Master of Science in Anthropology

Overview

The anthropology graduate program with a specialization in archaeology and cultural resource management is a selective program that limits incoming class sizes to six or fewer to provide quality research and teaching opportunities for students.

USU's Anthropology Program is known for its explicit orientation toward scientific archaeology. Theoretical perspectives trend toward contemporary ecology, especially human behavioral ecology with topical expertise in paleoecology/climates, zooarchaeology, geoarchaeology, lithic analysis, and geospatial analysis/remote sensing. Our archaeology and cultural resource management emphasizes the geography of mountains and deserts in the American West: southern Idaho, western Wyoming, western Colorado, Utah, and Nevada.

We educate and train graduate students to meet Register of Professional Archaeologists standards, and we prepare them to become project directors and principal investigators. Our targeted core curriculum is supported by electives in methods and areas reflecting faculty expertise with the goal of facilitating hands-on student research. Students are mentored to become independent scholars conducting original research.

Admission Process

Master’s and PhD Programs Applications must include:

• Letter of intent identifying your background and professional objectives (500 - 1000 words). This is important. It should not just be a biography but an evaluation of your professional progress and your educational and career plans. Please also be specific to which of the programs of study you wish to pursue. It should be a polished piece of writing.
• Resume/vita.
• Transcripts of all colleges and universities attended. Allow sufficient time for these to reach us.
• The names and emails of three references. The School of Graduate Studies will contact them for letters.
• If you have a publication, you may send it as a writing sample. Please, no long CRM reports.
• International students should take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and have the score sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies by the testing service.
• The online application should accept supplementary materials (pdf works best). Try to submit items online. If that fails, you may submit items to the Graduate Program Coordinator: (megan.sills@usu.edu)
• Indication you have completed field school or have sufficient field education (credits on transcripts, mention in letter of intent, entry on resume or vita) 

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Applications must include:

• The name and email of one reference. The School of Graduate Studies will contact them for their letter.
• Resume/vita.