Graduate Degrees in Anthropology

Anthropology

Graduate Degrees in Anthropology

Ranked the No. 1 anthropology school in Colorado, the CU Boulder Department of Anthropology is respected for its commitment to high intellectual standards and timely progress toward earning degrees. We offer graduate programs leading to a Doctor of Philosophy, terminal Master of Arts, or a dual MA in archaeology and Master of Business Administration.

Graduate students are admitted into one of our three subdisciplines of anthropology鈥攁rchaeology, biological anthropology and cultural anthropology鈥攅ach of which has slightly different requirements. Our faculty provide an optimal combination of sophisticated training and support for student growth, with careful mentoring, rigorous coursework and apprenticeship in faculty research projects. We hope you will join us in our innovative work and help us contribute to our understanding of what it means to be human.

Guaranteed 5 years of funding for admitted PhD students

#1 anthropology school in Colorado (College Factual, 2023)

View the map to explore where our graduate students conduct field research.

Degree Options & Application Requirements

Anthropology

Anthropology

Terminal Master of Arts

CU Boulder offers terminal MA degrees in two subdisciplines: archaeology and cultural anthropology.
30 total credit hours
Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.00
Letters of recommendation and evidence of previous anthropologically oriented experience and work are carefully considered.
The terminal MA is a nonthesis degree, but does require that students take a 3-credit independent research course (ANTH 7840) that will include the completion of a publishable paper and an oral defense of that paper by their MA committee.

GRE/GMAT Requirements

Graduate Record Examination scores for verbal and quantitative aptitude tests are required.

Application Deadlines

Fall 2024 domestic application deadline: 10 p.m. MT Dec. 15, 2023
Fall 2024 international application deadline: 10 p.m. MT Dec. 1, 2023

Fall 2024 application cycle opens early July 2023.

For program details, review the .

Dual Master of Arts in Anthropology & Master of Business Administration

The dual MA/MBA offers you the opportunity to earn both degrees together in less time than if the degrees were earned sequentially. Dual degree students will be required to complete 43 hours of MBA coursework and 30 hours of anthropology coursework (3 hours of which may be an approved elective in the MBA program).听
Students must apply and be admitted to each program separately.
Students must meet the application requirements and admission standards for each program, and are urged to have a conversation with the anthropology faculty member who is most closely aligned with their interests before submitting an application. It is important that students clearly indicate their interest in the dual degree program in their personal statement to the Department of Anthropology.
For admission to the MBA program, at least two years of full-time postgraduate work experience is strongly recommended. Work experience adds relevance and depth to the learning process, and allows greater contribution to classroom discussions and project work.
Dual degree students may start either program first; however, in the first year of the dual degree program, courses are taken in one of the two departments exclusively, and in the second year, courses are taken in the other department exclusively.

GRE/GMAT Requirements

The Department of Anthropology requires Graduate Record Examination scores for verbal and quantitative aptitude tests.
The Leeds School of Business requires MBA applicants to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the GRE General Test (GRE) or submit a test waiver essay.

Application Deadlines

MA:

Fall 2024 domestic application deadline: 10 p.m. MST Dec. 15, 2023
Fall 2024 international application deadline: 10 p.m. MST Dec. 1, 2023

MBA:听

2022鈥�23 domestic application deadline: June 5, 2023
2022鈥�23 international application deadline: May 15, 2023

For program details, review the and information sheet for the dual MA in anthropology and MBA.

Doctor of Philosophy

CU Boulder offers PhDs in three major curricular options: archaeology, biological anthropology and cultural anthropology.
Coursework beyond the MA must include a minimum of 12 credit hours and 30 dissertation credit hours.
Applicants should have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 (4.00 = A) and/or an MA in anthropology or a closely related topic.
An MA in anthropology is not required for admission to the PhD program. Applicants to the PhD program should have a solid background in anthropology or a closely related discipline, and should demonstrate familiarity with the theories and methods of anthropology.听
Applicants who have a master's degree in anthropology or a closely related discipline may be eligible to transfer up to 21 credits.
Letters of recommendation and evidence of previous anthropologically oriented experience and work are carefully considered.

GRE/GMAT Requirements

Graduate Record Examination scores for verbal and quantitative aptitude tests are required.

Application Deadlines

Fall 2024 domestic application deadline: 10 p.m. MST Dec. 15, 2023
Fall 2024 international application deadline: 10 p.m. MST Dec. 1, 2023

For program details, review the .

Research Areas

Archaeology听
Biological Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology

Funding Opportunities

We understand funding opportunities play a major role in helping you to decide whether a program is right for you. At CU Boulder, PhD students are supported through research and teaching assistantships. Students are also encouraged to apply for their own sources of funding.

Explore General Funding听听Explore Department-Specific Funding

Graduate Student Resources

Student success is best met with holistic support and resources. CU Boulder offers robust resources, programming and opportunities to help students establish meaningful connections, adjust to graduate student life and find assistance when they need it. Whether it鈥檚 academic, social, or health and wellness support, the university provides an array of resources to meet the diverse needs of our students.
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Graduate Degrees in Anthropology

Degree Types