Anthropology, MA
Introduction
Please click here to see Anthropology department information.
The unique intellectual challenge of anthropology is to integrate knowledge from many disciplines for a global understanding of cultural and biological diversity in the past and the present. Individual courses in cultural anthropology, biological anthropology and archaeology cut across lines of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Because of this integrative perspective on the human condition, and the training provided in objectively assessing biological, cultural patterning and social interaction, an advanced degree in anthropology provides a versatile base for career development.
Students in our terminal Master's program have the benefit of receiving the faculty's full attention. Our program is unique in several respects. First, for students wishing to find employment after their MA, the department offers a mentorship program that pairs them with alumni who have forged careers in students' fields of interest. Second, our program also offers students a range of opportunities for professional development that are unusual in programs that focus on PhD students. For students considering the possibility of doctoral-level work in anthropology, the department has an excellent record in placing students in top-tier graduate programs. Students with residency in 14 states are eligible for in-state tuition, and funding opportunities in the form of Teaching Assistantships and graduate fellowships are available to students on a competitive basis. MA students may pursue the thesis or non-thesis option.
The University of Colorado Denver Department of Anthropology provides outstanding graduate education in anthropology, giving students a broad yet thorough grounding in three (out of the four) subfields of anthropology as well as specialized instruction in one or more of a number of research orientations and/or geographic area concentrations. These orientations encompass the areas of research and application in which department faculty have substantial expertise.
These degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their Anthropology faculty advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.
Some students may benefit from adding a specific skills-based certificate program onto their graduate program. For example: archeology students may wish to gain expertise in Geographic Information Systems through the GIS certificate offered through the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, while medical anthropology students may benefit from the certificate in public health offered through the School of Public Health. Graduate-level courses in certificate programs can often fulfill elective requirements in the anthropology program.
One doctoral program at the CU Denver campus that may be of particular interest to graduates of the anthropology MA program is the PhD in Health and Behavioral Sciences. It is highly interdisciplinary and a natural extension of a master's degree in medical anthropology.
Graduate Education Policies and Procedures apply to this program.
Program Requirements
- Students must complete a total of 30-36 credit hours.
- Students must complete a minimum of 30-36 graduate (5000 and above) level credit hours.
- Students must earn a minimum grade of B- (2.7) in all courses that apply to the degree and must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Courses taken using P+/P/F or S/U grading cannot apply to program requirements.
- All credits for the degree must be completed with CU Denver faculty. A maximum of 12 credits of relevant graduate work may be transferred from another university with the program director's approval.
- Students must comply with all Graduate Education Policies and Procedures
Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations
- The university allows up to seven years to complete a master's degree, but students are strongly discouraged from spending more than four years. While it is possible to finish the MA in two years, most of our students work part-time, which limits the time they can dedicate to the program; most finish within three years.
- Thesis track students must complete a minimum of 30 total credits and non-thesis track students must complete a minimum of 36 credits.
Your graduate anthropology education begins by taking ANTH 5810 Integrating Anthropology plus two core courses each from two sub-disciplines of Anthropology. After completing this core, you will select from among the specialized elective courses in the research concentrations described in more detail below. You will work closely with an advisor in selecting the range of courses appropriate both to a problem orientation and to your career objectives.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following required courses: | 6 | |
| Quantitative Methods in Anthropology 1 | ||
| Integrating Anthropology | ||
| Choose two of the following required core sets. Students are not required to take these courses sequentially. | 12 | |
Archaeology | ||
| Contemporary Perspectives in Archaeology and Archaeological Research Design and Analysis | ||
Biological | ||
| Biological Anthropology Core: The Fossil Record and Biological Anthropology Core: Modern Human Variation | ||
Cultural | ||
| Ethnographic Methods: Principles, Ethics, and Critiques and Theory in Medical Anthropology | ||
| As part of the MA degree, all students take a minimum of 9 elective credits. | 9 | |
| Students will round out the program by selecting from the diverse range of courses offered in the Anthropology department according to their particular interests, career goals and plans for future graduate study. | ||
Students may focus on one of the following research concentrations or explore courses outside of the Anthropology department. The courses listed are not intended to be comprehensive; students must work closely with their advisor in constructing their particular program of study. | ||
| Students who opt to complete the non-thesis option will complete 9 additional elective credit hours from courses from the research concentration areas, according to their interests and plan of study. | 9 | |
Non-thesis students must also complete a portfolio. | ||
| Non-Thesis Option | 36 | |
| Students completing a thesis will take a minimum of 3 thesis credit hours. | 3 | |
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Thesis Option | 30 | |
- 1
As an approved substitution, students may take:
ENVS 5600 Applied Statistics for the Natural Sciences
MATH 5830 Applied Statistics
PUAD 5003 Research and Analytic Methods
RSEM 5100 Basic Statistics
RSEM 7100 Advanced Methods of Qualitative Inquiry
SOCY 5183 Seminar: Quantitative Data Analysis
Approved Electives outside of Anthropology
Students are encouraged to explore specialized elective courses in the research concentrations described in more detail below. You will work closely with an advisor in selecting the range of courses appropriate both to a problem orientation and to your career objectives.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Human Genetics | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Exercise Physiology | ||
| Population and Evolutionary Genetics | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy Laboratory | ||
| Public Health in the Global Community | ||
| Geographic Perspective on Global Health | ||
| International Travel and Health | ||
| Writing in the Sciences | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Investigation of Disease Outbreaks | ||
| Remote Sensing I: Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing | ||
| Remote Sensing II: Advanced Remote Sensing | ||
| Introduction to GIS | ||
| Cartography | ||
| Environmental Modeling with Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Interpretation of History in Museums: Exhibits and Education | ||
| Current Global Health Policy Issues |
Archaeology
The archaeological studies program concentrates on the study of past human societies using archaeological data collected in field and museum settings. While a quantitative and scientific approach is emphasized, the theoretical perspectives employed draw heavily from political economy and cultural ecology. The department offers a variety of theoretical, methodological and area courses, which may be supplemented by others in the geography and environmental sciences and history departments. Internships are available in local museums and historic preservation offices in the Denver metropolitan area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CU Denver Archaeology Courses | ||
| Archaeology of Mexico and Central America | ||
| Lithic Analysis | ||
| Archaeology of Hunters-Gatherers | ||
| Archaeology of Power and Inequality | ||
| Museums in the 21st Century | ||
| Landscape Archaeology | ||
| Neanderthals and the Origin of Modern Humans | ||
| Field Experience in Archaeology | ||
| Remote Sensing I: Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing | ||
| Introduction to GIS | ||
| Environmental Impact Assessment | ||
| Historic Preservation | ||
| History at Work: Public and Community History | ||
Biological Anthropology
The biological anthropology concentration is concerned with modern human biological diversity and the past evolutionary history that has led to such diversity. Students in this concentration develop a firm understanding of the evolutionary processes that lead to physical and behavioral variation in humans and nonhuman primates. The concentration also emphasizes the theoretical and quantitative methods used to explore and explain this variation. Students may take courses in diverse areas including evolutionary biology, genetics, ecology, ethnobiology, epidemiology, nutrition, medical anthropology, paleoanthropology, paleontology and primatology. Because biological anthropology is multidisciplinary in nature, students are encouraged to consider courses offered outside the department.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CU Denver Biological Anthropology Courses | ||
| Advanced Issues in Human Evolution | ||
| Human Ecology | ||
| Neanderthals and the Origin of Modern Humans | ||
| Primate Behavior | ||
| Human Genetics: Legal, Ethical and Social Issues | ||
| Human Genetics | ||
| Population and Evolutionary Genetics | ||
| Human Ecology and Environmental Adaptation | ||
| Environmental Epidemiology | ||
Medical Anthropology
Our MA program in cultural anthropology offers a unique focus on Medical Anthropology. Medical anthropology is a sub-discipline of anthropology that includes the study of all aspects of health, illness and disease in human communities and populations. It draws on all of the perspectives that distinguish anthropology as a unique discipline: the analysis of human evolution and adaptation; cultural development, expressions, and variability; and historical change and continuity. Medical anthropology takes as its subject a broad range of specific topics, including the study of health care systems, factors that affect the distribution and determinants of disease in populations, maternal and child health, nutrition and food habits, human development, political ecology, health policy, health disparities, community-driven wellness practices, visual storytelling, social media designed to promote health equities, and language and communication in health care contexts.
Faculty members take a variety of theoretical approaches to the topic, but our program is distinguished by its applied and engaged perspectives. A particular strength of our program is its integration of theoretical knowledge with community- and field-based training opportunities and challenges. We prepare students for careers in nonprofit and community groups, non-governmental organizations, advocacy, public health, health care institutions, and health sciences research; our graduates also attend doctoral programs at selective institutions. Courses in the department are complemented by electives in other departments (sociology, biology, psychology, history, geography, political science) and programs on the CU Denver campus (public affairs, education, health administration) and at the Anschutz Medical Campus (Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Pharmacy and Nursing).
Students who are earning their MA with a concentration in Medical Anthropology may also want to consider simultaneously earning a certificate offered through the CU School of Public Health.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CU Denver Medical Anthropology Courses | ||
| Special Topics in Anthropology | ||
| Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective | ||
| Fieldwork Methods | ||
| Anthropology of the Body | ||
| Anthropology and Public Health | ||
| Immigrant Health | ||
| Anthropology of Globalization | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Disability Anthropology | ||
| Special Topics in Medical Anthropology | ||
| CU Anschutz Courses from Global Public Health Certificate | ||
| Applied Biostatistics I | ||
| Public Health in the Global Community | ||
| Health and Human Rights | ||
| GIS for Public Health Research/Practice | ||
| Geographic Perspective on Global Health | ||
| International Travel and Health | ||
| Disasters, Climate Change and Health | ||
| Public Health Surveillance | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Infectious Disease Epidemiology | ||
| Investigation of Disease Outbreaks | ||
| Epidemiology of Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases | ||
| Epidemiology and Prevention of TB/HIV/STDs | ||
| Health Equity | ||
| Current Global Health Policy Issues | ||
| CU Anschutz Courses from Latino Health Certificate | ||
| Social and Behavioral Factors and Health | ||
| Foundations of Health Behavior | ||
| Methods in Research and Evaluation | ||
| Program Planning and Implementation | ||
| Health Literacy & Public Health | ||
| Community Health Assessment | ||
| Latino Health I | ||
| Special Topics: Community & Behaviorial Health | ||
| Special Topics: Environmental & Occupational Health | ||
| Introduction to HSMP | ||
| Health Policy | ||
| UNC Courses from Latino Health Certificate | ||
| Behavior Change Theories | ||
| Effective Community Health Engagement | ||
| Program Planning and Evaluation | ||
| Methods in Public Health Research and Evaluation | ||
| UNC Epidemiology | ||
| Policy, Advocacy, Leadership & Management in Community Health | ||
| CSU Courses from Latino Health Certificate | ||
| Healthcare Systems, Policy and Management | ||
| Social and Community Health | ||
| Epidemiology for Public Health | ||
| CU Anschutz Courses from Population Mental Health & Wellbeing Certificate | ||
| Applied Biostatistics II | ||
| Design and Conduct of Clinical Research | ||
| Intimate Partner Violence: Epidemiology | ||
| Introduction to Maternal and Child Health | ||
| Adolescent Health | ||
| Injury and Violence Epidemiology and Prevention | ||
| Intro to Public Health in Disasters | ||
| Mental Health | ||
| Mental Health Systems and Policy | ||
| CU Anschutz Courses from Public Health Sciences Certificate | ||
| Foundations in Public Health | ||
| CU Anschutz Courses from Maternal & Child Health Certificate | ||
| Childhood Obesity | ||
| Nutrition and Public Health | ||
| CURRENT RESEARCH AM INDIAN ALASKA NAT CHILD HEALTH DEV | ||
| Current Regional Issues in Maternal & Child Health | ||
| Maternal Nutrition | ||
| Tech-based health Promotion | ||
| Introduction to Sexual and Reproductive Health | ||
| Child Nutrition | ||
| Early Childhood Hlth, ACEs, Toxic Stress, Hlth Equity | ||
| Developmental Screening, Strategies and Referral | ||
| Genetics in Public Health | ||
| Maternal Child Health Epidemiology | ||
| MCH Program Management & Policy Analysis | ||
Note: Students are encouraged to take elective courses in GIS mapping (geography), ecology (biology/anthropology), public policy, public health, epidemiology and biostatistics as it is relevant to their course of study.
Non-Thesis Option
This track is defined by additional course work in lieu of a thesis. The decision to pursue the non-thesis option should be made by the semester following the completion of 18 credit hours.
The non-thesis option allows students to pursue their own educational goals through the selection of additional courses that fit their interests. We strongly encourage students who choose this option to consider an internship position arranged around an area of expertise or the development of a skill-set. The internship may be in a governmental agency or non-governmental organization in Colorado, the U.S. or internationally. Successful completion of an internship will be acknowledged on the transcript of the MA program.
Non-Thesis students must complete a portfolio according to this rubric.
Thesis Option
Students pursuing the thesis option must develop a topic and research proposal that specifies their plans in the semester after their completion of 18 credit hours.
A thesis is characterized by three factors: it is based in a research question or problem; it involves original research; there is a fully developed research proposal. A thesis can also encompass a range of format alternatives to the traditional thesis (e.g. article submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed journal, or a video production, internship or museum exhibit, each generally accompanied by a companion paper developing a theoretical or problem-oriented question).
The thesis is a major requirement for those in the MA in anthropology thesis track. The thesis should demonstrate the student's ability to apply knowledge and skills gained from the anthropology department's curriculum. A desirable goal for an excellent thesis would be a work of sufficient rigor and quality that it could be considered for publication. Original data collection ("fieldwork") is recommended but not required for the thesis. Analysis of secondary data-whether quantitative, qualitative, visual or other formats-is perfectly acceptable as long as the research is informed by a clearly articulated research question and under-girded by a research proposal.
The traditional thesis is a single document that often incorporates a literature review, definition of a problem, discussion of methods to address the problem, the subsequent research activity and results. However, the student may design a thesis with different emphases, in consultation with their advisor. For example, the goal may instead be a more compact paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Other thesis plans may combine some research activity such as a video production, museum exhibit or an internship, with an accompanying paper.
The thesis must be defended before a committee of three faculty, at least two of whom need to be on the Department of Anthropology faculty (which includes senior instructors and research faculty). The structure of the thesis is largely determined by the Graduate Education Policies and Procedures; i.e., a thesis must conform to the rules.
- For the thesis, students must prepare a full research proposal which must be approved by their thesis chair before beginning their research. This proposal must be completed by the semester after the student has completed 18 credit hours. Sections of the proposal should include, at a minimum:
- Introduction and statement of the problem: Should include a one sentence statement of the problem on the first page, and a discussion of its significance (i.e., why is it important that this topic be researched).
- Literature review covering theoretical and topical material.
- Research design and methods including a data analysis plan. Note: Wenner-Gren and National Science Foundation both provide good models and templates for the research proposal. Those in the medical anthropology track might want to consider following the NIH model, depending the nature of their research questions and career goals.
- All students proposing to work with humans or data on modern humans must apply for and receive approval from the Human Subjects Research Committee before they begin their research. Note: most of the material for the application will be drawn from the research proposal.
- The draft thesis must be reviewed and approved as "defensible" by the student's thesis committee faculty chair before a thesis defense date can be set. Defensible means the chair has reviewed the draft and suggested changes have been made.
- The draft sent to the student's committee must be substantively complete: All references must be in the text and properly formatted in a references cited section; there should be no "track changes" comments in the text; the text should be formatted according to Graduate Education requirements.
- Given the complexity of faculty and student schedules, consultation on a defense date should be done as far in advance as possible.
- There must be a minimum of three weeks between the agreed-upon date for the defense and distribution of the draft thesis defined as defensible by the student's chair. If you would like feedback from your committee members before the defense, you should plan to distribute the thesis at least 4 weeks before the defense date. Note: If you intend to graduate the same semester you defend your thesis, you must schedule, successfully defend, and complete all recommended changes in accordance with CU Denver thesis and dissertation guidelines. This effectively translates to having the thesis completed and "defensible" before the middle of the semester.
To learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes for this program, please visit our website.