2013-2014

Anthropology - Applied, Master of Arts

Department of Anthropology

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This graduate program is a practitioner-oriented internship plan devoted to helping students enter the expanding job market in applied anthropology. This plan includes completion of an internship that involves, for example, research, intervention, management, teaching, and advocacy in service to groups and organizations. It culminates in the writing and successful defense of a thesis. This action-oriented plan prepares students for professional employment within their specialty area or continued opportunities at the Ph.D. level.

  • Available Emphasis Areas:
  • Archaeology - Emphasis (ending Summer 2015)
  • Sociocultural - Emphasis (ending Summer 2015)
  • Linguistics - Emphasis (ending Summer 2015)
This plan will not be available to new students after Summer 2020

  • To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

    You must additionally complete:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

Minimum Units for Completion 37
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

Fieldwork Experience/Internship Required
Emphasis, Minor, or Certificate Required

An emphasis, minor, or certificate is required for this major.

Thesis Thesis is required.
Oral Defense Oral Defense is required.

Additional Admission Requirements
  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

    • Two letters of recommendation
    • Prerequisites (may be completed concurrently with the program)
      • Classes in archaeology, cultural, linguistics, biological and statistics
    • Resume or curriculum vitae
    • Personal statement or essay
Master's Requirements
  • Take the following 37 units:

    • Theory: ANT 600 (3 units)
    • Ethics: ANT 521 or ANT 522 (1 unit)
    • ANT 603, ANT 607, and ANT 609 (9 units)
    • Fieldwork/Internship: ANT 608 (3 units)
    • Thesis: ANT 699 (3 units) Students will write and successfully defend an internship thesis in their final term.
    • Complete an emphasis area, as further described below (18 units):
    • Applied Archaeology Emphasis (18 units)
      • ANT 524, ANT 635, ANT 636, ANT 599 (Data Graphics)  (12 units)
      • Electives chosen in consultation with your advisor and selected from departmental offerings and appropriate level courses outside the department. (6 units)
    • Applied Linguistic Anthropology Emphasis (18 units)

      One elective course, selected from the following (3 units):
    • Applied Sociocultural Anthropology Emphasis (18 units)
      • Methods: ANT 568, ANT 569 (6 units)
      • One topics course, approved by your advisor (3 units)
      • ANT 639 (3 units)
      • Six elective units of related coursework approved by your advisor
  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.