Learn more about how to afford a graduate degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Program Director: Sarah Cowie
Phone: (775) 682-7524
Fall Application Deadline: December 15. Learn how to apply to the University of Nevada, Reno.
Anthropology examines the diversity of human experience across culture and time. Anthropologists in the department study everything from human evolution to pre-history to life in a globalizing world. Because of this breadth of focus, anthropology is highly relevant to understanding and living in a rapidly changing world.
Students pursuing the Master of Arts degree must satisfy all graduate school requirements. A thesis is required. Optional tracks for the thesis include prehistoric/historical archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, or physical/biological anthropology.
The department also administers the historic preservation program. It participates in the Master of Science degree in land-use planning policy, described in the interdisciplinary and special programs section of the University General Course Catalog.
The Department of Anthropology has an anthropology museum that allows behind-the-scenes training in preparing exhibits and taking care of collections. The department also is home to a physical anthropology lab, a linguistics lab, a prehistoric archeology lab and a historical archeology lab that provide experience in analyzing and studying artifacts and sites in the American West and Great Basin. The physical anthropology laboratory is well-equipped with a collection of fossil ancestral human specimens. Another laboratory is set up to study animal bones, tree-rings and other clues about past environmental changes.
University admission application and official transcripts should be received electronically by the Graduate School, so that they reach the department office by Dec. 15. Please do not mail or email documents directly to the department.
The Graduate School must receive admission application, official transcripts and general TOEFL scores. Contact the Graduate School for more information on international admission requirements.
In addition to all Graduate School application materials, the department requires two additional documents:
Submit all materials through the grad school application portal.
The Department of Anthropology will not assume responsibility for the late arrival of official transcripts and test scores to the Graduate School or the Office of International Outreach and Application Services, regardless of whether the applicant can provide official receipts proving the documents were ordered promptly. Full responsibility rests with the applicant to make sure the Graduate School has received all application materials by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Applicants must contact the Graduate School at (775) 784-6869 to verify that those offices have received the graduate admission application, official transcripts and TOEFL scores by the Dec. 15 deadline.
An applicant who gains admission based on incomplete or fraudulent credentials or misrepresentation in the written application for admission shall have admission and registration canceled without refund of any fees, the total credits rescinded that have been earned following such admission and future registration at the University prohibited.
All materials submitted with the graduate application are the property of the department and will not be returned.
Applicants receive notification of acceptance or rejection by April 1.
Only very few research assistantships and teaching assistantships are available to M.A. students and these are awarded on a competitive basis. Students may also apply for several scholarships. All students are encouraged to seek external fund opportunities.
Read through the anthropology master's degree handbook to find out if this advanced degree program is right for you.
Read the Graduate Handbook