The Anthropology Department offers a variety of graduate degrees. Each of the four subfields in Anthropology has slightly different regulations and requirements for these degrees. Some of the requirements for each degree are dictated by the Office of Graduate Studies. Each subfield requires a comprehensive examination prior to graduation.

All courses must be for graduate credit within the department offering them. In Anthropology, this means course numbered 500 and above and some courses numbered 300 or 400.

Master's degree( or equivalent) requirements: at least 30 graduate hours of graduate course work. At least 18 semester hours, exclusive of thesis and dissertation, must be earned in courses numbered 500 or above and must be completed at UNM.

Ph.D. requirements: A minimum of 48 hours of course work. Only 6 of which may be in 697 (‘Problems’ courses)

Complete details on MA and Ph.D. course work are available in UNM’s The Graduate Program in the University of New Mexico Catalog. The Catalog includes information on transfer/non-degree/extension credit
UNM Catalog Information >>

The information below is a brief overview of the program's curriculum. Please refer to the Anthropology Graduate Handbook for a detailed description of the requirements for a Master's degree in Anthropology.
Access the Graduate Handbook >>

Graduate Program Plans

Plan I (Thesis)- Archaeology and Ethnology only.

• A minimum of 24 hours of course work
• A minimum of 6 hours of 500-level course work
• At least 18 hours completed in residence at UNM
• A minimum of 6 hours of Thesis (599) credit
• A limit of 6 hours of problems courses and 5 hours of field research
• If a minor is declared, a minimum of 14 hours in the major and 7 hours in the minor

Plan II (Non-Thesis)- All subfields.

• A minimum of 32 hours of course work
• A minimum of 6 hours of 500-level courses
• At least 26 hours completed in residence at UNM
• A limit of 12 hours in problems courses and 8 hours of field research
• If a minor is declared, a minimum of 18 hours in the minor

Curriculum according to Subfield

The following links take you to a more detailed look on the requirements for the graduate program according to each subfield:

Archaeology Curriculum
Biological Anthropology Curriculum
Ethnology / Linguistics Curriculum
Human Evolutionary Ecology Curriculum

Graduate Program Information
Graduate Curriculum/Concentration Information
Graduate Admissions Information/Application
Financial Aid/Funding Information
Graduate Contact Information
Anthropology Graduate Student Union