Anthropology
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    Anthropology

    Stanford University
    Stanford University
    United States of America
    United States of America, Stanford
    University Rank:#6
    Go to Official Website
    Duration2 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    USD 18,829 / term
    Next IntakeJune 24, 2035

    Anthropology

    About

    Graduate training in Anthropology at Stanford is designed for students who seek the Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree, and for students who seek the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree, only. The Master's program in Anthropology offers the following options for students who seek a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree:

    1. Coterminal degree program for current Stanford undergraduates seeking to obtain a Master's degree while completing their bachelor's degree in the same or different department.

    2. Stanford graduate students taking advanced degrees in other departments or schools at Stanford, who are admitted to the terminal M.A. program in Anthropology.

    3. Anthropology Ph.D. students at Stanford University who fulfill the M.A. degree requirements on the way to the Ph.D. degree.

    Degree Options

    Students may pursue one of two possible department tracks in the Anthropology M.A. degree program. The tracks are:

    • Archaeology

    • Culture and Society

    The tracks are not declarable in Axess.


    Admission to the Coterminal Master's Degree Program

    The deadline for graduate applications to the coterminal M.A. degree program in Anthropology is December 6, 2022. Stanford University undergraduate majors are eligible to apply for the coterminal M.A. degree program if they have a 3.4 GPA in their department major, a 3.0 GPA in overall course work, and have no more than one incomplete listed on the transcript at the time of application. Successful applicants to the M.A. program may enter only in the following Autumn Quarter. However, the department may consider a request for early deferral of admission in the Spring Quarter by petition. Coterminal M.A. degree applicants are not required to submit their Graduate Record Examination scores.

    Applicants must submit the following:

    1. Online Application for Admission to Coterminal Master's Program

    2. Preliminary Program Proposal, Coterminal Degree Program

    3. Coterminal Course Approval form

    4. Three Letters of Recommendation: Two letters should come from  Anthropology faculty members. Third letter can come from an academic advisor and may be from outside Anthropology. 

    5. All relevant transcripts

    6. A 2-3 page, singled-spaced Statement of Purpose

    7. For further information on how to write a personal statement please contact your faculty recommenders. You may also contact current graduate students in Anthropology.

    8. For tips on writing Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement Essays, see available resources at the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking.

    9. Writing Sample in English: A 10-12 page paper giving evidence of both writing ability and the capacity for research, analysis, and original thought at the graduate level, and demonstrating the ability to use theory in relation to evidence. If your writing sample is longer than 10-12 pages, please indicate which 10-12 pages should be reviewed by the admissions committee.

    See the department's website for additional information.


    University Coterminal Requirements

    Coterminal master's degree candidates are expected to complete all master's degree requirements as described in this bulletin. University requirements for the coterminal master's degree are described in the "Coterminal Master's Program"‌ section. University requirements for the master's degree are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

    After accepting admission to this coterminal master's degree program, students may request transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy requirements for the master's degree. Transfer of courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case by case basis.

    In this master's program, courses taken two quarters prior to the first graduate quarter, or later, are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career. No courses taken prior to the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master's degree requirements.

    Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor's degree has been conferred.

    The University requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student's first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The University also requires that the Master's Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student's first graduate quarter.


    Master of Arts in Anthropology

    University requirements for the terminal M.A. are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

    The Department of Anthropology offers the terminal M.A. degree to the following:

    1. Stanford graduate students, taking advanced degrees in other departments or schools at Stanford, who are admitted to the terminal M.A. program in Anthropology.

    2. Anthropology Ph.D. students at Stanford University who fulfill the M.A. degree requirements on the way to the Ph.D. degree.

    Current graduate applicants who are taking an advanced degree in other departments or schools at Stanford apply for admission to the M.A. in Anthropology (on the way to another graduate degree program) by submitting the Intention to Apply - Anthropology M.A. (for current Stanford Graduate Students) form and the submission of the University Registrar's Graduate Authorization Petition (submitted via Axess e-forms) by December 6, 2022. If approved, an admitted M.A. applicant usually matriculates in the M.A. beginning in the following Spring Quarter, or in the following Autumn Quarter (next academic year).

    Anthropology Ph.D. students choosing to take the M.A. in Anthropology on the way to the Ph.D. are governed by separate requirements described in the Anthropology Ph.D. Guide.

    Graduate enrollment at Stanford University for three consecutive quarters of full tuition for at least 45 units is required of all candidates for the terminal master's degree. M.A. students in Anthropology must take a minimum of 45 units of course work with an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0. For the Masters degree, all courses must be at or above the 100 level, and, at least 23 of the required 45 units must be taken at either the ANTHRO 200 or 300-level.

    The M.A. program may require more than one year of study. However, full-time students entering the program with appropriate background should complete the M.A. degree program within three consecutive calendar quarters after the student's first quarter of master's-level enrollment. The University allows no transfer units into the master's program. To provide a meaningful master's program within one year, advance planning of course work with a faculty advisor is required. Requirements for the terminal master's program must be completed within three years.

    For further information about the Department's M.A. degree program requirements, please consult the Department webpages.

    Enhance your undergraduate degree with a coterminal or terminal master's degree that prepares you for continued graduate studies or a career in our multicultural and globally-interconnected world. You'll thrive through advanced coursework, independent specialization, and field research.

    The purpose of the master's program is to further develop knowledge and skills in Anthropology and to prepare students for a professional career or doctoral studies. This is achieved through completion of courses in the primary field, as well as related areas, and through experience with independent work, area specialization and field research.

    Disciplines

    Anthropology

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    At Stanford, we practice holistic admission. Each piece in your application is part of an integrated and comprehensive whole.

    One piece tells us about your background and life experiences, another about your school and your academic achievement. We learn from others about your character and intellectual contributions. In your essays, we learn about your ideas and interests, and what is meaningful to you.

    Each year we aim to enroll a class of diverse backgrounds and experiences, talents, academic interests, and ways of viewing the world.

    In a holistic review, we seek to understand how you, as a whole person, would grow, contribute and thrive at Stanford, and how Stanford would, in turn, be changed by you.

    Academic Excellence

    The primary criterion for admission to Stanford is academic excellence. We look for your preparation and potential to succeed. We expect you to challenge yourself throughout high school and to do very well.

    The most important credential for evaluating your academic record is your high school transcript. Please know that our evaluation goes beyond any numerical formula. There is no minimum GPA or test score, nor is there any specific number of AP or honors courses you must have on your transcript in order to have your application reviewed or be admitted to Stanford.

    For more complete information on our curriculum guidelines for first-year students, please visit our Academic Preparation page.

    Intellectual Vitality

    We want to see your commitment, dedication and genuine interest in expanding your intellectual horizons, both in what you write about yourself and in what others write on your behalf. We want to see the kind of curiosity and enthusiasm that will allow you to spark a lively discussion in a first-year seminar and continue the conversation at the dinner table. We want to see the energy and depth of commitment you will bring to your endeavors, whether that means in a research lab, as part of a community organization, during a performance or on an athletic field. We want to see the initiative with which you seek out opportunities and expand your perspective.

    Extracurricular Activities

    Learning about your extracurricular activities and nonacademic interests helps us understand your potential contributions to the Stanford community. Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities in which a student participates. In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. You may also hold down a job or have family responsibilities. These are as important as any other extracurricular activity. In general, we want to understand the impact you have had at your job, in your family, in a club, in your school or in the larger community, and we want to learn of the impact that experience has had on you.

    In some cases, exceptional abilities in athletics may influence our decision if the applicant is otherwise well qualified, but such abilities never, by themselves, ensure admission to Stanford.

    Context

    Just as no two Stanford students are the same, each applicant to Stanford is unique. This means that as we review each application, we pay careful attention to unique circumstances. We take into account your background, educational pathway, and work and family responsibilities. By focusing on your achievements in context, we evaluate how you have excelled in your school environment and how you have taken advantage of what is available to you in your school and community.

    It is important to know these variables are not listed in order of importance in our evaluation and selection process. We review applications holistically. No portion of the application is considered without the rest of the application.

    English Requirements

    • TOEFLMin 100

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee
    18,829 / term
    Application Fee 90

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    Anthropology

    Stanford University

    Stanford University

    United States of America

    United States of America, Stanford

    Go to Official Website