Supervisors
Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.
Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.
Program overview
Our faculty members in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology believe that study and research must be grounded in rigorous training, as well as in extensive field experience. This thesis-based degree provides that hands-on approach, with students benefiting from the university’s world-class field and lab investigations from Western Canada, the circumpolar North, Asia, Africa, Latin America, to the Caribbean. Research areas in this program include cultural heritage management, development of complexity, ethnoarchaeology, human-environment interaction, landscape, paleobotany, bioarchaeology, social identity and more.
Completing this program
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Core Courses: Topics in Archaeological Theory and Method or Theory and its Application in Biological Anthropology.
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Specialized Courses: Professional Skills for Anthropologists, Theoretical Foundations, Human Osteology or other courses.
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Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
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Additional Courses: Students may study hunter-gatherer adaptations, origins of agriculture, development of complex societies or other topics.
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Field Work: Students will participate in a season of field work or an equivalent activity.
Specializations
Biological Anthropology (Interdisciplinary)
Outcomes
Museum Curator, Cultural Resource Management, Heritage Regulator, academic positions.
A master’s degree in archaeology will give you the pre-requisite for a PhD.
Thesis-based program
Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.
Courses
Four courses and a season of field work
Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar
Classroom delivery
Time commitment
Two years full-time; four years maximum
Supervisor
A supervisor is required, but is not required prior to the start of the program
Fees and funding
See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.
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Accepting InquiriesGeoarcheology, Archaeology of the Northern Plains, Public Outreach in Archaeology -
Accepting InquiriesEthnoarchaeology -
Accepting InquiriesMesoamerican archaeology, Central American archaeology, Pre-Columbian art history and iconography, Archaeologies of identity -
Accepting InquiriesHuman-Environment Relationships, Archaeology of the Mind
Admission requirements
GPA
A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.
Minimum education
A four year baccalaureate degree, or equivalent from a recognized institution.
Work samples
An example of the applicant's written work in the research context.
Documents
- A statement outlining the applicant's interests and reasons for wishing to pursue graduate work in this department. Clearly identify your thesis research area
- A C.V
Reference letters
Two
Test scores
None
English language proficiency (ELP)
An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ibt) score of 86 with no section less than 20 (Internet-based).
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 with no section less than 6.0 (Academic version).
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 59, or higher (academic version).
- Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL) score of 70 with no section less than 60.
- Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) score of B+ in each course.
Deadlines
For admission on September 1:
- Canadians and permanent residents: Jan. 15 application deadline
- International students: Jan. 15 application deadline
If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements
Learn more about this program
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Earth Sciences 620
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4
403.220.7131
Faculty of Arts
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4
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