assessment meeting to write an MA thesis, she/he discusses with the committee an appropriate topic and ways of developing it into a thesis. Once an agreement is reached on these points, the student prepares a thesis outline. Once the outline is approved by the committee, the GPD transmits it to the Graduate School along with a formal recommendation that the advisory committee be appointed as the MA thesis committee. The Graduate School requires that at least four months must elapse between the time the thesis outline is approved and the date of the MA thesis defense. 

H. Advancement from MA to PhD. Students who are admitted to the MA-only program must formally apply for admission into the Ph.D. program and will be evaluated competitively with all other applications. 

Students who are admitted into the MA/PhD program must both successfully pass the MA thesis defense or the MA exam and receive approval for advancement from their evaluating committee. Passing the MA exam does not automatically ensure advancement to the doctoral program. 

I. Changing Faculty Advisors. Changing Faculty advisors requires formal approval by the GPD. The student is strongly encouraged to discuss this with their current Advisor and to ascertain whether their proposed Advisor is willing and able to serve as Chair of their Committee. The student then petitions the GPD for approval in writing by email or by appointment. The GPD will consult will both current and proposed advisors as part of the approval process and determine if the change is appropriate. If approved, the GPD writes a brief memo to all parties. 

J. Steps to the Master’s 

Option 1: Course-based MA Exam 

1. Consult with an Advisor to Select Courses 

The student consults with a designated advisor to select courses for the fall and spring semesters and completes the requirements for each course. 

2. Form 4 – Schedule and Attend MA Program Assessment Meeting  

At the end of Year 1, the Graduate Studies Committee will schedule days and times for MA Assessment Meetings. An ad-hoc committee consisting of the student’s advisor, the Graduate Program Director, or a member of the Graduate Studies Committee will convene the meeting. Form 5 to be completed. 

3. MA General Exam 

a. Submit Portfolio and Exam Questions to the MA Exam Committee 

The student submits a portfolio with three writing samples from coursework taken in three different subfields. Samples may include research papers, grant proposals, short essays, etc. The student may make selections in consultation with his/her/their advisor. 

The student also submits three potential exam questions based on the portfolio. 

b. Complete Written Essay 

The student receives exam questions from the MA Exam Committee and has 10 days to compose an essay response.  

c. Complete Oral MA General Exam 

An MA Exam Committee will convene to hold the MA general exam. The MA Exam Committee will consist of the advisor, one other faculty member, and the GPD. The Graduate Studies Committee will schedule days and times for the general exams. 

4. Form 7 Report MA General Exam Results  

The results of the MA general exam must be reported on Form 7, which must be signed by the advisor. 

5. Complete Certificate of Eligibility  

The student completes the certificate of eligibility, which includes the courses taken during the period of study (minimum of 30 credits), which must be signed by the GPD and Department Chair.

Option 2: Master’s Thesis  

1. Consult with an Advisor to Select Courses 

The student consults with a designated advisor to select courses for the fall and spring semesters and then completes the requirements for each course. 

2. Attend the MA Assessment Meeting 

At the end of Year 1, the Graduate Studies Committee will schedule days and times for MA Assessment Meetings. An ad-hoc committee consisting of the student’s advisor, the Graduate Program Director, or a member of the Graduate Studies Committee will convene the meeting. 

3. Prepare Thesis Outline  

The student, in consultation with the advisor, prepares a formal outline of the thesis with a cover sheet.  

4. Form 2 Select the MA Thesis Committee and Submit Outline  

The student selects members to serve on the MA thesis committee, which consists of a minimum of 2 members from the Department. Members must have Graduate Faculty status. The committee members must sign the formal thesis outline signatory page. Note that Form 2 must be completed, with the thesis outline attached, at least four months before the thesis defense can be scheduled. The Dean formally appoints the thesis committee. 

5. Prepare the Thesis and Register for Thesis Credits 

The student prepares the thesis following both the committee’s directions and format requirements outlined in the Typing Guidelines for Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. The student also must register for at least 6 but not more than 9 thesis credits (ANTH 699) while writing the thesis. 

6. Form 4 Schedule MA Thesis Defense  

Once the thesis is written and all committee members have read and approved a defendable draft, the student schedules the thesis defense by completing Form 4 and submitting it to the Program Coordinator, who obtains the GPD’s signature and places it in the student’s file. The thesis defense must be scheduled at least two weeks before the MA thesis defense. The Program Coordinator announces the general examination in the Mini-Memo

7. Defend your MA Thesis and Take the MA General Exam 

The thesis defense is an exam involving the student and the MA committee members. 

8. Form 7 Report Results of MA Thesis Defense 

The results of the thesis defense must be reported and signed by the thesis committee chair.  

9. Complete Certificate of Eligibility  

The student completes the certificate of eligibility, which includes the courses taken during the period of study (minimum of 30 credits). This form must be signed by the GPD and Department Chair. 

10. Submit the Thesis to the Office of Degree Requirements  

The student must submit a copy of the thesis electronically through the University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks for M.A., M.S., M.F.A. (Art and Theater) website. The thesis must be approved and signed by all members of the thesis committee and the Department Head/Chair. One original of the thesis signature page is required to be submitted on acid-free paper to the Graduate Student Service Center.