The Department of Anthropology offers graduate training in archaeology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology. Our faculty are deeply engaged in their fields and committed to equipping students with the training and skills needed to contribute original research.
We offer an accelerated 4+1 M.A. degree to our current Tulane undergraduate students who by taking two 6000-level anthropology classes (six hours) while earning their B.A./B.S. degrees, are able to apply these six hours toward an M.A. degree. They then spend a fifth year taking 24 hours of anthropology classes to earn their M.A. degrees (30 hours total).
We also offer an M.A. degree to our Ph.D. students midway through their training for the doctorate.
The MA in Anthropology requires a minimum of 30 credit hours and a cumulative grade point average of 3.000. Details about program requirements can be found below.
Complete thirty (30) credit hours of graduate-level coursework.
Students wishing to receive the MA degree must submit the appropriate application for graduate degree form to the Graduate Programs Office of the School of Liberal Arts by deadlines specified for the semester of the award.
4 + 1 MA Program Degree Requirements
Complete the requirements for the BA or BS in Anthropology with a major GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students can request that up to two courses or 6 credit hours at the 6000 level taken for the BA or BS also be applied as graduate credit toward the MA degree. These courses must have a grade of B or higher in order to apply toward the MA degree.
Complete a total of 30 graduate credit hours for the MA degree. This includes:
Up to 6 credit hours from 6000-level Anthropology courses taken as an undergraduate student. (see #1 above).
An additional 24 credit hours (8 courses) at the 6000-level or above taken during the graduate year.
NOTE for students in the 4+1 MA program: Undergraduates who complete more than the required number of credits for the bachelor's degree, may apply up to 6 additional credit hours of 6000 level courses, beyond those in #1, towards the Anthropology MA degree. These credits must not be applied to the undergraduate degree and must be formally designated as “not counting toward the undergraduate degree” before the undergraduate degree is certified. Approved credits will reduce the number of graduate credit hours required during the MA year.
Please note that the SLA policy regarding grades at the graduate level is as follows:
A grade of B- will count as graduate credit, but it is a considered a weak grade at the graduate level and may be cause for departmental action such as probation or dismissal from the program.
A course in which a grade of C+ or lower is earned cannot be counted for credit toward a degree program in the School of Liberal Arts. Two grades of B- or any grade of C+ or lower will result in immediate probation and may be cause for dismissal from the program.
These are example plans of study for the MA in Anthropology encompassing all requirements for the program. Students are responsible for reviewing university, school, and program requirements, along with prerequisites and the sequencing of courses in coordination with their program advisor.
4+1 Plan of Study
Senior/Final Undergraduate Year
Course List
Course ID
Title
Credits
Select two ANTH courses at the 6000+ level1
6
Credit Hours
6
Graduate Year
Course List
Course ID
Title
Credits
FALL
Select four ANTH Masters electives2
12
Credit Hours
12
SPRING
Select three ANTH Masters electives2
9
Select one ANTH Methods course
3
Credit Hours
12
Total Credit Hours
30
1
Only 6 credits taken as an undergraduate may apply to both the BA and MA.
2
Students must fulfill the Language Competence Certification via Coursework, Examination, or other methods listed in item 2 of the PhD requirements.
