Considerations when choosing a major

Archaeology focuses upon the study of human behavior through its material manifestations, both past and present. UNM has remarkable concentrations of faculty with research interests related to archaeology.
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Bioarchaeology: Biological Anthropology or Archaeology?

Students who are interested in focusing on Bioarchaeology can enroll in either the Archaeology or the Biological Anthropology program. Bioarchaeology students should look at the requirements of both programs before choosing one or the other. For students who wish to concentrate heavily on Archaeological aspects of Bioarchaeology, the Archaeology program might be better; while students who are primarily interested in osteology or paleopathology might be better served by the Biological Anthropology program.

The following are the minimum requirements at each level. Programs meeting the minimum requirements do not automatically constitute a master's or doctoral program. Each program must be approved by the major department and by the Office of Graduate Studies. Master's students should consult with their faculty advisor on a regular basis.

On the advice of their Thesis Advisor, students who are completing a Plan 1 (Thesis) Master’s degree may petition the faculty to modify the number of course requirements for the Master’s degree. The MS degree requires at least 6 additional graduate hours in sciences such as Chemistry, Biology, Geology, and Mathematics.

Ph.D. requirements

All incoming graduate students must meet with the Archaeology Graduate Advisor to discuss program requirements and form a committee to guide the student's graduate studies in the first semester. Students entering the program with an MA or MS in Anthropology, with a concentration in Archaeology, may petition the faculty to modify the number and content of requirements and electives based on their previous graduate coursework. Students entering the program with a degree in another field may have deficiencies in background. If deficiencies are identified by the Graduate Advisor, the student must take additional course work in general Anthropology (i.e., Anth 320, 330, 321 and/or 310). The student may request an exception from these courses by petitioning the Archaeology faculty.

Comprehensive Exams

Master's students must take an examination administered by their Committee on Studies (see "Committee on Studies" below) in the semester that the 24-32 hours' course work requirement is met, generally the third or fourth semester. This examination is normally written, but it may be an oral component. The examination for students in Plan I is based primarily on course work taken and the topic that the student plans to address in the thesis. Plan II examination is typically broader, based on the student's program of studies as well as general archaeological knowledge.

For more information on the Graduate Archaeology Comprehensive Exam, please refer to the graduate handbook p. 17.
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Ph.D. Requirements:

The Archaeology Specials exam is geared to the preparation of a dissertation proposal. The Ph.D. proposal is a written document outlining a research problem, theory and method relative to that problem, kinds of data to be collected, and the region from which the information will be obtained. Preferably, students will complete a draft of their dissertation proposals in Anth 575. Once the proposal has been completed to the satisfaction of the committee on studies, the student will schedule a public presentation during the academic year. This presentation is open to all faculty and students. After a brief presentation of the proposed research, the floor is open to questions from the faculty and then students. After the presentation, non-committee members may make suggestions for improvements to the proposal. Finally, the student will submit the proposal to outside funding sources in conjunction with their committee. The student’s dissertation proposal will be accepted upon completion of Anth 675, the public presentation, and submission of the proposal to peer review.

Once a committee on studies has been formed, the student and committee members will develop a course of study designed to produce a dissertation proposal. Proposals are accepted only during the academic year.

For more information on the Doctoral Archaeology Comprehensive Exam, please refer to the graduate handbook p. 22.
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Curriculum according to Subfield
Archaeology Curriculum
Biological Anthropology Curriculum
Ethnology / Linguistics Curriculum
Human Evolutionary Ecology Curriculum

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Anthropology Graduate Student Union