University of Alaska Fairbanks

1996-1997 catalog

Degrees and Programs

Anthropology

College of Liberal Arts
Department of Anthropology
(907) 474-7288

Degrees: B.A., B.S., M.A., Ph.D.

Minimum Requirements for Degrees: B.A.: 130 credits, B.S.: 130 credits, M.A.: 30 additional credits, Ph.D.: Open

The anthropology program offers a balanced and flexible program of academic courses and research opportunities in cultural anthropology, archaeology, and physical anthropology, particularly with respect to the past and present cultures of the North. Anthropology contributes to an understanding of the complex problems of human behavior, cultural and social organization, and the relationship of humans to the various environments. Archaeological and human ecological research carried out in the field and library provides information about past and present modes of living and of origins and distribution of peoples and cultures in the Arctic and subarctic.

The graduate program emphasizes general preparation in the field of anthropology. Such preparation enables graduates of the master's program to 1) pursue more advanced training leading to the Ph.D. in anthropology, 2) prepares them to teach anthropology within secondary education and/or undergraduate levels of higher education, or 3) prepares students for career positions with various levels of government in which some anthropological background and/or expertise is beneficial. While the basic program is oriented toward general competence, subfield specialization is possible through individual programs. Field research in Alaska is a common experience for graduate students in anthropology. All students must have fieldwork and laboratory experience appropriate to the discipline or subdiscipline.

The program offers thesis or non-thesis options. The choice of option is guided by the student's interests and goals, the graduate advisory committee, and the requirements of the university.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Anthropology B.S. or B.A. Degree

  1. Complete general university requirements and B.A. or B.S. degree requirements.
  2. Complete the following program (major) requirements:

    Required Anthropology Courses:
    ANTH 103 Human Evolution and World Prehistory (3)
    ANTH 104 Social/Cultural Anthropology (3)

    Historical Science:
    (Select 6 credits from the following group) (6 Credits needed)
    ANTH 211 Fundamentals of Archaeology (3)
    ANTH 315 Human Biology (3)
    ANTH 414 Environmental Archaeology (3)
    ANTH 423 Paleoanthropology (3)

    Social Science:
    (Select 6 credits from the following group) (6 Credits needed)
    ANTH 320 Language and Culture (3)
    ANTH 403 Political Anthropology (3)
    ANTH 407 Kinship and Social Organization (3)
    ANTH 409 Religion (3)
    ANTH 410 History of Social/Cultural Anthropology (3)
    ANTH 446 Economic Anthropology (3)

    Area Courses:
    (Select one 3 credit ethnographic area course and one 3 credit prehistory area course) (6 Credits needed)
    ANTH 210 New World Prehistory (3)
    ANTH 212 Old World Prehistory (3)
    ANTH 301 World Ethnography: region* (3)
    ANTH 302 Anthropology of Siberia (3)
    Open program electives at 200 level or above (12 credits)

* Different geographic regions will be covered each year; e.g. North America, Oceania, etc.

MINOR in Anthropology:

A minor in anthropology requires ANTH 103 and 104, plus 12 additional hours in Anthropology.

Graduate Degree Requirements

Anthropology M.A. Degree

  1. Complete UAF degree requirements.
  2. Pass a written comprehensive examination in anthropology. Each student is expected to take the examination during the second year in the program.
  3. A graduate advisory committee is established in the first semester of the program. The committee must be composed of at least three UAF faculty members. At least two of the committee members must be from the department (in the subfield of student interest, if available). The chair must be a member of the department as well as in the subfield of the student's interest. The student is expected to meet at least twice during each semester with the committee.
  4. The need for a language requirement or a suitable substitute shall be determined by the advisory committee and the student. Each student must have at least one course in statistics (may be part of undergraduate record).
  5. Course Requirements:
    Core Courses (9 Credits, 3 of 4 proseminars required) (30-36 credits)
    Thesis Option: (30 credits)
    Complete at least 30 credits, of which 24 credits must be regular coursework (not research or thesis) with 21 credits at the 600 level; 6 credits are thesis.
    Core Courses: (9 Credits)
    ANTH 601 Proseminar in Social/Cultural Anthropology (3)
    ANTH 604 Proseminar in Language and Culture (3)
    ANTH 611 Proseminar in Archaeology (3)
    ANTH 621 Proseminar in Physical Anthropology (3)
    Additional courses (15 credits)
    ANTH 699 Thesis (6)
    Non-Thesis Option: (36 credits needed)
    Complete at least 36 credits, of which at least 30 credits must be regular coursework, with 24 of these (including the core requirements) at the 600 level. A maximum of 6 hours may be devoted to research (ANTH 698). The student must complete a research paper in a style which the advisory committee judges to be of publishable quality.
    Core courses: (9 Credits needed)
    ANTH 601 Proseminar in Social/Cultural Anthropology (3)
    ANTH 604 Proseminar in Language and Culture (3)
    ANTH 611 Proseminar in Archaeology (3)
    ANTH 621 Proseminar in Physical Anthropology (3)
    Additional courses (21 credits)
    ANTH 698 Research (6)
    Linguistic Anthropology Emphasis (Non-Thesis Option -- 33 credits):
    Complete at least 33 credits, of which 24 credits must be regular coursework (including the core requirement) at the 600 level. A maximum of 6 hours may be devoted to Research (ANTH 698). The student must complete a research paper in a style which the advisory committee judges to be of publishable quality.
    Core courses (15 credits)
    LING 601 - Principles of Linguistic Analysis (3)
    ANTH 601 - Proseminar in Social/Cultural Anthropology (3)
    ANTH 631 - Proseminar in Language and Culture (3)
    ANTH/LING 632 - Field Methods in Anthropological Linguistics (3)
    An archaeology course including an emphasis on language and prehistory (3)
    Additional courses (12 credits)
    To include an appropriate ethnographic area course and additional courses to be decided with committee
    ANTH 698 - Research (6)

Anthropology Ph.D.

The focus of this program is on the sociocultural anthropology and archaeology of the North. The Ph.D. is available with an emphasis in several areas of anthropology: Alaskan archaeology; Quaternary studies; and contemporary Alaska Native studies. Coursework in anthropology and related disciplines as determined by the advisory committee, at least three full years of study beyond the baccalaureate degree, minimum 18 credit hours of thesis, one foreign language and a research tool or two foreign languages, and a comprehensive exam as well as a research thesis and an oral thesis defense, are required.