Master of Arts in Anthropology

Admission to Program

The Department accepts applications for fall and spring semester enrollments. The deadline for application for admission to enroll for the fall is the first day of the preceding March. The deadline for application to enroll in the spring semester is the first day of the preceding November. In addition to these formal deadlines, the Department accepts, reviews, and makes decisions on applications on a rolling basis through the calendar year.

While we welcome applications from students with a wide range of experiences and a diversity of undergraduate degrees, we recommend that applicants have a B.A. or B.S. in Anthropology or an allied field. Students enrolling without an anthropology degree may be required to take the following prerequisite classes or equivalents.

Students may satisfy the prerequisite requirement by having taken similar classes at the undergraduate level at their undergraduate or other institution. Prerequisite coursework will not count toward the degree and may not be included on the ATC.

Application for admission consists of two-part process, which must be completed simultaneously by the deadline to be considered for admission: the first made to the University; the second made to the Department. The University application is submitted to the Division of Graduate Studies through CSU Mentor secure.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/grad_apply.asp. The Anthropology Department application is made via the department’s online document submission page anthropology.sfsu.edu/content/apply, and consists of the following elements:

• One-page Curriculum Vitae;
• Statement of Purpose (500–word max.);
• Two Letters of Recommendation;
• Writing Sample;
• Official Transcripts;
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores; and
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), if necessary.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

The University has a requirement for written English proficiency that is to be assessed at two different levels.

Level One

A score of 4.0 or above on the analytical writing section of the GRE.

Level Two

Completion of the M.A. thesis (ANTH 898) or completion of the written component of the MA Creative Work Project (ANTH 894).

Classified Graduate Status

All graduate students are admitted to the program with conditionally classified status. To attain classified status, graduate students must meet the following:

• Completion of prerequisite coursework (if any).
• Completion of ANTH 710 with a grade of B or above.

Anthropology (M.A.) — 30 units

All students must complete the following courses and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above:

Core (15 units)

Electives (8–12 units)

To reach the minimum number of units required for the degree, students must:

• Take graduate elective classes (numbered 700 and above) selected from those offered in the Anthropology Department or, with approval, from other departments at SF State.
• Students are advised to take ANTH 899 Independent Study (1, 2, or 3 units) as part of their area of specialization. Students may take ANTH 899 no more than twice for a maximum total of six units.
• With approval, students may take upper division undergraduate classes.

NOTE: no more than 30% (nine units) of undergraduate course work may be included on the ATC. (Prerequisite course work may not be included on the ATC.)

Culminating Experience (3 units)