Anthropology

Take your passion for anthropology to the next level.

The anthropology master's program at Illinois State is flexible and individualized. With only two required courses, you can work with an advisor to design a curriculum that engages you and helps you achieve your goals.

Our graduate program builds on our fully developed four-field program in archaeology, anthropological linguistics, cultural anthropology, and biological anthropology. Within that, we offer five concentrations:

• Prehistoric Archaeology
• Historical Archaeology
• Biological Anthropology
• Cultural Anthropology
• Japanese Studies

You'll dive deep into your concentration inside and outside the classroom. We offer lots of research opportunities. On top of a thesis, you can work side-by-side with faculty on projects that make major contributions to the anthropology field.

No matter what area you focus on, you can count on having all the support you need at Illinois State. Our class sizes are small with plenty of individualized attention. We also have modern labs with the latest equipment and technology, museum collections, and a field school. Plus, our faculty and staff will be with you every step of the way.

The Anthropology master’s program also offers a distinctive program for those interested in applied community development experiences.  The Applied Community and Economic Development (ACED) Fellows Program at the Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development enables those who are passionate about social change through service to take their careers to the next level.  The Stevenson Center ACED Fellows Program provides AmeriCorps Education Award premium match. 

Once you leave our program, you'll open yourself up to plenty of opportunities in the professional world or Ph.D. programs.

University Admission Requirements

A student applying to a master's program must:

• have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year
• have a minimum 2.8 GPA (on a scale in which an A is a 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work
• present unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term. If accepted, official transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Graduate School, 209 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.

International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.

Additional Program Admission Requirements

To apply to this program you must have:

• a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, history, geography, foreign language, or a related field
• a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work

You must also submit:

• names and email addresses of two academic references for letters of recommendation
• a statement of purpose

Statement of Purpose

Your statement should include what concentration you are interested in pursuing. Options for this program include:

• Historical Archaeology
• Prehistoric Archaeology
• Biological Anthropology
• Cultural Anthropology
• Japanese Studies

Admissions decisions consider your proposed research with the expertise of our faculty.

GRE

GRE scores are not required for your application. However, if you wish to submit them, you may.

Scores do not play a significant part in our decision-making process for admission. GRE scores may help your application if you did not have strong undergraduate grades but do have strong GRE scores.

Use institution code 1319 if you want to submit your scores. It will not be held against you if you do not submit GRE scores as part of your application.

Admission Dates and Deadlines

Graduate Assistantship Information

The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,

• be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
• be in good-standing
• be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).

Benefits

Graduate assistants receive

• monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
• a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
• a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment

Selection Process

Graduate tuition waivers are awarded on a competitive basis by departments/schools offering graduate programs to students who show promise for success and who have not received a fellowship or other award funding tuition costs. Tuition waivers cover tuition only. The student is responsible for paying the required fees. Submit this form to your department graduate coordinator.   https://grad.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/tuition_wavers/graduatetuitionwaiver.pdf

• Students with an established GPA, must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students without a graduate GPA, must have a minimum of 2.8 for the last 60 hrs. of undergraduate GPA.
• Student must be fully admitted into a degree program. Students on probation and visiting students are ineligible for tuition waivers unless they are teaching a course for a department.
• Tuition waivers may only be used to cover coursework that will be placed on the degree audit and count towards the student's degree.
• No more than 3 thesis/dissertation hours beyond those required for the degree.
• Students must be in academic good standing.
• Tuition Waivers are awarded by a majority vote of the graduate admissions committee based on the greatest need among applicants who show promise for success.
• Submitted on time (Deadlines): August (fall) January (spring) May (summer)"

Cost & Funding

See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.

Graduate Coordinator