Anthropology graduate program

Benefit from a small-group learning environment that facilitates intensive study of contemporary issues in anthropology.

MA in Anthropology

Our Master’s program offers a range of courses. Students benefit from faculty expertise in a wide range of topics and geographical areas in sociocultural anthropology, including Atlantic Canada, northeastern North America, the American Southwest, Southeast Asia, Australia, Colombia, and South America.

Our emphasis in biological anthropology is on medical anthropology, with a geographical focus on Southeast Asia, North America, and South Asia. In archaeology, our emphasis is on theory, methods and practice, geoarchaeology, ethnoarchaeology, and community-based archaeology, with a geographic focus on the Maritime provinces and adjacent areas.

Students interested in master's or doctoral-level interdisciplinary graduate studies in Anthropology should visit the School of Graduate Studies.

Admission requirements

The normal admission requirement are:

• a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in anthropology
• at least a 3.0 (B) average. However, funding for the program is competitive and a student with a cumulative GPA of less than A- (3.7) is unlikely to be funded. Eligibility for funding is a consideration for admissions into the program.

We expect you to have a strong undergraduate background in the subdiscipline in which you intend to conduct graduate research.

Prospective students without an anthropology honours degree

If you are a promising student without an anthropology honours degree or an adequate sub disciplinary background, you may be admitted for a qualifying or probationary period which lasts usually two semesters.

You should consult the regulations of the UNB School of Graduate Studies (SGS) and the Director of Graduate Studies (DoGS) for more information on a qualifying period.

It’s your responsibility to fund a qualifying year. You may be ineligible for federal and provincial student loan programs.

Completion of a qualifying period does not mean automatic acceptance into the graduate program.

Your acceptance is conditional upon:

• the successful completion of the required honours seminars
• a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better,
• an agreement of the student's prospective graduate supervisor(s)

Scholarships and awards

An MA-level teaching assistantship is valued at approximately $15,000 over 12 months. Outstanding students, such as those who hold a first class honours degree, are eligible to receive a top up merit award (Board of Governor Merit Award, or the Magee-Third Century Postgraduate Merit Award) valued at approximately $3000.00 over 12 months. A maximum of five semesters of funding is possible.

Fees

Financial Services provides the fees for Masters and PhD Students.

Timing and application

Graduate programs are run throughout the year and divided, for administrative purposes, into three consecutive terms:

• fall term (September – December)
• winter term (January – April)
• summer term (May – August)

The normal length of the MA program is two calendar years (six terms). However, maximum funding available is for five terms.

Completed official application forms and all supporting documents must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. You may submit your application at any time of the year, but only those submitted before Jan. 5 will be considered for funding. You can enter the program in September.

Official online application and required forms are available from the School of Graduate Studies.

Contact: anthgrads@unb.ca